Growing Pains

Chapter 2

"I want you guys to draw a box." 

Simone's professor started introducing their new project to them, handing out the program to each table in the design studio. "You need to, basically, carve away at a mass." He continued on.

While she new she needed to pay attention, she couldn't help but stare at her phone screen.

No older notifications stared up into brown eyes that narrowed in annoyance. She clicked it off when she heard her classmates start to discuss the project with her professor.

Simone heard all the words that were being spoken, but she couldn't focus on them. So when everyone turned to start on their work, she stood up and left the class under the pretense that she needed to use the restroom.

"August fucking Tiller I'm so starting a fight with you. I swear to god." She mumbled heatedly under her breath as she walked to the bench in the courtyard where she knew her boyfriend would be sitting at waiting for his class to start. By now, it was Monday morning, four days until Halloween and two (technically three) days after they'd left their little beach town to party in Miami. An entire weekend had gone by, and not a single peep out of her boyfriend.

The insecurities weren't thrashing inside her anymore, they were subdued with the anger she felt. She was tense all over. Starting from the tips of her toes, up the long jean-clad legs, across the muscles in her back, winding around fingernails that were coated in paint and superglue, all the way up to the tight, bright, fake smile she slapped on as she walked through the small community college.

This was a girl who was good at being picture perfect. So when the façade dropped as she plopped herself in front of the tall boy who'd had her heart in his hands for years, she didn't know that very small real moment from her would never be forgotten.

"August." She said tersely, almost as he had don't the night of the party.

His eyes widened at the sight of the brunettes expression.

"Simone?" His gaze questioned her "How come you're not in class love?"

Don't do it. She thought to herself. Don't you dare go soft Simone.

"What are you doing dropping off the face of the earth?" She spoke flatly, glancing at his phone that was very much on and on Instagram. Long lashes narrowed at the small device. "I see your phone works. Maybe its just your brain that doesn't."

August Tiller prided himself on being a people watcher, he knew how to read people.

As he sat there and looked at his girlfriend, eyes wide and mouth opening and closing like a fish out of water, he couldn't help but be stunned that he didn't recognize the girl in front of him for a second. Until he stared into her eyes, looking for something, past the annoyance, the anger and disappointment. For the first time since he was thirteen years old, he realized that Simone Deschamps wasn't baring her soul to him anymore.

"What?" He stupidly spoke.

"Don't do that." A slim, tan finger pointed at him, shaming him.

"Don't do what?" his face turned into one of annoyance.

"Don't make me feel stupid or like I'm over reacting."

"Simone..." he pursed his lips as he paused to stare at her in contemplation "I haven't done anything." He shook his head, looking at his phone and clicking it shut, stuffing it in his pocket like he had done the other night. She wondered how it could be that she really fucking hated a piece of metal, barely any bigger than the palm of her hand.