The rest of the week at school was eerily quiet as far as the situation regarding Brynn and I. Even Jessica seemed subdued, but I felt like I just entered the eye of a hurricane and was being misled into a false sense of security before the storm moved on and all hell broke loose.

The students looked at me with either awe or pity but most of the looks were pity. I haven't checked Stephanie's page in a few days but I'm thinking most of the school is pegging Brynn and I as a tragedy.

I have to admit I was starting to wonder the same, as I had not heard from her since Monday. I sent a text message. Video gif. Left a message and then thought I should cool it as I felt I was coming across way too needy and no girl likes that.

"You look like hell," Tyler said, coming up to me and putting a hand on my shoulder.

"Foot hurts. In constant pain. Tylenol isn't really cutting it but I don't want to take anything stronger. So sleeping less..." I sigh.

"And Brynn hasn't called you," Tyler says what I won't.

I violently shove my books in my locker and slam it close.

"You sure she's worth all this trouble?" Tyler asks.

"All I know is what I feel and I'm not ready to let go, but she may just take that choice away from me."

Tyler now had the look. The same look I see over and over and over again in the hallways. I hate this! I hate that pitying look.

"I think I may just head home," I tell him.

"Yeah, man. Get some rest. I'd offer to hang out with you this weekend but..." He shrugs apologetically.

I shake my head. He's got plans, plans with our English Teacher. Well, at least one of us will have a good weekend. I had been looking forward to it but as the days drug on and no word from Brynn I didn't know what to think of her coming back on Sunday.

What I had wanted to do was try and get together, to see her, to spend some time before we have to deal with school. Oh, well.

"Have a good time," I say, before limping off in the other direction.

I hear my name being called. I turn around to see my Mom coming out of her office. Locking up the door. Most likely she wanted to head me off before I got to the bus pick up, probably had my schedule timed down to the minute.

I've been opting for the bus ride home as I'm just too tired to concentrate on hanging out for practices so Tyler's mom isn't taking me home, and I'd rather sit on the bus even though it takes me an extra 45 minutes to get home. Cowardly, I'm avoiding my Mom and her questions about my well-being. I just don't want to deal right now.

I stop and sigh, turn around and limp back in the other direction.

"I was hoping I wasn't too late," my mom tells me.

I try and smile at her but I know it's not working.

"Come on. Let's get you home," she says and I'm too tired to argue.

The silence is deafening in the car. I almost wish she'd play her 80's music just to have the noise. Hell, I'd even take her singing, and then I'm reminded of Brynn and our first date. My parent's duet and her laugh and just close my eyes and lean my head back on the headrest.

Some first date. Maybe I really didn't stand a chance. Maybe they are all right to think I'm a tragedy.

The car stops moving and so I know we are home. I open my eyes and get out. Letting myself in the door and just go up the stairs. I know she wants to talk. My mom doesn't handle not being in the know very well. Sometimes I think she became a teacher/principal just so she could keep an eye on me. It would probably have killed her to send me to school and not know what I was doing for eight hours of my day. I just don't have anything to say and I don't feel like talking out my feelings so she's just going to have to be okay with that.

I know she is to an extent, as she doesn't follow. There are no knocks on my door. The first couple of days she'd use lame excuses of snacks to keep my energy up or fuss about my room or laundry knowing I'm not taking care of them, now there is just silence.

I must have drifted off as I'm jolted awake by my phone vibrating my butt. It's still in my pocket and silenced from school. I roll to my side and pull it free.

"Hello?"

"Hi."

"So, you've finally decided to resurface?"

It was Brynn but I couldn't even be excited that she was on the line. Didn't she have a clue what radio silence would do to someone like me? Didn't she care?

"Finn, don't be like that," she said, sadly.

"Like what, Brynn? Didn't know when you said good-bye on Monday you really meant it. Just thought it an end to our conversation."

"It was."

"Really? Could have fooled me."

Silence...then

"What do you want from me, Finn? I'm dealing with a lot right now. Can't you cut me a little slack?"

"I did, Brynn. On Tuesday and then I texted you and nothing. On Wednesay. Left you a message and nothing. On Thursday sent you a cute miss you video clip still nothing. It's Friday, Brynn and it's..." I look at my watch, "nearly 10 o'clock at night." Man, I really was tired. "Sorry, if I was crowding you."

