7
Jessica
“I told you he was weird,” Crystal said as we walked to lunch.
Robb rested his arm on my shoulder. “Your grade is over, Jess.”
“No,” I said, glaring at Eric’s back as he rushed outside. “My grade is going to be perfect, whether he likes it or not.”
After all, my grades needed to be perfect, if I had any chance at finding my biological parents. I didn’t care if Eric Welborn had a rough life or not. His problems weren’t mine, and I wasn’t going to let him impose them on me.
“Good luck with that, Jess,” Crystal said, looping her arm through mine as we walked outside. Strangely, it was nice out, and we sat at the first table we passed. The outdoor lunchroom was squared-in by brick walls. On one side, the front of school teased our desire for freedom, while the other side stretched into a large hill.
The hill was huge, and an enormous willow tree loomed over the side. As the wind blew, branches swayed, sprawling dancing shadows over the dying grass. The tree was remarkable—breathtaking even—but it was secluded, aside from the boy leaning against it.
Crystal rolled her eyes in his direction. “He always sits up there.”
“By himself?” I asked. She nodded, and I bit my lip, unable to look away.
Eric Welborn, with his eyes closed and his headphones on, leaned against the tree as if he were a part of it. His brown hair matted against the bark, melting into the color, and his eyes fluttered as he opened them, staring at the shadows. Even from a distance, I could see his shoulders tense, and I fought the urge to go to him.
For the first time, I actually felt sympathy toward him.
“It looks cold,” I said. He looks lonely.
“Who cares?” Robb shrugged, barely looking over as a girl appeared from the other side of the hill. Immediately, the two began talking, and I peered at the unfamiliar face.
“Who’s that?” I asked, tapping Crystal’s arm.
Crystal’s dark eyes squinted. “That’s Teresa Young—the girl we told you about.”
“They’re obsessed with one another,” Robb said, pulling his lunch out of his backpack. “I swear they have something going on.”
“They don’t,” Crystal said.
Robb bit into his sandwich. “I bet they do,” he said, singing as he leaned into Crystal. He was just trying to annoy her.
I turned away from my friends and kept my gaze on my homeroom partner. Both Eric and Teresa looked downhill, and then Teresa waved a piece of paper at him. He spoke, and he grabbed his stuff, disappearing down the other side.
He did not just leave me to handle class on my own.
I gripped the table, and Crystal sighed, leaning her entire torso on the table. “Did you guys want to do anything tonight?” she asked. “I’m about to go crazy.”
“Not at my house,” Robb said.
Crystal cringed. “Don’t worry; I wasn’t planning on it.” She turned to me. “My mom should be home late. You guys could come over.”
“Sounds good to me.” Robb’s eyes lit up. “I’m sure I could get away from the ‘rents for a while.”
“Your parents are way too strict,” Crystal said, smacking her gum. Apparently, she didn’t eat lunch.
“That’s exactly why we don’t go to my place,” he said, allowing his gaze to land on me. “You coming?”
I shook my head. “I can’t,” I said, trying to ignore the pressures of my school project. “I have plans.”
Crystal flipped a pen around her fingers, a nervous habit. “With who?”
“Me, of course,” Robb said, winking his brown eyes.
Crystal punched his arm. “You wish,” she said, and I laughed.
“It isn’t with Robb,” I clarified. “I have family stuff I have to figure out.” Like my biological parents.
“I thought you were going to get a head start on your project,” Crystal said. “You know you’ll have to do it all by yourself, right?”
Robb straightened up. “I could help you.”
“It’s okay,” I said, standing up as the return bell rang. “I’ll get Eric to talk to me.”
Crystal laughed but ultimately nodded. “Good luck with that, Jess.”
“Thanks,” I muttered. I’ll probably need it.