Mom cracks my door open. “Riley, sweetie, dinner is ready.”
“I’m not hungry,” I force out. Food is the last thing on my mind. I bury myself deeper into my down comforter. “I’m tired.”
Mom walks over to the edge of my bed and sits down. “Are you feeling okay sweetheart?”
Inside I’m screaming just leave me alone, but I know she’s concerned and I don’t want to worry her. “I’m just feeling a little under the weather. I think I just need to sleep it off.”
She peels back my covers, leans down and kisses my forehead. “Okay sweetie.” She walks to the door. “I’ll put your plate in the fridge in case you’re hungry later.”
“Thanks Mom.”
I wait until she’s out my door before I snatch my cell from the nightstand, and I know I shouldn’t do it, but I send Henry a text.
What R U doing?
Minutes pass. Then an hour. No response. So I send him another one.
Henry? R U still mad at me?
The rest of the night passes by and I don’t hear anything back from him.
****
Monday morning, at school I make it my mission to find him. I have to talk to him.
But school is weird. Something about it seems off. The halls are quiet even though it’s filled with students.
Instinctively, I peer at Callie’s locker. She’s there hunching over, grabbing a book from the bottom, but Henry’s not there. I scan the hall as students brush past me. I don’t think Henry is even in school.
He’s always hanging out in the halls before, after, and sometimes during class. I look to my left as Rosa struts toward me. “Hey,” she greets me with a smile. “You look better.”
“Thanks, I guess.” I’m not going to tell her I feel better because in reality, I don’t.
“So have you heard?”
I close my locker door and my eyes widen. “Heard what?”
“Henry Garner is officially back on the market.”
“What?” I squawk and cover my mouth. “No.”
I’m too shocked to even think straight. Happiness flourishes throughout me and I do the best I can to keep myself calm, but it’s difficult. All I really want to do is jump up and down and find Henry and smother him with my kisses.
I’m not a fling. He cares. He loves me.
I see him so clearly in my mind. I did this for you, Riley. All for you. Just like he said.
My heart races. Palpitates. Flutters. I’m going through withdrawals. That’s how bad I want him to touch me right now.
“Yup. I guess he
dumped her at that party he had. And from what I heard, Callie went berserk. Like psycho bitch berserk. I guess she threw some stuff at his head and slapped him.”
“Who told you this?”
“I overheard one of the cheerleaders talking. I guess she was Callie’s ride home and Callie told her everything.”
Three sophomore girls pass us whispering ‘Henry Garner’ then they giggle amongst each other.