Thirty-Three

News of the fight spread around quickly, and it was all anyone talked about for two days. Usually there was something else to gossip about, but this was about the school's loner and most hated girl. I was dating Devon Quid, and despite not having done anything besides kiss twice, we were every goth, punk, and freak kids' ideal couple. Half the kids who came up to me ask to about him I didn't know, and I didn't appreciate people trying to weasel their way into my business.

One of the good things about being with Devon was the fact that a lot of girls quit their glaring and gossiping over my friendship with Buddy. Some girls still hated me, but a lot became indifferent because their biggest enemy was no longer a threat. It also became an excuse to talk to me about Buddy and what he was looking for in a girlfriend. I had half the mind to say it was someone just like me, but they weren't worth my attention.

It seemed like everywhere I went, people were staring at me. Though that was largely because of Devon following me around everywhere, I went like a lost puppy. Wherever I sat in class, he was right next to me. And since we were dating and shared the back corner of the math classroom, our teacher continuously glanced at us, prompting our classmates to as well. The attention was driving Devon insane, but he calmed down after a few days. The entire school seemed to calm down, and Devon's return was normal.

Buddy and a few of his friends were seated at our usual table, leaving two seats open for Devon and I. He followed me into the cafeteria and sat beside me, scooching his chair closer to me and placing his hand on my back. A group of girls at the neighboring table cooed and complained about how they wished their partners would do the same for them.

I should have been grateful that Devon was treating me with a lot of kindness and wasn't going around and getting into trouble, but the attention was horrible. I missed it when people would glare at me for being next to Buddy and start rumors he would quickly diminish. I missed the normalcy I grew accustomed to. Buddy noticed it, and I was sure Devon did as well.

"Do you want me to grab you a drink?"

"Yes, please," I whispered.

Devon smiled, kissed my temple (earning a few squeals from the same girls), and left the table for the canteen.

"You look miserable," Terry stated.

"Gee, thanks," I deadpanned.

"I don't mean that in a bad way." He leaned in and whispered, "Unless it is in a bad way."

"No, I'm just sick of people fawning over me," I loudly stated, as I turned to glare at the group of girls. They may have ducked their head, but they still whispered. "Why can't I be old news again? Why can't the girls go back to hating me for being your friend?" I asked Buddy.

"Because you outgrew those rumors. Now it's time to for you to distill your own sex rumors."

I gawked. "Is that a thing people are actually talking about?"

"Yes," everyone at the table stated.

"It's bad," Buddy frowned.

I groaned. "Sure, you kiss a guy once, and it's innocent. Kiss him twice, and everyone think you've slept with him."

"You've only kissed twice?" Brandi, Terry's girlfriend, asked.

"We haven't done anything but kiss. We haven't even gone on a proper date yet."

"Oh, Mel," Buddy frowned.

"Shut up," I groaned.

Devon walked back to the table and placed a water bottle in front of me before wrapping his arm back around me. The conversation was quickly dropped, instead focusing on an Algebra test Terry took.

Devon rubbed my back in slow circles throughout lunch and didn't say a word to anyone. I hardly spoke either, but Devon purposefully didn't talk to anyone. Not in a cocky way, just his usual shyness.

After the last class of the day, Buddy walked to my seat in the back and demanded we talk. Devon stared at us with wide eyes, and Buddy motioned with his head for him to give us privacy.

"I'll meet you outside," Devon said before leaving the class.

"Dude," I deadpanned.

"Just wait here for a minute for the halls to empty. Then people won't be staring at you."

"Aww, look at you, trying to be all helpful," I smirked. "You're such a good friend."

"Yeah, yeah, shut up," he groaned. "Look, is it true that you two haven't been on an actual date yet?"

"Why do I feel like this is a trap?"

"It's not. I'm curious."

"No, in the past week since he came back to school, we have not been on a date."

"Do you know when you're going to go on a date with him?"

"This is a trap."

"Mel- I'm worried about what you said about you not having time with him. If it's this bad already, what's going to happen in the future?"

"That's not why we haven't gone out yet. We literally have not talked about what exactly we are. We're sort of dating. We like each other. We're exclusive but we aren't using titles. I have no idea what the fuck is going on. Plus, it's been a week. I'm either practicing or studying- And yes, we've studied together, and no, that's not a euphemism."

He chuckled. "Okay, okay. Come on." We exited the classroom and walked towards the back parking lot. "I just want to make sure you have time to spend with him now, because if you don't, your relationship really will fail."

"It's weird, because we're not doing anything romantic, really. We study, and yeah, we've made out, but it's not a lot. We don't cuddle on his couch, we never hold hands. Him rubbing my back today was the most he's done in public with me."

"Besides that head kiss," he snickered. "Like a gang sign of protection."

"Oh, God," I whined.

"I'm kidding!" he quickly stated. "I'm kidding. I swear."

I sighed. "Are you sure you're okay talking about this?"

