Hidden Love [1]

I glanced over at the gorgeous blonde sitting next to me at the lunch table. Her platinum blonde hair flowing eloquently down, well past her shoulders. Her ice blue eyes always stopped my heart cold. The black tanktop she wore hugged her figure nicely, as did her denim pants. Everything about her screamed popular Barbie. Laughter and gossip echoed off the cafeteria walls as we sat and ate what appeared to be dog food. A smirk sneaked across my lips as her boy toy and maid in waiting sat on opposite sides of her. I just couldn’t resist the sarcastic comment that was dancing on my tongue.1

“Ya know, Blaze, I still think the term bisexual is just a big word for slut!” I said with a look of skepticism on my face. She hated it when I joked about her sexuality.2

“Well, unlike you, Alex, I can’t seem to pick just one team. I like them both! Besides, bisexuality automatically doubles your chances for a date on Saturday night. So, while you’re sitting alone on the couch watching D.E.B.S for the umpteenth time, I will be having a blast with someone interesting.” She said with a scowl. 3

“Hey, that’s not fair!” I began to retaliate. “You know Jordana Brewster is the sexiest and most interesting woman alive.”4

“Whatever you say, Alex. Your taste in women has never been that great anyways. But like I said, while you’re drooling over somebody you’ll never have, I will be exploring the town with the potential love of my life.” Her defensive walls were beginning to rise and I could see myself being locked on the outside.5

Knowing I was already losing this battle, I let slip something I knew would hurt her. “Okay Blaze, but not everybody’s definition of love is based off of how well the sex is! Some of us don’t feel the need to sleep with everyone we meet to find out if we have a connection.” My hands flew to cover my mouth but it was too late. I watched in despair as she fought back tears. Shifting uncomfortably on the stool, she finally picked up her plate and stood from the table.6

“That hurt, Alex.” She said, almost in a whisper before carrying her tray to the back of the cafeteria where the lunch ladies would do only God knows what to get it clean.7

“Blaze, I didn’t mean-“ but she was too far away. The buzz of he said, she saids drowning out the words before they had a chance to truly travel. 8

Soon after, the bell rang that would end lunch and begin fourth block. I wasn’t sure if I really wanted to go to Spanish or not. Since the last hurricane hit, our school had taken on a rather bitchy nun, Sister Moheeve. Then again, I guess I would be bitchy too if I had to prove my love to God by swearing off of sex until the day I died. She just needed to get laid. No, I didn’t want to go to her class. The class always began in an awkward silence and ended with Sister in an uproar about all the nasty little girls running around our school. I knew today would be no different. Just yesterday, two sophomores were caught making out in the girls bathroom. She would have a hay day with that one and I just wasn’t in the mood to be offended by a messenger of God.9

Instead, I made my way up the staircase towards the Press Room. The greatest part about being an editor for the school news paper was the “major assignments that couldn’t be handled during any other class.” Following the flow of students, I eventually made my way down the anorexic hallway that led to that dreaded woman’s class. Staying low and close to the lockers, I kept an eye out for the psycho nun. It really didn’t matter though. She had some magical way of finding me during the last class of the day. Perhaps it was God, ratting me out. Right as the tardy bell rang, I made my way around the corner and in the direction of my favorite room in the entire school. 10

Luckily, I passed the classroom Blaze should be in. However, as I got closer, I found her standing just outside the door. Tears ran down her face and her black eye liner was quick to follow. In that instant, something within my chest broke into a million pieces. Slowing my pace, I fought with my brain, trying to come up with something, anything to say. 11

Coming up beside her, I reached out and gently touched her arm. Her head immediately shot up and her intense blue eyes glared in my direction. She pulled her arm away from my touch and took a step in the opposite direction. “B-Blaze” I muttered, unsure of what to say at this point. “What’s the matter?”12

“Don’t pretend like you fucking care!” The heat of her anger was radiating from every curve of her body. Her chin trembled as she fought back more cascading tears. 13

“Blaze, that’s not fair. You know I care.” I said, mustering up as much compassion and sympathy as I could. “Please, tell me what’s up.” I went to touch her once more but thought better of it. Instead, I stood like a good little military girl, hands clasped tightly behind my back.14

After several seconds of awkward silence, Blaze threw her arms around my neck and snuggled her face between my shoulder and neck. I could feel the tears streaming down her face and staining my white polo. I didn’t know what to do. So, on instinct, I placed my arms gently around her and held her close. Neither one of us spoke; I just let her cry and inside, I cried too. The girl I had been in love with since we were in diapers was hurting and there was nothing I could do to change that.15

Finally, she pulled away and spoke much as a small child would after having a horrible nightmare. “She’s dead.”16

I didn’t need to hear anymore. Pulling her back into my arms, we stood outside the computer lab and got lost in our loving embrace. Time no longer mattered and neither did the people passing in the hallways. All that mattered was that I had her in my arms and I was going to help her get through this, one day at a time.