Counting Goodbyes Read online

  “Oh. Ok. Well, friends then.” Of course, it wouldn’t be because he likes me. Not that he could really say that he likes me since he doesn’t even know me. It would have been nice to know he talked to me because he thought I was cute. Oh, what am I thinking? I am jumping ahead of myself. Friends. I can do friends with Austin. At least I hope I can.

  My heart tells me I’m just lying to myself. Already he has me itching to doodle Austin loves Kayla on the front of my notebook. Is this what it feels like to have a crush on a boy? Because if so, I absolutely hate this feeling. I don’t understand why anyone would subject themselves to feeling insecure, have sweaty hands, heart rapidly beating, and lose their wits just because they like someone.

  “Here we are.” Looking up to the name and room number on the door, I realize I didn’t even pay attention to the walk over here being too consumed with Austin, my crush on him, his proximity, and the feel of his fingers on my back.

  “Here we are.” I match. “Well, I’ll see you later then…friend.” I turn and rush through the door to a seat in the back of the classroom and wait for the last of the students to take their seats. Bobby is supposed to be in this class with me and I hope she comes soon. I need a distraction and she talks so much, she can distract me from my racing thoughts, and raging hormones.

  One boy takes a seat in the desk next to me and I wonder what his story is. He’s timid and seems to fold into himself. It’s as if he doesn’t want anyone to notice him and, in some ways, I can relate. When he glances my way, I can see pain reflected in his gaze and I wonder what he went through to put that look there, but I don’t dare ask. He seems to want to be just left alone so instead I give him a small smile and start pulling a notebook and pen out to take notes. He’s the first person who hasn’t looked at me with interest for being the new girl.

  “Want to be my partner, Makayla?” Startling me once again, I look to my other side to see Austin facing me with a huge grin waiting for my answer.

  “What?” I ask confused. I don’t know why I never noticed it before, but Austin’s cologne has a sweat and woodsy scent to it that I can’t seem to get enough of. I guess being so preoccupied on his talking to me; I failed to notice all the little things about him that I appreciate, such as his scent. It’s pulls me in and I want to just stick my nose into his chest and take my fill.

  “Mrs. Roper is known to have her students partner up throughout the year. Want to be my partner?” Austin’s deep southern drawl pulls me in like a melody. It’s not twangy, instead having just a slight drawl with certain words, but it’s there, and it is appealing.

  “Um. What are you doing in here? Why aren’t you in your own class?” My voice comes out in a panic worried he’s missing class, when really, it’s not my problem.

  “I am. I have this class with you.” Austin states like it’s no big deal.

  “Oh.” Of course, he does.

  “So?” He prompts.

  “So, what?” What is it that he asked me again?

  “Do you want to be my partner?” Raising a brow, he waits patiently for me to answer.

  “Are you sure?” I hold my breath waiting for him to tell me he’s joking but hoping he’s not.

  “Positive. That’s what friends do. They partner up.” Austin smirks knowing he’s right.

  I pause for a moment, trying to read him and see if he’s just messing with me but all I see is sincerity in his gaze.

  “Okay. Sure. Sounds great.” I say a little too enthusiastically. God, I hope he didn’t notice.

  “Great.” Austin winks at me before facing forward.

  Just then Bobby races in and takes the seat in front of me huffing out a breath before turning to me with an ear-splitting grin. “Oh my god. I have something I gotta tell you. Oh, hi Austin.”

  “Hey Bobby.” Bobby looks from me to Austin and me again before winking at me and turning around. I wish I knew what that wink was for. What is she thinking? I hope she doesn’t plan to play matchmaker or something. She reminds me of Lacy in that way. Just then, a young and beautiful woman steps in and I have to assume she’s our teacher.

  “Welcome, students. I hope you’re ready to start class today. First thing on the agenda is to introduce ourselves and tell the class what you did over summer break. Let’s break the ice before getting started.”

