Awkward

I couldn't keep myself calm the next day.

I woke up anxious, I showered anxious, I ate anxious, and I drove to Jaxon's house anxious.

Now I'm parked in front of his house and he just texted me he'd be out in a minute.

I take in deep breaths to calm myself.

"It's okay Summer. There nothing to be anxious about. It's just Jaxon. No need to be awkward. It's not like he's the first person that told you he likes you. Deep breaths." I say to myself.

Their front door opens and Jaxon walks out.

"Okay girl, here he is. It's nothing." I take in a deep breath one last time and the door opens.

"Hey you." Jaxon smiles at me as soon as he enters.

"Hi." I say in a high pitched voice.

Shit.

Jaxon jumps and looks at me confused.

"Is everything okay?"

"Yeah." High pitched.

"You sure? Because you're pretty loud." I didn't say anything and just nodded.

"Okayy. Let's go." I give him a tight lipped smile and start the engine.

The drive to school is silent and I couldn't help but start to feel anxious again.

My hands were starting to sweat and I hated it.

"Beautiful day isn't it?" Jaxon asks and I nod.

He doesn't say anything after that and I don't either.

Immediately I park the car in school, I dash out but not before giving Jaxon the keys.

"You lock it." I say quickly and I walk away.

"Smooth talk Summer." I hit my head with my palm as I enter my first class.

"Hey Summer." Chelsea greets me.

"Hi." I say dryly as I sit down.

"Why do you look so bummed?" She asks as I turn to her.

"Remember when I told you I wanted to talk to Jaxon yesterday?"

"Yeah. How did that turn out?" She sits well.

"Horrible. Not horrible but it wasn't what I was expecting."

"What was it?"

I turn fully to her.

"He told me he likes me." I say and she gasps.

"Really?"

I nod and she snaps her fingers.

"I knew it. I knew he liked you. With the way he looked at you, the way he talked to you, I just knew it."

"Good for you." I sigh.

"What's so sad about it? He likes you, you like him, so what's wrong?"

"I freaked out this morning. I went all high pitched when I picked him up this morning."

"Why?" She asks.

"It's weird. I was trying to make him fall for me, but here he's confessing his feelings for me. My mom told me it was shock."

"You told your mom?"

"Well, you were on a date and I didn't have anyone to talk to." I sigh again. "How was your date by the way?"

"Great. But that's not the issue right now. How are you going to face him if you went all high pitched."

"I know!" I groan. "I feel so awkward around him and he's just acting himself."

"Maybe you should too."

"I'm trying! I really am. But anytime I see or think about him, I get all anxious."

"I think you two need to talk."

I turn and hit my head on the table.

The bell rings signalling the start of first period.

....

I had the next class with Jaxon. Usually, we'd walk to class together but since I didn't want to see him, I got to class earlier.

I sat patiently and waited for the class to fill up. When I saw Jaxon walk in, I immediately put my head on the the desk as if I was asleep.

"Summer?" I hear him call my name but I don't answer. "Summer?" He calls again and I still don't answer.

"Okay class, settle down." The teacher walks in and I couldn't be more grateful.

....

During lunch, I gently pick on my food. I just kept hitting my head and groaning.

"You know you're gonna get a nasty headache if you keep that up and I'm not in the mood to play nurse." Chelsea says

"Gee thanks." I roll my eyes and I sight Jaxon and Austin nearing our table.

My eyes widen a bit.

Just as he sits down beside me and opens his mouth to talk, I pick up my tray, stand up and walk to Chelsea's side. Sitting beside her.

He frowns at me and I look away.

"Hey that's my seat!" Austin argues but I just ignore him.

He then sighs, sits beside Jaxon and puts his hand around his shoulder.

"Guess we gay now bro."

Jaxon swats his hand away.

"Fuck off."

"Private, got it!" Austin says.

I could feel Jaxon's gaze on me but I don't look up from my food.

Chelsea and Austin keep exchanging words and I only chip in a thing or two when needed.

Immediately the bell rings, I dash out of my sit, throwing my untouched lunch in the bin on my way out.

I don't make it far when my hand is pulled back, making me turn.

Shit.

"Summer is something wrong?" He asks immediately.

"No." High pitched. "Why would you think something's wrong? I'm perfectly fine. You're fine, I'm fine, we all fine!"

His face dawns in realization and he drops my hand.

"Are you like this because I told you I like you?" He asks and I scoff.

"Whatttttt? Pfft. Why would you think that?" I ask him.

"I wouldn't have told you if I had known this is how you'd react." He says and I sigh.

"Listen Jaxon, truthfully, I was shocked. I didn't expect you to tell me you liked me-"

"Like." He corrects me.

"Wha-"

"It's not liked, it's like. I like you as in present tense."

One day, my heart's going to have a heart attack.

"I didn't know you like me. It was sudden and I didn't know how to react."

"It's fine. I guess I didn't think it through." He scratches the back of his hair. "I'm sorry for making you feel uncomfortable but please don't avoid me." He pleads.

"It's-"

"The fact that I made you uncomfortable wasn't really comforting."

"I'm sorry for being weird."

"It's fine. It's normal but no more high pitched voice okay? It's so loud." He says and I push him gently.

"Whatever."

"I swear I went deaf this morning." He uses his pinky finger to rub his ear and I laugh.

He stops, stares at me and grins.

"What?" I ask him but he shakes his head.

"Nothing. Just thought of something."

"Right." I nod.

He puts his hand in his pocket and brings out his keys.

"I believe this is yours." He holds it out and I take it.

"Thanks." I smile at him.

"I have practice today so don't leave me behind okay?"

"One of these days, I just might do so."

"You wouldn't dare." He smiles and I chuckle.

"If you say so."

"We better get you to class if you don't want detention." He states.

"Class?" My eyes widens. "Shit! Class. I totally forgot!" I turn and begin to run to class.

"Bye Hathaway!" He shouts behind me.