Say You Won't Let Go

The Empty Gun & Broken Bullets

It's so nice walking up to my friends in the morning and seeing a smile on Lauren's face. It may be a small one but as Dinah and Normani converse with her before school begins; I can definitely tell something has changed.

And it's finally the right switch.

Maybe it's something I said on Friday night. Or possibly it could be just the atmosphere of the year entering December. It could also be something totally different but I have a feeling it lies in the heart of our conversation Friday night. But I could be wrong.

"Hello, Cheechee!" I shout, running over to them. As Dinah turns her head to grin at me, her eye catches on something in the distance, near my face. I turn to see what is suddenly more important than me.

Once I see the boy she is looking at, Dinah removes her not-so-subtle gaze and smiles brightly at me. "Chancho, how are you?" She cheers.

"That islander's too thick for you, Cheechee." I lift my eyebrow, gesturing in the direction of the boy she was staring at.

Dinah rolls her eyes, groaning while elbowing me in the side. I grunt in brief pain, laughing nevertheless.

"Shut up." Dinah scoffs while Lauren cracks a shy smile that's directed toward me and Normani giggles under her breath.

Students start piling into the school doors which indicates that the bell has rung and school has officially started. As we are walking in, Dinah gets distracted with something—nothing new—and runs off. Normani follows after her, leaving Lauren and me alone.

"Hey." I smile at her, bumping into her side purposely. Lauren laughs gently, even the soft sound enough to make my shy smile grow into a huge grin.

"Hi." She hums as we walk past the rows of lockers. Lauren's comes into view and I can see her emerald eyes scan the word that still lays on the blue paint. Her eyes linger on the black marker. I can tell she is making a decision.

Her face slackens and she bites her bottom lip gently. Concern dances along her eyebrows and dulled fear pulses in her eyes. My heart beat races and I'm afraid she might push me away again. But then, like magic, she blinks a few times and shakes her head.

She throws her arm around my shoulders, ripping her eyes away from her locker. She takes a deep breath, moving forward again, with me under her arm. An embarrassingly large grin breaks out across my face.

"Better not be late for first period." Lauren says, her voice weak at first but then it grows strong again. "Ms. Gomez would kill us."

"Why are you always right?" I tease her, biting my bottom lip as I smile.

Lauren lets out a small chuckle, grinning to herself. We walk through the hallways, pushing through bodies and dodging trouble.

After being called 'wrong' for so long, it must be like fresh air to be called 'right'. And it's written all over her face.

-~-

"I swear to God, Walz." Dinah rubs her temples when I dump the banana out of my lunch sack, throwing away the empty bag as that was the only thing in it. "What else do you eat?"

I peel my banana, taking a bite and swallowing it before answering. "Cereal?" I reply, shrugging. Dinah scoffs, nudging Ally to get her attention.

"Can you believe this tiny person?" Dinah asks, gesturing to me. I roll my eyes and take another bite of banana.

"I'm offended at your choice of words. So, therefore, I will not back you up." Ally says pointedly, crossing her arms. Dinah groans, forking up some peas and chewing them angrily.