When Our Worlds Collide

by Iler, Lindsey

  I ignore the urge to run into his arms as he turns around to face me. He has a look in his eyes that says he’s capable of conquering the world. That’s what makes him so damn charming.

  I don’t think anyone has seen Graham like I have. Most girls spend every waking hour in attempt to be a notch on his bed post where I will spend the rest of my life admiring the guy that he is. He’s strong, stronger than anyone knows. He lets me in when he won’t let anyone else.

  “You coming or what?” Graham’s grin is hypnotizing.

  I stand with my feet cemented to the same spot day dreaming. I barely hear the whispers around me. Violet jabs me in my ribcage.

  “Go give them hell, best friend,” she nods towards Graham who has his hand extended out to me.

  Every person in the room takes a deep breath holding it in waiting to see what I’m going to do. To see what my response would be to Graham’s public declaration of our relationship. I can’t move just yet. I feel the sides of my mouth turn up in a small grin. He winks in encouragement. That’s all it takes to make the gap between the two of us nonexistent. I reach Graham’s side and he tangles our hands together. In reassurance he gives my hand a light squeeze before releasing the hold and pressing his hand to the small of my back. There’s a release of breath from every one of our classmates as we come together. Graham doesn’t seem to notice or perhaps he’s keeping on a game face for me. Either way it doesn’t matter.

  Graham grabs different things from the lunch line refusing to release his hand from my back making it seem nearly impossible to carry water, two chicken sandwiches, and an order of fries but somehow he manages. I offer to help carry something, but he ignores me only to flash his go-to grin. He has to know how that affects me by how often he flashes it in my direction. No wonder girls are throwing themselves at him all the time. I now see how they get caught in his trap. He’s mesmerizing. It’s sort of annoying how he can jumble up your head to the point where you can barely see straight.

  Graham scans the lunch room that’s now filled. Everyone’s still focused on us as he escorts me to his usual table that’s filled with most of the baseball team, a few girls, and luckily Violet who’s giving me a sympathetic smile. Craig looks up at us with a sneer on his lips. I notice that there’s only one seat open beside Dan. It feels like they are trying to prove a point to Graham. I don’t belong here no matter whose hand I’m holding. They all tolerated my presence when I was accompanied by Craig. They weren’t going to be as forgiving with Graham.

  “Graham…” I whisper up at him just loud enough for him to hear but for everyone to be oblivious. “You should sit with your friends. I can go sit at another table.” Graham looks down at me as if I just told him I’m planning on drowning a litter of kittens. “What? Don’t act surprised that this is happening.”

  I can feel her before I see her coming up behind me. It’s in the way she walks with a purpose and I assume her purpose today is to make a fool out of me. All eyes are trained behind me as I stand there helpless.

  “Looks like there’s nowhere for you to sit, Kennedy. Serves you right for thinking you fit in with people like Graham,” Amanda says as if she believes every word. Her voice is full of venom. She glided by me sitting down on Craig’s lap. She gives me the dirtiest of looks. I’m not use to having that type of animosity thrown at me. I avoid looking back at her.

  I stand there silently scanning my eyes over the small crowd that overheard Amanda’s open ended threat. Violet looks as if she’s going to scratch Amanda’s eyes out. Her protectiveness is appreciated. Dan yanks on Violet’s arm to force her to sit back down. Others snicker under their breath. This is something that I will have to deal with on my own. I just don’t know how. Graham kisses me directly on my lips quick turning his attention on his friends. His hands slam down onto the table. The sound echoes throughout the cafeteria startling everyone.

  “You see that girl over there,” Graham points back towards me. “She’s not going anywhere, so I suggest that you all get used to seeing her around.”

  Glancing over towards Graham I see him standing defensively declaring our truth. These are the people who look at him with admiration and awe. He’s telling the people who’ve been in his life for much longer than I have that he’s putting it all on the line for me. Watching him leaves me with a sense of fear. I could love Graham until the day I die. I’m sure in my heart there will always be a place taken up by him. In the back of my mind there’s this fear that he might not love me for as long.

