Chapter 24 Cam
Chapter 24
Cam
Fifteen Years Ago
W e had a test in English today—six short-answer questions and four long-essay questions about Animal Farm. I had trouble focusing because I could feel Dusty at the desk right behind me. I wondered what he was thinking about—probably the test, which was also what I should have been thinking about, but I was mostly just thinking about him.
I’d never really experienced something like this before—something exciting and butterfly-inducing and totally consuming.
I loved it.
I might have loved him, too, but I didn’t know for sure. Did that exist at seventeen? Did it exist at all? I didn’t know if I’d ever seen it—at least not between two people. My parents loved things, money, but I didn’t think they loved each other.
Or me.
I heard a chair scoot back—Dusty’s chair, I was pretty sure. It was confirmed when I saw a familiar pair of worn-out Levis and mop of blond hair making their way toward Mr. Watson’s desk.
Dusty dropped his test in the box on the desk before turning around and coming back toward me—toward his desk, I mean. I tried not to look at him.
When he walked past, he dropped a piece of paper that was folded into a triangle onto my desk, and my heart jumped a little bit. I eyed it for a second. Should I open it now? Wait until I finished my test?
It couldn’t hurt to just take a peek…right?
I reached for the note, but before I could grab it, someone else did. When I looked up, I was met with a very annoyed Mr. Watson. Shit.
“Passing notes, Miss Ashwood?”
“N-no.” Well, kind of. “It’s nothing, sir.”
“You know the rules.” I did. If you passed notes, they got read in front of the class. Oh god. I wanted to wither and die right in the middle of the classroom. If he read that note out loud, I would. I didn’t even know what it said, but at this point, I didn’t want to know.
Yes, I did.
“It’s not—I mean,” I stammered. “I didn’t—”
“It’s from me, sir,” Dusty said. I felt him stand behind me.
I swore Mr. Watson rolled his eyes. “All right, then, Mr. Tucker. Would you like to share with the class or shall I?”
Dusty was quiet for a second. Mr. Watson started to unfold the paper. “I haven’t stopped thinking about kissing you,” Dusty blurted out, and Mr. Watson’s face blanched. It even took me a minute to catch up.
“I hope you’re talking about the contents of the note, Mr. Tucker.”
“Yes, sir,” Dusty said. He took a step forward—I saw his shoe in my periphery, and then he kneeled right next to my desk.
“I haven’t stopped thinking about kissing you,” Dusty said again. This time, his gray eyes were on mine. “I think about it all the time, actually. I think there’s something wrong with me.
“I think about you when I wake up and when I go to sleep. During the day, you just stand at the front of my brain, and I can’t shake it. When I’m with you, I don’t want it to end, and when I’m not, I just want to see you again.
“Is it stupid for me to write this in a note that I’m going to give you in English class? Probably. But I like writing to you. I like that these are just ours…well, not anymore obviously,” Dusty added, smiling a little.
“I can’t say for sure, but I think I’m in love with you.” My breath caught in my throat. The smile on my face was big and reckless, and my cheeks burned with embarrassment and excitement.
“I’m going to kiss you now,” Dusty said, and I nodded eagerly. He rose and took my face in his hands before his mouth landed on mine. I forgot we were in class. I forgot people were watching us. I forgot where I was completely.
Dusty just made me brave, I guess.
Cheers erupted around us. Our classmates clapped and whooped. I heard Chloe’s familiar yell.
We only kissed for a second before Mr. Watson cleared his throat. “All right, you two, that’s enough,” he said. Dusty pulled back. He was grinning. “Mr. Tucker, please return to your seat, and Miss Ashwood”—he looked at me—“I’d recommend finishing your exam.”
Before Mr. Watson walked away, he handed the note back to Dusty.