Page 28 of Unmasking You

“About coming over today…”

A thump inside my heart, and agony spreads inside my body. “Are you not coming?” Why does the thought make me want to smash something or plead with him not to leave me behind?

“I am,” he says, and all the darkness disappears into the light of happiness. “Are you sure your family is okay with it?”

I didn’t really ask them, and I never talk about Jamie because I’m sure if my dad saw how happy he makes me, he’d take him away.

“Yeah. No one is going to be there.”

“Okay,” he says, and I love the way he turns red and bends his head to hide his face.

I resist the urge to lean closer and place a kiss on his cheek, but I can’t avoid my face becoming as red as Jamie’s.

I push my leg closer to his, and I lean over. “Let’s have lunch together,” I whisper, looking at his face. I love the shy smile spreading there, and I want it to stay there forever.

The bell rings, and I pull back quickly, but then slowly lean against the backrest as if I have no cares in the world. Out of the corner of my eye, I watch as Jamie jumps up and begins collecting his stuff.

Looking around to make sure no one witnesses what I’m about to do, I reach out to him, and with a finger, I caress the side of his hand. He stops but doesn’t look at me. Now that I have his attention, I whisper, “Meet me at our usual place.”

His head moves up and down once, and then he’s gone.

“Shane, my man, are you coming with us?” Dan asks.

“No, man. I have something to do.”

“Aren’t you a busy bee?”

I don’t like his tone, and I like it less when he leans closer, and even less when he talks. “Are you meeting your girlfriend?”

The way he says “meeting” makes my stomach revolt. Sometimes I really wish I could tell Dan to fuck off and let me be, but our fathers are friends so I have to live with it. He reminds me of my dad when he acts like this.

“I don’t have a girlfriend, and you should know, as I spend most of my time with you and the guys.”

“True, true,” he says, and he’s once again the cool guy I like to spend time with.

Sometimes, though, he acts like a jealous prick and says things that make me uncomfortable, and that’s the reason I’ve never brought Jamie into our group.

“I’ll see you later, Dan.”

“Okay.”

I turn around because I can’t shake the feeling he’s still looking at me, but I’m glad when I turn around that he’s talking to Tom and Toby.

I rush through the corridors because I need the calm Jamie brings. He’s someone I’m not exhausted by. In fact, he’s the battery I recharge from.

I find him sitting in our usual place, nearly disappearing behind a large plant. Today, though, I need something more because the dread of something coming is taking my breath away.

Looking around, I don’t see anyone else, so even though I know I shouldn’t, I take his hand and bring him somewhere I know we’ll be alone. “Come with me.”

At the far end of the property, there’s a small pond protected by trees. Few students know about this place, but during those moments when I couldn’t wear the mask I’m expected to, I explored this part of the school.

“Wow.” Jamie’s voice washes over me and has the calming effect I was hoping for.

“Yeah, it’s beautiful here,” I say, stopping in front of the pond and letting the stillness of the water calm my nerves a bit more.

Jamie perches on a flat rock and pulls a box out of his bag. He always has the most amazing food. I don’t even know if I’ve ever eaten anything cooked by my mum.

“Where’s your lunch?”

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