  That’s what everyone fears, right?

  …Not being loved enough to be held onto…

  Chapter Thirty-Eight

  -Graham-

  My blood is boiling.

  Oh, I’m fucking irate.

  These people are supposed to be my fucking friends. Some of them since elementary school, so why is it that I feel like an outsider now that Kennedy is on my side? I kiss Kennedy quickly. As soon as our lips touch I feel the familiar heat that runs down every limb leaving me wanting more. There’s something I need to do and it needs to be done quick. Like ripping off a band aide or setting a bone.

  I drop the food on the table slamming my hands down startling the ones closest to me. I look up and down the table trying to decide what I need to say. They all wait with eagerness in their eyes.

  “You see that girl over there,” I turn to face Kennedy who’s standing a few steps away looking as if she could build up the courage she would run away. I smile at her to try to encourage her strength. I know she has it deep down in that tiny body of hers somewhere hiding just dying to break out. “That girl isn’t going anywhere, so I suggest that you all get used to seeing her around.”

  “Graham!” Amanda tries to protest. “What exactly are you saying?” She sends a glare straight to Kennedy then turns on me. Her voice is full of venom just waiting to bite down into Kennedy.

  “What I’m saying is that Kennedy is going to be around as long as she is willing to put up with my bullshit, so I suggest everyone treats her with respect and nothing else. If you can’t do that then we’re going to have a problem,” I threaten everyone who I have ever considered a friend taking extra time to glare down at Craig and Amanda.

  I turned to see Kennedy’s stunned expression. She shrugs her shoulder in acceptance to my admission. I reach out grabbing her hand and turn to face the group again. “You all probably know who she is, but if you don’t this is Kennedy Conrad, my girlfriend.”

  Amanda’s jaw drops to the floor along with a several others. The expression on Kennedy’s best friend, Violet’s face is the most comforting. A smile covers her porcelain face and for a split second I think she’s going to break out into a slow clap. Luckily, she doesn’t. Instead she stands to sit on Dan’s lap. Everyone moves down to make room for the two of us together.

  “I don’t know if she’ll put up with your shit for too long, but there’s always a seat open for her,” Violet laughs at her own joke winking at the two of us. I put my arm around Kennedy’s waist dragging her ass to where her best friend is sitting. Kennedy settles in next to me and I continue to hold her hand under the table running circles around her thumb.

  Everyone stays quiet. There are a few whispers here and there, but they’re all wrapped up in their own conversations to pay much attention to us anymore, at least most of them. I look down the table to see Amanda’s seductive eyes cast over me almost threatening. Craig’s anger is piercingly eerie as he glares down to our end of the table. I throw up my middle finger at him pleased to see the punch that I landed this morning is going to serve as a reminder to him until it heals.

  “That was quite the show, dude,” Dan raises an eyebrow at me then looks over at Kennedy who’s concentrating way too hard on the table in front of her. She’s out of place with no help from Amanda. I refuse to let her continue to feel like that for too long. I meant what I said by wherever I’m at she will be.

  “It was incredibly romantic,” Violet kicks Kennedy under the table
to grab her attention. “Snap out of it. This boy just declared that you are his girlfriend to anyone who was listening and he doesn’t do girlfriends.” Violet points at me smirking.

  “Thanks for that Violet,” I stifle my own laughter.

  “She has a point, Bro. You’re more of the in and out, snag em’ and bag em’ type of guy. Something tells me that either she has a rocking ass body under those clothes or she managed to get under your skin and doesn’t care about how big of an ass you are,” Dan says wiggling his eyebrows at the two of us. Violet slaps him across the back of the head. If she wasn’t going to do it then I sure as hell was.

  “Wouldn’t you like to know, Dan,” I throw a French fry at him landing it square between his eyes.

