Doris scooped her books into her bag and left the classroom, grinning like a kid on Christmas morning. School was finally over, and she couldn't wait to see Bob. While the original plan was to head straight home and wait for his arrival, she couldn't resist the urge to see him once more, and maybe even steal a kiss.
Rounding a hallway, she stretched her neck to peek into his classroom but couldn't see much. She pushed the door open and glanced around.
Empty.
Maybe he'd gone home to get ready.
The thought made her smile.
She spotted Bob's cousin, Bruce, at the back of the class, gathering his things.
"Hey, Bruce," she greeted as she approached.
He glanced up, nudging his glasses up the bridge of his nose. "Yo, Doris. What's up?"
"All good. Have you seen Bobby?"
A flicker of pity crossed his face before he looked away. "Yeah. He left a few minutes ago, headed toward the restroom. He shouldn't be far."
Bruce knew how bad things were between her and Bob, hence the look. But it wasn't his business.
"Thanks," Doris said, already hurrying toward the door. If she moved fast, she might still catch him.
Leaving the classroom, she headed in the direction of the male restroom, practically skipping with anticipation. Most of the classes were nearly empty. No one at Pearson High wasted time lingering after school. Anyone who wanted to hang out usually did so in the parking lot. Only those wanting to make out or cause trouble stuck around, at their own risk.
She had almost reached the restroom when she heard the scrape of a chair from the classroom ahead.
Doris craned her neck to peer through the window. She couldn't see clearly, but she could make out two figures: a male and a female.
"Horny freaks," she muttered and was about to walk away until the guy mumbled something.
She froze.
That voice.
No. It couldn't be. No...
Doris gently pushed open the door, needing to confirm what she already knew in her gut. Although every fiber of her being told her the guy in the room was Bob, a small part of her still clung to denial.
He had asked her on a date after all. He had promised to be better.
Bob had his back to her. The girl was pressed against the wall, her hands tangled in his hair, his hands roaming her body.
They were so consumed by their kissing that they hadn't noticed Doris enter.
She just stood there, frozen. Dumbfounded. Until the tears stung her eyes.
Then she quietly turned and ran.
She ran out of the building, unable to hold back the tears or the heart-wrenching cries that escaped her lips. She didn't care who saw. She just ran.
Her vision blurred, but she didn't stop. Not until she slammed into something or someone.
Her face slammed into a solid chest, knocking the wind out of her and sending her bag sprawling. She hit the floor, landing hard on her butt.
"Shit. Are you okay?" a deep, concerned voice asked.
She didn't respond, instead simply rolled to her knees and frantically gathered the scattered contents of her bag.
"Let me help you." Two hands grabbed her gently by the arms and pulled her to her feet just as she tried to stand.
Doris patted her disheveled hair and looked up, only to freeze on the spot.
It was Taylor.
She had bumped into Taylor.
Even as Doris stared at him, tears still blurring her vision, she couldn't help thinking he looked absolutely gorgeous. His hazel eyes were warm and kind, oddly calming in the middle of her emotional storm.
His sandy brown hair was tousled, swept in all directions by the wind, and she'd never seen anyone look so effortlessly handsome with ruffled hair.
Bob never grew his hair that long.
Bob...
The name alone snapped her back to reality. The image of him kissing that girl flashed across her mind, making her stomach twist with nausea.
"Are you okay? That was quite a hit you took," Taylor said, reaching out to brush a few strands of hair away from her face.
The simple gesture sent heat rushing to her cheeks and raised goosebumps along her arms. Embarrassed, Doris stumbled back a step, then bolted.
He called after her, saying something she didn't catch, nor cared to. She just needed to get out of school, crawl into the safety of her bedroom, and cry her heart out.
******
THE NEXT DAY
"I'm so sorry, honey. You're better off without him anyway," Charlotte said, pulling Doris into a hug. "Serves the jerk right. I bet he didn't think you had it in you."
Doris pulled away, sniffling as she dabbed at her damp eyes with a tissue.
She had broken up with Bob over the phone the previous evening. He'd been surprised she'd caught him cheating and tried to talk her out of leaving, but she was done.
The thought of seeing him at school again made her stomach churn. And as if things weren't already miserable enough, she'd realized when she got home yesterday that she'd lost her journal. It must've fallen when she ran into Taylor. That had probably been what he was trying to tell her before she bolted.
Speaking of Taylor, she still didn't understand why her body had reacted the way it did when he'd touched her... barely touched her.
"I'm going to the girls' room to fix my makeup. Wanna come?" Charlotte asked gently.
"Nah," Doris shook her head. "I've got to get ready for Spanish and P.E. anyway."
"Alright. I'll catch you in Phys Ed?"
"Yup."
Doris watched her friend walk away before opening her locker, digging around for her Spanish textbook, desperately trying to shake the vivid memory of Bob kissing that girl.
******
Taylor had been struck dumb the moment the girl crashed into him. The impact was harsh, causing her to fall to the ground after hitting his chest with considerable force.
Dazed, he had watched as she scrambled to gather her things, moving so quickly it left him speechless.
Strands of long black hair fell over her face as she moved, the rest cascading down past her waist. When he finally helped her up, he recognized her... the girl everyone talked about. The one with the exceptionally long hair.
He was fascinated.
Although her face was a bit flushed from the collision, when she eventually looked up and met his eyes, Taylor felt the breath catch in his throat. The girl staring back at him was a bombshell.
Her bangs stopped just above her eyebrows, and huge, prominent green eyes gazed up at him. They held the hint of tears, yet they were still the most beautiful eyes he'd ever seen.
Immediately, a rush of empathy cut through him. What could possibly bring someone so beautiful so much sorrow?
He already knew the answer.
It was a boy. It was always a boy.
An utterly foolish one.
"Taylor... Taylor, hey!" Ryan snapped his fingers in front of his face.
They had arrived at school and were hanging out in the parking lot before class began. Taylor shook his head, realizing he had zoned out again, thinking about the green-eyed girl from yesterday. He'd only held her for a moment, and yet, he couldn't get her out of his mind.
Especially her eyes.
Those damn green eyes.
"The girl who bumped into you yesterday," Ryan said.
"Yeah? What about her?" Taylor asked carefully, trying to mask the desperation in his voice. He'd barely slept the night before.
"Her name's Doris. Doris Dayton."
"How'd you find out?" he asked.
"There's only one person in Pearson High with a description like that... insanely long black hair to her ass and pretty green eyes," Tobey chimed in. "Besides, she used to be on the cheerleading squad with my girl, Brenda."
"Used to? Why did she leave?" Taylor asked, curiosity piqued.
"Brenda said a rumor went around that her boyfriend had a fling with the leader of the squad."
"No way. Ann?" Ryan asked incredulously. He got off the hood of his car and guffawed. "What kinda dumbass cheats on a knockout like Doris?"
"A fucking idiot," Taylor muttered, staring down at the small journal in his hand before tucking it into his back pocket.
She'd failed to notice it, hidden under a shrub when she fled the scene yesterday.
"Come on, let's go. Don't wanna be late for class," he said, tipping his head toward the school building. Both guys grabbed their bags.
"So you gonna give her back her journal?" Ryan asked as they headed for the entrance.
"Sure," Taylor replied, then turned to Tobey. "You also found out where her locker's located, yeah?"
"Sure thing. I'll show it to you."
"Thanks, man." Taylor clapped him on the shoulder in appreciation.
It sounded crazy, but he couldn't wait to see her again.