"It's part of your life. I can't ignore it. Plus, it's going to help me move on," he shrugged. "I have to say, though, it's awesome being his friend. I hardly get crowded anymore since the girls are afraid to talk to him. I feel like I'm getting peace at school now."

"That's because all the girls ask me about you since Devon follows me around like a lovesick puppy."

He smirked. "Admit it, you like it."

"Yes, and no. It's weird. Like, I like him being around me and everything, but it feels territorial."

"Like's protecting you."

I shrugged. "I guess. I'm just not really used to it."

"At least you have less than a year to go. And by the time we come back for the spring semester, you two will be old news."

"Unless we remain America's Favorite Couple," I mocked before gagging at the end. "I just want my relationship with him to be private. I only have a limited amount of time left to spend with him, and I can't enjoy it with everyone inspecting us and waiting for us to kiss. I feel like the fucking protagonist of a romance novel. All I want to do is play drums! Why is that so hard?"

"Now I see why you didn't want to date anyone," he muttered. "Mel, calm down. People are going to stare and watch. Learn to ignore it. Let this be your test for when you finally make it as a famous drummer." He wrapped his arm around my neck and dramatically waved his hand in front of us. "Paparazzi will hound you. Gossip columns will talk about you."

"Like the song Tatler Magazine," I murmured in awe.

"Exactly. Get used to it now with a bunch of high schoolers so you can say "fuck it" when the time actually comes. It's going to come, Mel. It's time to be prepared now."

Buddy was right. I was going to make it. I needed to be prepared. It was my time to shine, and I would not let anything get in my way. I'd let them gossip about me, and unless I needed to interfere, I'd let them think what they wanted. It was my life, my relationship with Devon. As long as we remained communicative, we would be fine.

Passing by the courtyard to the parking lot, I spotted Devon standing outside with a group of girls. They were the same punks, goths, and delinquents that were always staring at me whenever Devon was around. But the way they crowded around him with their hands clasped behind their backs and their legs lifting behind them and the way they tilted their heads and giggled was unnerving. I wasn't jealous. That would imply that I didn't trust Devon when he told me he liked me. But it was weird to have the same girls who fawned over the two of us fawn over him.

Unless they were just fawning over him all along. Now, without me by his side, they were free to flirt.

"Poor, Devon," Buddy said. "He looks miserable over there."

"A lot of girls used to kiss him to make their boyfriend's jealous. He's probably just reliving old nightmares or something."

"Still, he seems incredibly uncomfortable." He nudged my shoulder with his and smiled. "You know he only has eyes for you, right?"

"I'm not jealous," I groaned. "It's just weird to see them all over him. They know we're together, yet they don't give a shit."

"It could just be infatuation. The way he treats you at school is sweet. They're probably living vicariously through you."

"Oh, God, we're being shipped."

"And unlike other ships, they can actually talk to you," he smirked. "Look, Devon's polite. He's going to be respectful of those girls. They find it charming, but at the end of the day, he's going to want to be with you. He's probably over there talking about you right now."

"Why's that?" I snorted.

"Because he keeps glancing at you and smiling, which causes the other girls to smile, too."

"Or they don't realize I'm there and are thinking the smiles are because of them."

"Too bad they're not," he sang. "You should go over there and ask him out in front of them."

"What? Like a power move?" I laughed.

"Do it," he begged. "That would be so fucking funny."

"I don't know."

"Why not?"

"I don't know if we should go on an actual date until I start rehearsals. That way I'll know how much time we'll have together."

"Bitch, you have time right now," he snapped. "He knew why you didn't want to date people. He knows you're going to be busy. Why not take advantage of the time you two are going to have together right now? Enjoy it while you can." He patted my back. "I love you, Mel."

Buddy pushed me towards Devon. He glanced at me, his smile expanding as he excused himself from the girls and stepped up to me. He held out his hand, and I took it. "Hey. Ready for the Clubhouse?"

Buddy was right. I did have the time now to spend with him, and I should enjoy it while I could. Rehearsals and concerts were going to take up most my time. I should have been enjoying my time with him while I could. I liked Devon a lot. Graduation would come soon, and he'd be off at college and I'd be playing drums. With what free time I had left, I wanted to spend it with him.

I nodded and wrapped my arms around his neck. Devon smiled, and I leaned in to kiss him. He kissed me back and pulled away and hummed.

"Let's go on an actual date," I stated. "There are only going to be so many left."

He perked up. "I know exactly what we should do. How's Sunday?"

"Sounds great."

"Great," he exhaled. "Now let's go to the Clubhouse so you can rehears."

I giggled. "You trying to get rid of me?"

"No. I want you to be famous," he said as he held my hand and led me to his car. "That means making sure you have time to rehears and not stealing all of your time."

Devon knew what he was getting into by dating me. He respected my decision before I confessed that I was going to be too busy for a relationship, and even now as I tried to make it work, he still wanted to make sure that I had the time to practice drumming and make time for my band. He was being so damn supportive. I was so damn happy.