  “Anyways…” Violet exaggerated the word making it sound like five syllables instead of three. “What’s the plan for this weekend? Obviously we are not going to Craig’s.” My eyes are practically screaming ‘Shut the hell up’ but it’s too late.

  “We have a game Friday which means that there will be a party afterwards. We don’t ever miss them,” Dan glares daggers at Violet who’s clearly not looking to back down from this fight.

  “We aren’t going this weekend, Dan. End of story, so you can either make plans with the three of us or you can go to that party and jerk yourself off,” Violet’s voice rises enough for Dan to know she means business, but not loud enough for anyone else to hear.

  “I swear to God woman, you’re a pain in my ass. Since you asked so fucking nicely I suppose that there is no other choice. What are we doing then?” Dan looks across the table at me for answers.

  “Don’t look at me. As you all have kindly reminded me today, I don’t do girlfriends so I don’t know the first thing about planning a date,” I explain taking a bite out of my chicken sandwich.

  “You guys haven’t gone on a date, but somehow you’ve managed to make Kennedy your girlfriend. Niiiice,” Dan jokes like the idiot he is.

  “You two seriously haven’t been on a single date? What the hell have you guys been doing?” Violet questions the both of us. Kennedy glances up at me through her eyelashes and smiles.

  “We’ve made it work,” Kennedy tells her best friend. She has the most adorable innocent smile, but I know better. I bend down kissing her on the cheek.

  The rest of lunch is spent making plans for the weekend. We all go with the safe choice for our double date. Dinner and maybe watching a movie back at Violet’s house. It will be Kennedy and mine’s first real date. Hell, it will be my first date ever.

  I spend the last fifteen minutes staying quiet. I watch Kennedy as she laughs at every outlandish word that comes out of Violet’s mouth. How they managed to become friends in the first place is beyond me. Violet’s…well she’s Violet. Her reputation speaks for itself. She’s this obnoxious firecracker. Violet believes that biting her tongue is against her religion. Kennedy’s kind hearted, forgiving and can’t hurt a fly especially with her words, except for me. I’m not the rule. I’m the exception. I’m her exception.

  Everyone is scattering up from the lunch tables around us, but I don’t move. I hold onto Kennedy’s hand in a way that conveys exactly what I need from her. Violet waits a few paces for Kennedy to fall in line with her, but she doesn’t move staying close to my side. Violet gets the hint smiling down at us before catching up with Dan to jump on his back demanding a piggy back ride. Kennedy and I laugh at her antics.

  “What’s on your mind, Black?” Kennedy asks as she turns her blue eyes on me.

  “Just want to make sure you’re okay after this morning with Craig then after that shit Amanda pulled,” I watch her closely to see if her expression changes. It doesn’t waver for a second.

  “Well boyfriend,” she says the word as if it’s a love song. “I am fine. You don’t need to worry about me. I’m stronger than I appear.”

  “I know you are. I just…its hard watching people treat you like that in front of me. I meant what I said earlier, Kennedy. I’ll be here with you as long as you’ll have me.”

  Kennedy places a hand on the side of my face. “What if that’s tomorrow or maybe next month?” Her face is full of seriousness.

  “If that’s what you wanted then I’d let you have it. Not saying it wouldn’t hurt like hell. My reputation with girls isn’t the greatest, but there’s one promise that I can make you. It’s all I have to give that even can remotely mean anything. You are different.” Kennedy leans in kissing me gently. The unpredictable sparks shoot through my veins. Her body’s resting against mine as we deepen the kiss. It’s a strange feeling to know what her naked body feels up against mine, but still the simplest of touch can still bring me to my knees just as easily.

  “Has anyone ever told you how adorably sweet you are?” Kennedy tilts her head to the side. My eyebrow quirks up with the word sweet.

  “I don’t think anyone’s ever accused me of being sweet,” I say. Kennedy and I are swimming in unchartered territory.

