ridiculed

Monday at school, I was nervous to walk into history class. Me and Kyle haven't talked since our little "secret" talk at Avery's party. I hope he didn't recognize me.

Silly Imogen, of course he didn't recognize you! He would've laughed in your face if he would've!

With my headphones blasting White Noise by PVRIS and inserted into my ears, I walk into history.

I pass everybody and ignore all the stares. Why are they staring at me? Who knows.

I look up when I feel a tap in my shoulder.

"Hey! Long time no speak! What's up?" I hear Kyle say as I rip the headphones out of my ears.

"Nothing much."

"Did you get Shannon's text? I didn't even know she was moving here, that's cwazy!"

I quickly whip out my phone and see that I have a new text from Shan. It read:

Shan<3: hey! I'm moving into my new apartment tonight, so I wanted to know if you and Kyle wanted to come and watch a movie to celebrate?

"Are you going?" I ask Kyle after reading the text.

"Yeah. Are you?"

"Totally."

"Cool, I guess I'll see ya there."

"Yup." I awkwardly say, mentally slapping myself.

After that, Kyle turns around and doesn't speak to me for the rest of the class period.

When the bell rings, he turns to look at me, purses his lips, and then turns back around.

"Yes?" I say.

"I know it was you."

I stopped dead. My hands started getting really sweaty and my legs started shaking.

"W-what are y-you talking ab-bout?" I ask, slightly nervous to receive the answer. He turned to look at me. Then smirked.

"Oh, you don't remember?" He asks, teasing me. "Oh Kyle, I love you. Gasp, don't take off my mask!" He says in a very high pitched tone, laughs, and then walks out of class, still laughing.

And there I was left; heartbroken and destroyed. Embarrassed and confused. Made fun of, and ridiculed. Kyle's joke of the day.

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"I do!"

"You do... what?"

"I do love you."

"And you can't live without me?"

"..."

"Say it!"

"And I can't live without you!"

"Oh Deanie!"

And with that, Kyle slowly leaned into me. He was looking into my eyes, they were the last thing I saw before I closed mine. Our lips were about to touch when...

"That's enough, thank you!" Mrs. Jensen cut Kyle and I off.

"Did we pass?" Asked Kyle. We were finally performing our duet scenes in theater.

"Yes, ya'll were great! There was a great chemistry between ya'll two."  

I rolled my eyes.

You. Were. About. To. Kiss. Kyle. David. Hall. How are you still breathing?

I slowly walked back to the auditorium and took a seat next to Kyle.

"So, are you going to Shannon's right after school?" Kyle asks.

"Yeah. Are you?"

"Yup."

"Soooooo..."

"Mhm..."

"I have to pee" I say quickly, trying to find any excuse to leave his presence. I can't believe he knew it was me. I can't believe he made fun of me.

I slowly made my way to the bathroom. As soon as I got into the first empty stall, I started bawling.

"Why? Why do I have to be so stupid? Why did I ever thing that Kyle literal David Hall would EVER go out with me?" I talked to myself quietly between sobs.

"No. Don't do this to yourself, Imogen. Forget him. He doesn't like you. It's over. You're going to have to hang out with him a lot, and you don't want it to be awkward between the two of you. Forget your feelings. Kyle David who?"

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"Hey, Imogen! How are ya?" Shannon greets me as she opens the door to her new apartment.

"Well actually, I-"

I get cut off by the other person sitting in the couch.

"Hey, Im" they say.

"Hey, Kyle."

"What were you saying?" Shannon asked.

"Nothing." I quickly replied.

"So, what do you wanna watch?" Shannon asked me.

"Up to you." I simply replied.

"The nightmare before Christmas it is!" Shannon says with a giggle.

---------------&----------------&-----------

An hour and a half into the movie, Kyle mentions he's hungry, and we decide to pick up some Chinese takeout from Wonton Li's downtown. Shannon called and ordered our takeout, and they said that it would be ready in twenty minutes.

I'm those twenty minutes, I fell into a deep sleep.

••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••*KYLE'S POV*

"I'm gonna go pick up the takeout, you okay staying here with Imogen?" Shannon asks before leaving.

"Yeah, I'm good. It's not like she's going anywhere, anyway." I chuckle as I reply.

And with that, Shannon is out the door, and I shift my attention over to Imogen.

I look at the way that she slowly breathes in and out while she sleeps. Her checks seem to squish together and form a little kissy face.

"Wow, you're adorable." I say quietly, making sure not to wake her.

"You not adorable, you're beautiful. You're beautiful and so much more. How can you like me? I mean, look at me. Look at you. I could never get someone like you to ever look at me an-"

Imogen shifts. I'm dead silent, hoping she doesn't hear me. Once I know she's asleep, I start again

"And, and well I like you. A lot. I just don't know how to tell you. I want you. I want you and only you. You're the perfect girl for me, and I only have eyes for you. Imogen, I love you. I just can't tell you."

I say as I lightly brush her check with my index finger.

A/N:

Sorry I haven't updated! I have been so caught up in school, I haven't had time to write another chapter. Hopefully I'll have another one by tomorrow, and i promise I'll be more active. Thank you for your patience, ily! Also, this chapter is dedicated to: @melisagoldstein !

- Clari 💜