"You're not being very fair!" Byrnn said and I hear an edge in her voice. Seriously... she's going to be mad at me. Put me on the defensive. Uh-uh...I am captain of the debate team. I don't go down that easily.

"Then tell me, Brynn. What is fair? Teach me, because obviously I haven't a clue. All I know is that the girl I like, the girl I just got done confessing some pretty serious feelings too, dropped off the face of the earth and is now, with no explanation, just expecting me to be okay with it."

I hear her sigh. "You're right. I wasn't thinking of your feelings. I'm sorry."

This reversal took me off guard.

I sigh myself. "I'm sorry too, Brynn. I don't want to give you a hard time. I'm tired, in pain and emotionally... just drained, but that's still no excuse for being harsh with you."

"Want to start over?" she says and I smile.

"Yes, please."

"Hi!" she says with much more enthusiasm.

"Hello!" I say echoing that enthusiasm back at her.

"I've missed you," she tells me, and I want desperately to believe her but despite our apologies I still have my doubts.

"Me too," I say.

"You missed you, too?" she jokes.

"Lame," I say, but it's hard to hold back the chuckle.

"Oh really and your gif of a crying Sponge Bob was media gold?" she taunts.

"Well it was either that or a minion kissing the screen but I didn't wish to be that forward."

She laughs for real this time. And I can feel my doubts starting to melt away.

"So why did you wait so long?" I ask, knowing it sounds needy, but not really caring anymore.

"My Dad. He saw I was on the phone with someone and started getting all up in arms about my not telling him with whom I was talking to. I had deleted your number from recent calls. So, he was severely pissed. Threatened to take the phone away from me. I threw it at him, telling him 'Fine, I didn't really need one anyway!'."

"He knew I wasn't bluffing since this is my first cell phone, so caved. Gave me some crap about just wanting to know more about me, my life, blah, blah, blah. So, I had to go radio silent, until I knew I'd have the chance to talk to you uninterrupted."

"Guess it was good he didn't take the phone then. It would be highly embarrassing if your Dad had gotten my messages," I say.

"The whole reason I called his bluff. I knew now that you had the number you would be using it. I don't want him to ..."

She had stopped talking. Obviously she didn't want to finish that sentence but it was pretty evident what she was about to say. She did want him to know about us. The question was...why?

"You don't want your dad to know you are dating someone or that that someone is me?" I ask her.

She's back to sighing again.

"It's complicated, Finn."

"How so?"

"Well your parents and mine had a pretty major fall out before my parents were married. My Dad...he a... he hates your Mom. If he found out I was dating her son, his head would explode, he'd probably try to throw me in a convent and then kill you."

"Nice imagery," I tell her.

"I speak only in truths," she tells me.

"So because my mom didn't approve of your mom marrying your Dad, I take the hit?"

"Afraid so. I know it's not fair, Finn but there is a lot of bad blood between them."

I laugh but completely without humor. We really are a modern day Romeo and Juliet, complete with feuding families.

"Odd," I say, "I'm eternally grateful he didn't listen to my mom. So technically we're on the same side."

"You are?" Brynn asks.

"Hell, yeah! If your mom had listened to my mom then you wouldn't be here and I wouldn't be having this ridiculous conversation right now. And I sure as hell wouldn't be able to ask if you're coming home early enough for me to see you on Sunday because let's face it I'm desperate."

"Desperate, huh?"

"Extremely. I no longer feel shame. I'm man enough to own my own feelings."

She laughs.

"Go ahead, laugh at me. I can take it."

"I'm sorry," she says but there is no sorrow in her voice, only a lighthearted sympathy.

"Uh-huh."

She giggles again. "I'll see what I can do to put you out of your misery," she consoles.

"Really?" I ask and am surprised at the hopefulness in my voice... Man, I really am desperate, and pathetic too.

"It's the least I can do," she says encouragingly. "Besides I really..."

I hear a knock on a door. She doesn't finish her sentence, in fact she is no longer on the phone, she's hung up on me but a minute or two later I get a text with this message. 

And although I know I won't be talking to her for the rest of the night. I suddenly feel the burden lift.

She likes me.... she really.... really likes me.

I fell into a sound sleep for the first time in days with a smile on my face.