  Kennedy isn’t flying under the radar like she believed she was all this time. She sticks to herself. It’s well known that she doesn’t have boyfriends, or fool around with anyone on the weekends like the vast majority of us. She’s straight laced and I’m…well I’m just not.

  Of course all the other girls I have hooked up with in the past I felt an attraction too, but it was never like it is with Kennedy. I’m far too in tuned to every move she makes and aware of the simplest things about her that’s enough to throw me into a feeding frenzy. It isn’t possible to get enough of her. Where she is concerned I’ll always want more. Even hearing her voice causes my breath to deepen in want. With Kennedy I’m in trouble. She will be the one who gives me a run for my money.

  “I’m putting a lot of trust in you, you know? This morning I thought that all of the crap that’s been thrown at us was the universes way of trying to halt whatever this is, but when I walked out and saw you leaning against your car I remembered what my mom said. It all came flooding back to me forcing me to admit that what I thought was bullshit. You can’t look at someone the way you do me and not mean what you say,” Kennedy explains.

  “What did your mom say to you?” I ask curiously.

  “That you look at me as if your world starts and ends with me…” The thought trails off leaving me feeling sort of in shock. I didn’t know I was being that obvious of my feelings for her.

  “She’s right, you know?” I spin my leg over the side of the bench hugging Kennedy closer to my body.

  “I know that now and I trust you when you say it,” her voice is low as she leans her head against my chest. Kennedy’s clearly thinking about something. “We should probably get to Government class. I’m sure we’re already late.”

  Kennedy gets up from the table and I quickly jump up to grab her crutches for her. She smiles in appreciation. As always I fight the urge of throwing her down on the cafeteria floor to have my way with her.

  As if she can read my mind, she looks at me sideways grinning. “I know that look on your face. Come on. Let’s get to class before you follow through on those dirty thoughts you’re having.”

  Like I said…Kennedy’s going to give me a run for my money.

  Chapter Thirty-Nine

  -Kennedy-

  Our classmate’s loud stares turn into silent glances by Friday. This makes my life much easier, at the very least more manageable. I no longer have to scurry to and from class in fear of being stared at when I’m just near Graham. Let alone letting them all see us holding hands or showing any sign of our relationship. It seems that they all are getting used to the idea. I know I am. It feels natural to have Graham stare longingly at me across the hallway or kiss me on the cheek before hurrying to the baseball field for practice. He sends me sweet text throughout the day just to let me know he’s thinking about me. Everything appears to be as close to perfect as I can hope for.

  I understand everyone’s apprehension about us. Accepting Graham with anyone, even a loser like me, is foreign t
erritory. His relationships have never extended outside of the bedroom. It’s unheard of and it’s no surprise that some are turning out to be reluctant on letting me into their world. I’m even hesitant on entering it myself.

  By six o’clock, my skin is crawling. Graham and I have spent every waking hour together between his baseball practices and games and my doctor’s appointments. I got the news that I no longer need to have the cast on. Apparently my injury is healed to the point where it isn’t necessary to have that clunky cast on. I will have to wear a walking boot for the time being. You will not find me complaining though. Anything beats having to move around with those stupid crutches.

  “Will you please stop fidgeting,” Violet barks the command as she turns the radio down in her car. “You will see him soon enough.”

  “Not if you keep driving like you’re ninety-five years old,” I joke flipping through my cellphone to see a missed text from Graham.

  Try not being so distracting tonight, k? Coach threatened to not allow you to come to games anymore after what happened at practice yesterday.

  My laughter permeated Violet’s mustang remembering Coach yelling at him from the dugout. Violet and I were sitting on the bleachers working on homework because Graham demanded that I waited for him. Let’s just say after Mark started yelling at Graham to pay attention to his signals instead of watching the bleachers, Coach stood in front of where I was standing to try to block the distraction.

  I send him back a quick text telling him good luck. In response I receive one back with a little wink smiley face. We’re that couple.