Free Present Perfect by Alison G. Bailey Page B

few times before starting to speak.
    “You know what, forget I asked,” I interrupted and began to quickly gather my stuff. Standing I took one step in front of Noah before he grabbed my wrist.
    “Don’t run away from me. Sit back down.” His voice was steady and raspy. I took a deep breath and sat beside him. We didn’t look at each other. “I felt guilty. I know I’m getting ready to sound like a pussy, but I was disappointed that you didn’t ask me.”
    “I didn’t know you wanted to go.”
    “I don’t give a shit about going to a dance. I wanted to go with you and I was hoping you would want to go with me, but you never said anything. When Beth asked I said yes for some reason. I wished I hadn’t after it came out of my mouth. She seemed so excited and happy. I couldn’t tell her I changed my mind.”
    “Why’d you feel guilty?”
    “I don’t know. It felt like I was cheating on you.” He paused for a moment, as if he were struggling with what to say next. Looking over at me, he said, “Tweet, I’ve been having certain thoughts and feelings about you.”
    I sat in silence. My head was spinning. I wasn’t prepared for this conversation. I could feel my throat starting to close up. The muscles in my neck and shoulders were tightening. I needed to get away from here. Noah’s words were replaced by a whooshing sound in my ears as heart and pulse rates rose. Then I felt a warm hand touch mine and it brought me back. I turned my head to see a pair of light blue eyes that I could get lost in.
    “I think about you all the time, Tweet,” he said, lacing his fingers through mine.
    “It’s nice to be thought about.” To date, that was one of the stupidest things I had ever said.
    He smirked at me. “When you’re around, I want to touch you, hold your hand, or put my arms around you. I want to kiss you again.” He continued to hold my gaze, looking for some reaction on my face and in my eyes.
    I swallowed a big gulp of air. I was ten seconds away from a full on panic attack. I could feel beads of sweat starting to form on my forehead and neck. My throat closed a little more and my muscles twisted even tighter. I didn’t know what to say, so I did what I usually do. I ran.
    “Um…Noah, I have to go.”
    Those beautiful eyes that were filled with caring a second earlier looked shocked, hurt, and pissed off. “You’re leaving?!” He definitely sounded pissed.
    “I need to go check and make sure Tony got enough pictures and…um… Look, I’m sorry. I’ll see you later. Thanks again for the interview.” I had been clutching my backpack in one hand while Noah held the other. I got up and walked quickly away, pulling my hand free from his grip.

 
    Honesty is not always the best policy when it hurts the person you care about the most and pushes them away.
     

     
    I hung out in the journalism classroom for an hour before heading home. My hope was that Noah had already left school. I felt horrible running away from him like I did, especially since he had been so wonderful and sweet. He caught me off guard. I don’t do well on the fly, not when it comes to important things. I just needed some time to clear my head and collect my thoughts.
    Brenda, a senior student reporter, was nice enough to give me a ride home. I entered my house taking in the aroma of my mom’s five star spaghetti sauce. Tossing my backpack on the kitchen counter, I found Mom hard at work frosting a chocolate cake.
    “Hey. Mom,” I said as I grabbed a bottle of water from the fridge. I walked over to where she was and leaned back against the counter. “What ‘cha doing?”
    “Well, sweetie, I’m spackling the walls,” she said, throwing a quick smirk my way.
    “People often ask me where I get my smart-assness from,” I said.
    “Do you let them know it’s from your father’s side of the family? You know they’re all afflicted.”
    I noticed the table was set for six. There were only three of us in the house now that