The Heart's a Fool

Everyday I walk down the halls and through the school, stopping and looking over my shoulder. Every day I can see him behind me. His light blond hair perfectly ruffled, his dark brown eyes skimming across me and back to his friends. My heart races, my cheeks burn with anger. Already I can hear him whisper my name. Laughter is followed. My heart races faster but now it’s for different reasons. How could he do this? How could he be so careless?

I can hear him whisper things about me and I try my hardest to ignore it. I put my bag in my locker, slowly turning the lock and pretending to look for something. I notice that they’ve all gone quiet, probably looking at me. I ignore them. I always do.

My heart is still racing, my throat still feels dry, and I still feel like I could be sick at any moment.

But it’s time to get up. I walk past them with my head down, trying to get past them as quickly as I can. But they laugh again. He says something which I can’t hear as the door has shut behind me. My cheeks burn even more as a single tear emerges, almost incinerating my cheek as it runs away.

I can deal with it. I always do.

But there is just one thing I don’t understand.

Why do I like him?