  One by one each student says their name and gives us a little about their summer adventures. Some had gone on trips, others worked, and then there’s me.

  Bobby is before me as she stands and introduces herself before going on about how she spent her summer hanging out with her friends and swimming in their pools. Once she takes a seat, I know I’m next.

  Standing up, I make sure to stare straight ahead at the wall while I introduce myself before taking a deep breath to tell the class what brought me here.

  “I moved here in June from California to live with my father after I lost my mom.” I pause, collecting myself, still finding it hard to repeat those words allowed.

  “My summer consisted of exploring the town, working, and settling in. That’s pretty much it.” I awkwardly curtsey for some reason and take a seat. I keep my eyes focused now on my balled-up hands on top of my desk not wanting to see the pity in everyone’s eyes at my predicament.

  Bobby turns to face me and lays her hand over mine in comfort. Giving her a small smile in return, I quickly become diverted by Austin’s voice. He goes on how he trained for football, helped around his house and spent time with his friends and family barbequing nearly every weekend while his brother was home from college. Hearing about his summer distracts me from my thoughts as I imagine his family to be close. Something I miss with my mom being gone.

  The teacher thanks everyone, then gets right down to business. She explains how the year will go with homework, projects, grading, rules, and so on before jumping in on our first assignment for the week.

  “I am going to pass out your first assignment that you and your partners will be working on.” The class groans in unison. “The partners you pick today will remain with you for the rest of the year, so choose wisely. And if I have to, I will reassign you if there are any problems. Go ahead and choose your partners and lets get started.”

  “So, partner, ready to get to work?” Austin turns in his seat and smirks at me with a sort of excitement in his eye. Bobby peers over her shoulder at Austin and me with a toothy smile and I know she thinks there is more going on than there actually is.

  My heart races at the way his low, deep voice flows smoothly to my ears. Taking a deep breath, I scoot my desk a little closer before answering.

  “I’m ready.” In more ways than one.

  Chapter 9

  Manners matter.

  Good looks are a bonus.

  Humor is a must.

  -Uknown-

  “I cannot believe you partnered up with Austin James!” Bobby whisper shouts as we walk to our next class together. Austin seems to genuinely want to be my friend, yet Bobby seems to want to make it into something more.

  “Yeah. I’m sorry about that. I didn’t realize he had the same class until he was already sitting next to me. He caught me off-guard and I just agreed without really thinking about it.”

  “I don’t care about that. I just mean Austin and you are partners…for the rest of the year…together!” Her excitement starts to wear me down and I start to giggle.

  Giggle!

  I don’t giggle. Giggling is for those insipid girls who have no brains, only looks, and find everything so freaking funny.

  Oh my god. I’m turning into a brainless girl!

  “I have no idea what to do with him. He’s so…he’s so nice and beautiful.” My dreamy voice betrays me. Bobby claps and squeals her excitement and I cringe. Did I just call him beautiful? What is wrong with me?

  “This year is going to be epic!” Wrapping an arm around mine, Bobby pulls me through the halls to our next class chatting about how awesome it is I’m partners with Austin and that she’s
so happy we’re friends. Her excitement is starting to rub off on me and I begin to feel excited and panicked all at once. This year is definitely going to be epic. I just hope it’s epically amazing for me and not an epic fail.

  ****

  “Are you a magician? Because whenever I look at you, everyone else disappears!” Beau’s horribly cheesy pickup line causes me to burst out laughing. Beau caught up to Bobby and me on our way to our final period already starting with his lines. “You liked that one huh? I’ve got more. Do you have a map?”

  “Because I’m getting lost in your eyes.” I finish for him with a roll of my eyes.

  “My soul mate.” Beau throws his head back bringing his hands to his chest before fixing his eyes back on me. “I knew you were meant for me.”

