Free (in)visible by Talie D. Hawkins

confused and wishing he hadn’t stopped. “Sorry. If I don’t stop now, I could get a little too carried away,” he admitted as he caught his breath. “I saw snow plows on the road earlier. That probably means we’ll have school tomorrow.” All sorts of questions popped into my head after he said it. It must have shown on my face. “What are you thinking about?”
    “What happens now? At school?”
    “What do you mean?” He looked confused.
    “With us?”
    “Oh. Well, I hope I can hold your hand when we walk down the halls.” He was grinning his boyish grin that made me melt. “Why are you asking me that? Are you assuming I’d pretend I didn’t know you or something?” He said it playfully but when I didn’t answer he sat up and his face turned serious. I could tell by the way his jaw tensed up that he was a little angry. “Is that really what you’re thinking?”
    “I’m sorry, I don’t know what to think. This is all so new to me.”
    “That’s not what you want, is it?”
    “No! Of course not!”
    “Meg, I want to walk in together tomorrow, with my arm around you. I want everyone to know that you’re mine. You are mine, aren’t you?” It was a fair question. We hadn’t really made declarations to one another.
    “I’m yours...if you want me to be.” He didn’t answer with words. Instead he pulled me into another kiss that made my head spin.
     
    Later that night I was reminded of him every time I put lip balm on my deliciously sore lips. We made plans for him to pick me up for school and I tried to get a good night’s sleep, but that was difficult because my brain buzzed with thoughts of Jake.
    I watched for him the next morning. When he pulled up I ran outside, saving him the trouble of getting out in the cold. My hair was pulled into two loose braids under my slouchy beanie, and I hoped I looked ok.
    “Are you ready?” he asked as I buckled in.
    “Yep.” I thought to myself that this would be an interesting day.
     
    He opened my door for me when we got to school, and we walked up the steps with our fingers laced together. There were a few sideways glances at the two of us together, and one look would have killed us if it were possible. Logan was leaning near my locker- no doubt waiting for me- but stormed off once he saw me walk in with my hand in Jake’s.
    “What the hell was that?” he asked, a little defensively.
    “I honestly have no clue.” It was the truth.
    “Meg, were you and Logan....” he didn’t finish as he ran a frustrated hand into his hair.
    “No! There’s nothing there.”
    “I’m not sure he’d agree.”
    I had to wonder if he was right. My thoughts were interrupted when someone new joined us. Jake’s face grew into a huge smile, and he high-fived the other kid.
    “Do you know Lance?” he asked me.
    “I have chemistry with you, right?”
    “Sure do,” he said with a smile that was genuine and warm.
    “Lance has been my best friend since first grade.” Lance gave him a wrinkled look with a question in it. It had to be about me. “Lance has also known about my hard-core crush on you.”
    “Ah, so I take it she knows how you feel about her?”
    I could feel my face go bright red.
    “I hope so,” he said, looking at me instead of Lance.
    I looked down at my feet, knowing I my cheeks were probably the color of a tomato. We heard the warning bell, and with a little peck on the top of my head, we parted ways.
     
    During class I felt like all eyes were on me. It could have been my imagination, but it was hard to focus on classwork when I was getting curious glances from everyone. Plus, I had Jake on the brain in a huge way. I reminded myself that I needed to focus so my college apps would be perfect, and that took my mind to a whole new area. Would I want to leave Jake?
    After class, I headed to get some notes I needed and found Logan leaning against my locker. He didn’t say anything when I walked up. I crossed my arms over my chest defensively.