NINETEEN

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  Within a matter of seconds, we had scrambled up my fallen books and my shirt off the floor and hid ourselves in one of the cubicles. I was about to speak when Roman placed a finger on his lips, signalling for me to 'shh' when the locker room door opened, and footsteps echoed in.

   "Roman?" his dad called through the room. We waited as he walked further in. "Are you in here, son?"

  Mark bent down on the floor to pick up something that caught his eye. My pen. Shit.

  Roman and I shared shit-scared looks as his dad studied the pen with furrowed brows. I held my breath as he finally shrugged and put it in his pocket.

   "My years are getting to me again." Mark muttered and walked out of the room.

  When the door closed, we both let out huge sighs of relief and rested our head back against the wall.

   "I honestly thought I was going to shit my pants." Roman said opposite me and closed his eyes. I laughed and rubbed my hands against my face.

   "I don't think I've ever seen you more scared than when your mom came home, and I was butt naked in your bedroom."

  Roman tipped his head back and laughed.

  He opened his eyes and stared back at me. I still managed to put my top on before we ran into here, but the thin material was creased, hanging low on my cleavage. He took in a breath and frowned.

   "I'm sorry I called you pathetic the other day." He finally said. "And all the other hurtful things. I really don't think that about you."

   "It's fine if you do. I haven't really been –"

   "No, it's not fine. I was mad at you but also mad at myself. I shouldn't have been that way." He protested.

  I looked back at him and frowned before letting a sad smile deepen my lips. "I'm sorry I said no one would ever like you." It was such a stupid thing to say. Roman didn't have many friends, people already assumed too much stupid shit about him that couldn't be more wrong.

  He looked down at the floor, "It's okay. You weren't necessarily wrong."

   "Don't say that." I argued. "People do like you. You know, your family, Jesse... me." He looked up at me with furrowed brows as if not being able to understand what I had just said. "Look," I sighed, "I know we're not exactly friends, but I don't think you're a bad person. I actually don't mind being around you."

   "Well, that's a relief." He sarcastically remarked. I went to playfully hit his shoulder when he caught my wrist and pulled me towards him. I squealed as my hand came in contact with his bare chest, and I looked up into his eyes.

   "You – erm – your makeup is a bit..." he brought his thumbs under my eyes and wiped away the smudged mascara.

   "Thanks." I whispered as he finished and awkwardly placed his hands by his side. "So..." I looked away from his stare. "They nerd boy who's a boxer? Way to break the stereotype."

  He laughed and scratched the back of his neck. "Yeah, I guess." I chuckled and stood back against the wall. "That doesn't mean I'm one of those guys who'll break your nose if you look at me the wrong way." Adam came to mind. He was certainly the type to do that.

   "So why did you start?" I questioned. I knew his dad owned the gym but Roman never struck me as a gym person. Even when we were growing up he spent all of his time alone reading or doing homework, never participating in P.E. or any sport for that matter.

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