  “Not a chance, Romeo.” I try to hide my smile by turning away and heading into my last class of the day and taking a seat at a desk toward the back of the middle isle leaving Beau behind. Bobby ran into the restroom while I continued to our next class, but now I’m thinking I should have joined her. Beau slides into the seat to my right with a toothy grin as if he just won the lottery.

  “What are you doing?” I question even though I can probably guess the answer.

  “I have this class, too. Lucky me!” Beau grins.

  Groaning, I put my forehead down onto the cool desktop.

  “Wonderful. How long are you planning on using your cheesy lines for?” I huff.

  “Until you give me a shot.”

  “You do realize that had you just asked me like a gentleman, I may have agreed to a date?” Why do guys have to make something so simple into something so freaking difficult. Beau seems like a nice enough guy, but his cheesy pickup lines, he could do without. Then again, they are kind of funny.

  “Really?” Surprise laces his question. Clearing his throat, Beau sits up straight and pulls my hand into his with a gentle touch, looking at me with complete sincerity. I wonder for a brief moment if I should stop him then decide against it. I want to see what he is going to say.

  “Kayla, would you do me the honor of going out on a date with me?” Beau waits patiently for me to give him an answer, and even though I couldn’t see being with him, I do have to give him props for asking me so respectfully. Maybe I was wrong, and I should give him a chance. He may not give me the same feelings that Austin does, like the pounding heartbeat, clammy hands, or the need to doodle my name with his last name, but Beau does seem to be a nice guy, so maybe I should just agree. See if there is anything there besides cheesy pickup lines. Besides, didn’t I promise Lacy I would step out of my comfort zone?

  “Sure. But if I hear one cheesy pickup line, I’m going to throw a drink in your face.”

  “Such feistiness. I love it. I’ll pick you up Friday and we can go out to eat before the game. If you still want to hang around me after, we’ll hit the after party.”

  “Party?” Oh no. I haven’t been to a party except for when Lacy dragged me to a few last year and even then, I sat on the couch bored out of my mind or stood against the wall where nobody would notice me.

  “Don’t worry baby. I’ll be there to protect you from the crazies.” Beau winks at me before turning around straight in his seat. Bobby slides in the seat in front of me just as the bell rings for class to start.

  “So sorry. I swear those damn cheerleaders have to take up all the space in front of the mirror to put on their make up; blocking the sinks. I practically had to booty bump them out of my way.” Bobby looks between Beau and I before scrunching her brows in confusion. “Did I miss something?”

  “Shh. Class is about to start. Oh, and Kayla has agreed to go on a date with me. Sorry. I’m taken ladies. I am a one-woman kind of man. Eat your heart out.” Bobby looks quickly to me for confirmation while I nod with a grimace.

  “Did you blackmail her into a date?” She demands.

  Beau scoffs. “No. My exceptional personality convinced her to take a chance on me.”

  Bobby opens her mouth to reply, probably with a sarcastic comment, but doesn’t get the chance to speak.

  “Welcome to my class.” The teacher interrupts whatever Bobby was about to say as we all focus on her at the front of the class. “Come grab your textbooks. Write your names on this sheet of paper with the number on the inside of your book next to it so at the end of the year we know who dropped off their books and who didn’t.” We all proceed to do as she asks before taking our seats.

  “I think my backpack full of textbooks is going to cause me to become a cripple,” I whine.

  “Don’t worry. Most of the books will stay home while a few will need to be left here at your locker. It won’t be so bad. It’s only because this is the first day.” Bobby says as we both getup to grab our text books from the front of the class.

  “I don’t remember the teachers at my last school giving us so much work the first day.” I groan as I pull my heavy backpack over my shoulders.

  Bobby shrugs not knowing what to say as I huff out an exhausted breath. The rest of class flies by and I can’t help but feel grateful the day is over.

  “Hey. You want to come over today and hang out?” Bobby suggests.

  “I would love too, but I have to go to work.”

  “You work? But isn’t your dad rich or something?” Cringing, I hate that everyone knows everyone in this tiny town. It makes my business everyone’s business no matter if I want it to be or not.

