Page 80 of All of You
“Why don’t I believe you?”
Her grin grows and she shrugs. I stand, feeling heady and light. She starts to remove my hoodie but I stop her.
“No, keep it.”
“You sure? You have to walk home farther.”
“I’m sure,” I say. She rushes me, nearly causing me to lose my balance and wraps me in a tight hug.
“Night Langdon. See you tomorrow.”
I smile so hard my cheeks hurt. “Night.”
I watch her disappear into the inky darkness before I turn on my headlamp and head back to the trail home.
Thirty Nine
Delia
I’m standing outside his bedroom door waiting for him to let me inside. He opens the door and lets me in and then I’m trapped. Unable to leave him or his room.
I wake with sweat between my breasts, my chest heaving like I’ve been sprinting. The pull to Langdon is so strong, but giving in to the fear of what that might actually do to me, is crushing. I’m afraid if I give in to the feelings they’ll annihilate me or that he doesn’t feel the same, that I’d be some convenient secret fling to him.
I take a too-long, too-hot shower, get ready for school and text Miles and Lyra asking how bad I should expect it to be when I show up today. They assure me I shouldn’t worry but I’m not sure I believe them.
Miles nudges my shoulder as I walk down the hall. Everyone’s chatting, it makes a weird white noise.
“Have you seen her yet?”
“Who? Lyra?” I ask.
He shakes his head. “Kaeli, new girl.”
“I thought I was New Girl?” I laugh.
“It’s a banner year apparently. You’ve been promoted to Delia. Kaeli is now New Girl.” This explains the extra chatter this morning in the halls. Fresh blood. I sigh. At least it makes me and Hailie old news. I’ll take it.
“I haven’t seen her. I haven’t seen anyone yet. I just walked in.”
“Rumor has it she’s in your English class.”
“Rumor has it that I don’t care, Miles. Let’s not treat the new girl like ya’ll treated me. Kaeli is probably a nice, sweet, nervous girl. Transferring sucks.”
Miles looks at me. “Mmmhmm. Sure.”
I swat at his arm. “Don’t be rude. I’ll see you later.”
I push into Mr. Dwyer’s room and nearly knock someone over. She’s petite. Brunette and has very pretty wide eyes.
“Shit. Sorry,” she mumbles.
I smile. “No big deal. I didn’t hurt you, did I?”
She gives a shy smile. “No. I was staring at the hot guy in the back like an idiot, blocking the door.” I glance to the back of the room. Langdon lifts his chin at me and I smile wider. “Oh, you know him,” she says.
“Um, yeah. That’s Langdon. I sit right in front of him. There’s an empty seat though, over there.” I point to the one desk left in the room. I’m Delia.”
“Kaeli,” she says.
