Let me hide

Chapter 7

  

       I haven't talked to Preston since I saw him and Julianna in the grocery store. He tries to talk to me and text me but I don't pay him any mind. 

I kinda feel bad but I can't let my guard down. Julianna let me down, he might too. I know it sounds horrible that I would ignore him over that, but she was my best friend. 

Plus, I'm pretty sure she's only hanging out with him because she saw me with him. It's not like I like him or anything, he's just my dance partner. 

When I walk into the school he's standing at my locker waiting for me. I almost walk past but then realize I actually need some stuff. 

"We have to practice, we only have three weeks left and learning dances aren't easy," He says. 

He's right. We have to practice, for the grade not for any other reason. 

"fine, we'll set something up," I say closing my locker and walking away. 

Dylan is around the corner talking to some teacher when I turn it. I turn back around and head back towards my locker where Preston still is. 

"You just sit at my locker all day?" I ask. 

"Well, no I go to class. It's just that you randomly stopped talking to me and I don't know why and it bugs me because I thought we were becoming friends" He explains. 

"Why does Julianna wear your jersey?" I ask. 

"She paid me fifty bucks to wear it, fifty bucks every time she wants to wear my jersey is a good deal," He says. 

"So she pays you to wear your jersey?" I ask waiting for clarification. 

"Yeah," He says. 

Well, I feel like an idiot, I should have just asked. 

"Okay," I say and walk back towards my class feeling bad for ignoring him for literally nothing. 

I see Dylan watch me from the corner of my eye but I don't pay him any mind. Marcus was right he is watching me like a hawk. 

*****

At lunch, I sit with the boys again for the first time in two weeks. I think they missed me actually, even though none of them actually talk to me. 

Julianna is giving me the death stare from across the cafeteria but it doesn't affect me now that  I know she pays Preston to let her wear his jersey. 

"Hey, you going to eat today?" Marcus whispers to me.

"I'm not hungry" I whisper back. 

He looks at me with sad eyes, making me look away. I think he told Dylan about my eating because I catch him coming over to our table a lot or making sure I leave the house with food. 

I just have to keep faking it for him. I mean I want to eat but my head and my body are screaming at me NO. 

"hey, you should let me wear your jersey instead of her" I whisper to Preston. 

I don't like Preston for more than a friend but I still think it would be nice to wear his jersey. 

"you want to wear my jersey?" He asks, and I nod.

He pulls it out of his bookbag and hands it to me. I don't put it on now but I probably will soon. 

"you should come to practice today," He says. 

"maybe, I'll have to ask first," I say unsure of Dylan's schedule. 

"Hey, can I ask you a question?" He asks in a whisper. I just nod. 

"how come you don't eat?" He whispers. 

"What are you talking about?" I question back in a way that signals I have no idea what he's talking about. 

"well you have never eaten lunch so I mean, why not?" He asks still whispering. 

"I do eat, just not in front of people" I lie. 

"Okay, well when you come up with a better lie, I'll be here," He says turning back to the conversation with the others. 

Soon Dylan is walking over to our table signaling for me to come with him and I can sense that it's not for a good thing.

He walks me all the way to his office and sit's down at his desk where he turns the computer screen around to reveal my failing grades. 

Well, shit.