  “I guess, but I don’t want him to pay for everything. I use the money I earn for things I want that’s extra and for my gas while my dad pays for my necessities. He’s already paying so much for me and he only just met me.”

  “Just met you? You mean you guys didn’t know about each other this whole time?” Bobby peers at me with confusion as I try to think of what to say and coming up blank. I’m not quite ready to go there, even though she deserves to know.

  “My mom never told my dad she was pregnant with me. He had no idea he had a daughter until just a few months ago when my mom died.” Bobby says nothing, seeming unsure of what to say.

  “When you told the class you lost your mom I hadn’t considered that your dad wasn’t in the picture when you were growing up. I just thought you guys always known each other.”

  Shrugging, I pull my lips into a thin line ready to move on from this subject as I find it still hard to talk about. Bobby seems to understand as she moves on to other topics while we do our work.

  When class ends, and we’re headed out the school’s door, the quiet boy that was in my class earlier today runs into my shoulder knocking me into Bobby.

  “Ouch you jerk.” Bobby shouts to him but he doesn’t turn around to apologize.

  “Sorry. I didn’t see him.” I really didn’t and even though it was his fault for running into me, I still felt bad for knocking Bobby into the door.

  “It’s not your fault. I don’t know what Timothy’s deal is.”

  “He seems sad.”

  “Maybe. But regardless, he didn’t have to be so rude.” I nod in agreement.”

  “What’s his story?”

  “I don’t really know his story other than him and his mom are a little recluse. I hardly ever see them out and about except for when his mom buys groceries. They are a little odd with wind chimes made from soda cans placed all over their yard and hanging on the house. They don’t talk to anyone that I’ve noticed either. Maybe they’re crazy.” She muses.

  “Maybe.” Timothy may have a difficult home life and that may have been what I saw in his eyes. I feel bad for him, but maybe what he needs is a friend.

  When I make it to my vehicle, Bobby waves goodbye to me as she heads to the next row of cars and further down to her beat up truck and leaves. Before heading to work, I decide to text Lacy and let her know I’ll call her tonight when I get off work and to tell her I have a date.

  Me: Guess what? I made it. The world didn’t end. I have to work so I’ll call you when I get off. But think on this one word…. Date.
r />   Driving to work, I ignore the buzzing of my phone knowing full well it’s Lacy replying back to me. If I check it now, I know I’ll be stuck answering all her questions in a text and I would much rather tell her over the phone. It’s a lot easier than trying to text in paragraphs. Parking at the end of the lot, I grab my bag and head inside.

  “I’m so glad you’re here early, Kayla. Can you clock in right away, I need to make a few phone calls and I can’t be distracted?” Marjory asks.

  “Of course. Let me go put my bag in the locker and I’ll be right out.” Taking my small carry bag that holds my phone, wallet, and a few other miscellaneous things, I hurry back to the front just as a group of kids from my school come in.

  “Welcome to Marjory’s Treats.” Greeting the girls with a smile, the leader of the group sets her sights on me with an almost cruel gaze. I’ve heard about her, Evangeline is what Bobby mentioned her name was. During passing period, we heard people gossip about her becoming cheer captain. And yes, I know how cliché that sounds, and how she has her sights set on snagging Austin. This is an all-around, real life teen movie.

  “You’re new around, here right? The little orphan girl whose lost her mommy?” Evangeline’s minions snigger behind her as if her cruel words are humorous. The sting of tears behind my eyes threatens to fall but I can’t let her see me cry. That would be like letting her win and no way in hell will I let that happen. I guess being the new girl, and letting the class know that I lost my mom made it around the school fast, and it hurts that she would use my mom’s death as a way to hurt me when this girl doesn’t even know me.

  “Can I get you a scoop of banana ramma crunch on a waffle cone?” Suggesting a flavor of ice cream may guide her away from my humiliation. Or at least that’s my hope.