Insecure Eyes Chapter 3

Part 31

On Monday, I finally saw her. She was sitting outside on the bleachers during lunch. I spotted her from the parking lot, and decided to walk over to her.2

I was one bleacher down from her when I blurted, “I guess you can’t get covered in potatoes out here, huh?” I instantly regretted saying it.3

Confidence just looked up at me and replied quietly, “That’s the idea.”4

I smiled sheepishly, and sat down next to her. Noticing the CD player beside her bag, I grew curious. 5

“What are you listening to?” I asked. 6

She popped open the top and exposed the new Rise Against CD. 7

“Oh, wow!” I exclaimed. “I love Rise Against, but I’ve never heard their new CD.”8

Confidence smiled and closed the lid. She handed me the headphones and pressed the play button. 9

I was so excited. The music was so awesome. I listened to the first few tracks, then removed the headphones. 10

I noticed Confidence had begun to doodle in a notebook. I glanced over her shoulder, and caught a glimpse of what looked like a little girl holding a wilting flower. The girl had a hood pulled far down over her eyes.11

Suddenly she twirled around and shoved the notebook in her bag with one swift motion. I was both startled by the sudden movement, and embarrassed that she’d caught me. 12

“I’m sorry,” I told her. “That was rude, I was just curious.”13

She tilted her head down a bit, staring at her feet, which were skimming over hardened gum and some unidentifiable sticky stains. 14

“Why did you sit with me?” She asked. 15

Just then, the bell rang, and I began to stand up. She touched my arm to stop me.16

“Come with me.” She pleaded. 17

I didn’t even ask where. I just followed Confidence down the bleachers, and across the football field. We hopped over the fence, and walked through the woods. Finally we came to a clearing and sat on a log. 18

“Please, answer my question.” She sounded so desperate. 19

“I’m not really sure,” I honestly replied. “I guess I just felt compelled to talk to you.”20

“So you felt sorry for me?”21

“No, maybe…I don’t know.”22

“Oh…” She looked down again. 23

“Look, I’m really sorry about what happened last week. The Varsities are real jerks. I mean, they had no right to do that, it was totally immature and rude.” I was babbling and I knew it. I was nervous. Why was I nervous?24

Slowly, Confidence turned to face me. My stomach was in knots. 25

She grabbed my hand, and I jumped. My palms were getting sweaty and I couldn’t breathe. 26

Seeing my discomfort, she left go of my hand. For some reason, I didn’t want her to. She quickly stood up and grabbed her bag. 27

“Thank you for such kind words,” she said.28

That was all. Six words. Then she was gone. She ran from the woods, leaving me dumbfound on a log. 29

Was I in love with Confidence?30