Free What I Didn't Say by Keary Taylor Page A

island.   There were two text messages, one from Mom and one from Jordan.  Mom was going to kill Jordan for texting during class.
    How’s things going? Mom’s first text read.   You doing okay? the second said.
    Jordan’s said practically the same thing.
    I had just finished texting them both that things were fine when the bell rang, signaling the end of first period.  I pulled the hood of my jacket up over my head and tried to sink into the floor as much as I could as students came pouring out of class rooms and into the hall.  As soon as I was sure the classroom was empty, I slipped into Physics.
    Mr. Roy didn’t even glance up at me as I settled into a seat near the back of the classroom, grateful that he didn’t assign seats.  Hopefully I wasn’t stealing anyone’s regular seat.  I couldn’t be sure since this was one of my rearranged classes.  I pulled my book out and started rummaging through my notes, attempting to look busy and keeping to myself beneath the protective cover of my hood.
    I heard someone slide into the seat next to me as the warning bell rang, other bodies shuffling through the door.  I stole a sideways glance.  My heart jumped into my throat when I saw Samantha was the one sitting right next to me.  She did a little double take, her eyes locking with mine.
    “Jake?” she said, leaning forward.  She pushed her bangs out of her eyes in that adorably annoying way of hers.  “Hey, I didn’t realize you were switching into this class.”
    I tried to manage a smile and pressed a finger to my lips, glancing around to see if anyone had heard her.  Eyes had flashed to my face, including Mr. Roy’s.  I glanced back at Sam and saw her mouth “sorry” and give an apologetic smile.
    “Mr. Hayes,” Mr. Roy said as he rose from his seat and started walking toward me as students continued to fill the classroom.  “Glad to have you back.  Principal Hill called me just a few minutes ago to let me know you were transferring to this hour.”
    I could only nod.
    “If you need any help getting caught up with everything we’ve gone over since you’ve been gone, just let me know.  Your homework has all looked fine.”
    Thanks, I scratched on the notebook in front of me.
    Mr. Roy looked at my page contemplatively for a moment, and then glanced at my face.  He gave a little grunt that I didn’t quite understand, and then sauntered back toward the front of the classroom as the tardy bell sounded.
    As Mr. Roy started rattling off about stuff that I really didn’t understand, a folded piece of paper was flicked onto my desk from the right.  I glanced over at Sam as I reached for it.  She stared intently at what the teacher was scrawling on the whiteboard.
    Sorry, it read.  I didn’t mean to expose you.
    I read it twice, glancing back over at Samantha once.  My chest broke out into a weird little sprint.
    No worries, I replied.  They’re all going to see me eventually.  I flicked the note back onto her desk.  She very stealthily wrapped her fingers around it and opened the page under her desk.
    A small, sad smile spread on her face as she turned her attention back to the lecture.
    I had no idea what we were supposed to be learning about that day.

 
    3 hours since stepping into the spotlight
     
    The bell finally rang, ending second period.  I couldn’t decide if the hour had gone by too fast, or not nearly fast enough.  Samantha gave me a little sideways smile as she left the room, her books gathered up into her chest.
    I sighed and shook my head as I slid my things back into my backpack, and pulled my hood over my head again.
    Man, I’m pathetic.  What am I?  Some love struck girl? I thought to myself.
    Somehow I made it to my next classroom without anyone seeing me, or at least I didn’t see them seeing me.  My independent study class was located at the far end of the high school, in a room that was only used to teach ancient world history one period a day.
    Whoever my