Welcome To Hell, Enjoy Your Stay (Chapter Twenty-Four)

Chapter Twenty-Four – Joshua’s POV1

Maybe This is Fate2

-----------3

Lane was amazing, I admit it. She had a way of getting off track and slipping over her own two feet that made her seem dazzlingly cute. She was sitting next to me now, in the Mrs. Jenkins class. She was studying the “Denmark’s History” book with the most bored expression on her face. I nudged her with me arm and she looked up, surprised. I placed a note on her desk and she read it. The bored expression faded and was replaced with a grin. I knew what the note said:4

“Denmark’s was founded in 15. The population is 0, because of the unpopular history books called ‘Denmark’s History’”5

She chuckled a bit then covered her mouth as Mrs. Jenkins looked over in annoyance. I smiled and took the paper back to keep her from getting in trouble. It was amazing how such stupid things could make you laugh when you were bored.6

“So true, eh?” I whispered to her as I pulled away. She giggled slightly then looked back down at her book. She was he kind of girl who didn’t want to get in trouble. I grinned and tucked the paper in my jean pocket. She really was cute.7

I looked back down at my textbook and scanned the page for something I didn’t know. I’d read this chapter over and over again… I groaned in boredom and flipped a few pages ahead. Nothing interesting…8

Gosh, how long until we did some real work in here? Things had been different with Mrs. Jenkins since… well, you know. I think she was blaming herself for it. I grumbled at the thought and glanced at Lane.9

A reminder that everything would be okay.10

I smiled at her and she smiled back, looking severely stumped. I looked over her shoulder. Of course she was stumped; the paragraph she was reading was the one with the spelling mistakes everywhere. I’d run into it too, before she did. It wasn’t even worth reading.11

The bell rang. Thank goodness. I slammed the book shut then snatched Lane’s before she even had the chance. I stacked it on top of mine then set the two books on the far table. I hurried back over to her and took her hand. I pulled her out of the seat and into my arms.12

She giggled slightly then buried her head against my chest and yawned. Yea, I’m tired too. There’s only so much “Denmark History” one person can take before falling asleep. I smoothed her blonde hair behind her ears then let go of her. Tired or not, our parents wouldn’t be happy if we didn’t go strait home. 13

That was the law in our households, strait to school, strait back. Mrs. Jenkins still sat at her desk, shuffling papers. Ever since me and Lane have been together she’s shown that she disapproved. She didn’t want us to give up; but did we really have much of a choice? It just hurt to believe.14

“Coming Josh?” I snapped out of my thoughts and looked at the girl standing in the doorway. Lane, of course, and she was smiling. I nodded in embarrassment then followed her. I rested my hand on her shoulder, almost like I was guiding her, and then we headed out.15

We strode at a slow pace out of the building and down the road. We said nothing, but a lot passed between us. She rested her head against me and let me move my hand to the small of her back. Maybe this is just fate; maybe everything happens for a reason to set things in motion. Maybe this is why Julia is gone; so that she could place my path—Lane’s too—in motion and make everything go right.16

Maybe she’s gone, but that doesn’t mean I should stop living my life.17