Chapter 20

Sara and Starla had to leave since they did have cheer practice. They didn't' t want to, but I told them that I was fine. No one likes hearing that someone died, but I can tell that they weren't close to Grey-Man. Which isn't bad, just didn't want to be in the way.

"You know, you don't have to go to school on Monday," Thomas explains though I shake my head, crouching down to pick up a pin. "No, I need to go to school," I say, and walk over to a mirror next to my desk. "I have soccer. And I have to work on chemistry." I say, more focused on pinning the pin to my, Thomas's, hoodie.

Once the pin is safely pinned, I turn back over to him, who was looking at my trophies. He looks over at me, and smiles sympathetically at the pin, before looking back up at me. "I know, but you just lost your best friend." Thomas reasons, walking back over to the bed, and sitting down, turning around so he could face me.

"I know, but I still have things to do. I won't let him ruin that for me." I say, and Thomas frowns, not making eye contact with me anymore. "Yeah, ok." He mumbles, playing with his fingernails. I sigh, walking around the bed to sit beside him. "You helped me," I say, smiling at him. He nods, still not looking at me. "I just, I know you, Park. I know the look on your face right now. And I know that you trying to make yourself believe that you are ok. That you moved on, but…." He sighs, shaking his head.

Chemistry

I stand up from my seat on the bed, jogging back over to my desk and grabbing the valentines' day notepad, before sitting back down next to him. I reach over him, grabbing the pencil on my nightstand, before finally settling on the bed.

Do we have chemistry?

Thomas looks over my shoulder at what I'm writing, before grabbing my hands. "I think we do." He answers, before looking at me. "Do you think we have chemistry?" He asks, leaning his chin onto my shoulder. ���Yeah, I think we do." I say, smiling down at the note pad.

Thomas takes the note pad from me, before snatching the pen as well. He scribbles something down from behind me, before handing the note pad back, now saying.

Answer: We always had

I smile at the written words, before turning around to kiss him tenderly. This time, the kiss was slow, filled with love and compassion. Air filling with happiness. All the problems were forgotten. All sadness was forgotten. All-

"Ummm." Someone said, as for me and Thomas quickly pulled apart. I looked at the doorway to see Ma standing there, shock on her face. I wiped my mouth, before quickly standing up, the note pad being dropped to the floor.

"Hey, ma. It's not what it looks like." I say, my voice becoming squeaky. I need to learn how to lie better. "I think I know exactly what it looks like, you making out with some boy in your bedroom." My ma said angrily, as she stormed out of her room. I quickly followed her, running down the steps to catch up to her.

"He's my chemistry tutor!" I tried to explain, though she only rolled her eyes. "I knew I should have let June tutor you. I asked for you to learn about chemistry, not practice it!" She yelled, me flinching as her tone grew louder.

"Ok, well what do you want me to say, I'm sorry for kissing someone?!" I question, watching her huff, as she glared at me. "No, I don't care about that—God, why can't I have a normal family." My ma said under her breath, and I glared at her. "So I kissed one guy, and now I'm banished to the underworld?!"

"Why couldn't you be like June." She mutters, as my entire world stops. I stare at her, awestruck. "Y- you did not just say that. Do you want to know why I'm not like June? Because I'm NOT JUNE. I'm nothing like her. I might not be as successful as her, but that doesn't mean you can compare her to me, like a movie star to a lost puppy!"

"Because you are lost! I knew that from the start! I thought soccer could fix you, or help you know what you want to be, to do! But I finally found this out, Park. You're LOST, AND I CAN'T HELP YOU ANYMORE." I felt a tug on my arm, and I turn around and Thomas was there, pulling my arm forward's the door.

I glance at my mom for a second, watching as she stared at me. Should I stay, or should I go? I look down, before finally turning back around and following Thomas out the door, he didn't look at my mom once.

We both got into his car and started driving. I don't know where, nor do I want to know. It wasn't to school or the mall. It wasn't to his house either. The car ride was silent because I was still too shocked to speak. I want Thomas to say something. Say that everything is going to be ok, say that this wasn't my fault. It was going to happen, one way or another.

Just say something.