< --  ten  -- >

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"You cheated."

Bursting out laughing I reached over tugging at Neema's chin. "Aw, babe. Now don't be a sore loser."

"I'm not." She pouted folding her arms.

"You are and I don't see why. I even got you those sunglasses. Fake girlfriends need love too." I poked her side. "Where are they?"

"I'm not putting those on Lars."

"Oh yes you are. It was our deal."

"I'll look crazy."

"No you won't." I laughed pulling into the school parking lot. "You'll look cute and like you skipped school to have fun . . . and that you suck at games."

"Lars! Stop laughing at me!"

Turning off the car I reached in the back seat grabbing the oversized sunglasses. Placing them on her face I fought off laughing as hard as I could. "Hold on there's something missing." Flipping the small switch on the side the glasses lit up in neon colors blinking and flashing.

"Don't you dare take my picture." She warned once my phone was raised.

"Sorry." I snapped the picture. "I need proof of this joyous day. Leaning over I kissed her forehead opening the car door. "You look hot by the way. Laters babe."

The last bell of the day had rung almost five minutes ago meaning Ethan should be coming out within two minutes. Tucking my arm back in my hoodie pocket I walked over to Ethan's truck leaning on the passenger door.

Keeping my eyes on the school students continued to file out by themselves or with friends. Couples walked out hand in hand whispering things in each other's ear.

Three minutes ticked by making me worry about Ethan's whereabouts. He would have already been out here unless . . . Shit! Running back inside the school I shoved my way through the groups of people talking amongst themselves as if they couldn't do it outside where there was more space.

Once I was through the crowd I headed for the stairs spotting Ethan at the end of the hall talking to a girl that handed him something. Staying put, I tried to become one with the wall squinting to enhance my hearing and vision. The girl talked with her hands mostly. Her mouth was moving but Ethan's head stayed lowered. Was he listening to her?

Eventually the girl waved as well as Ethan splitting in different directions. Seeing me at the end of the hall he quickly looked away adjusted his bag. As he got closer I could see there was something going on and his glasses were missing.

Just as he was about to walk past me I put my hand out grabbing the strap to his backpack. "Hold on E."

"Lars -"

"Where are your glasses?"

"I have them."

"Oh yeah?"

"Yeah.

"Where?" I asked seeing through his bullshit.

"I have them."

"Why aren't you wearing them?"

"Because."

"Because what?"

"Why are you asking me all these questions like a parent would their child? I'm not your kid Lars."

"But you are my best friend and I know that you can't fucking see without your glass so spit it out. Did you get contacts while I was out?"

"No."

"I didn't think so. So you can either tell me what happened or we can stand here until tomorrow. Either way is fine with me. I hate going home." Shaking his head Ethan looked down the hall pulling out his broken glasses from his back pocket. "What happened man? Was it those guys from breakfast?"

He shook his head. "Griffin as usual."

"Why didn't you text or call me?"

"Because we're not suppose to use our cellphones during school hours."

Always the rule follower

"Alright man alright. Do you know where -"

"I've got it handled Lars. You don't have to fight this one for me."

"How many times do I have to say -"

"You can keep telling whoever you want that lie but I know what you're doing and you can stop. I've got it and I'm not -"

"Asking." I nodded feeling proud. Putting my hands up in surrender I took two steps back. "Alright, I'll leave it alone but if I see something happen in front of me then all bets are off."

"Deal. Come on let's go."

Heading for the exit, I slowed down remembering that I told Neema I would come watch her practice. "Hey Ethan. You don't mind if I stay back and catch a ride with Neema?"

Ethan smirked nodding at her name. "She seems pretty cool. She's friends with some of my friends."

"Yeah, me."

"You as well, yes, but go ahead and have fun. I'll see you in the morning."

I wanted to walk him to his truck but I didn't want to hover and make him feel like a child so I kept my mouth closed and went the other way at the end of the hall. Exiting to the field at the back of the school I could see students with all kinds of instruments talking and laughing.

Over to the side a few talked with an older man who I guess was the teacher. In that group was Neema free off her school jacket and smiling at the girl next to her. Reaching behind her she pulled out her cell looking at it before turning around in search of . . . me.

Seeing me off by the gate she said something to the man and girl that had the man nodding and the girl looking over Neema's shoulder. Jogging off the track and over to the gate she mouthed something that I missed and before I knew it she was jumping into my arms kissing the corner of my mouth.

"Grope me a little but not too much." She whispered slightly pulling back. "Not too much. My teacher is watching."

"Drop down." Unwrapping her legs from around my waist she dropped to the ground seconds before I moved her against the gate. Cupping her face I made sure our heads were turned perfect enough to make it look like we were kissing to any eyes on the field.

Letting her face go I peeked over seeing a few students pointing in our direction. "You know they're going to ask you about my arm." I squinted from the sun looking back to her amber eyes. "I didn't want to drop you so my arm was on full display."

"Lars, I'm so sorry. I didn't even think about it."

"It's fine. It was bound to come up eventually."

"I'll just tell them it's none of their business."

"But they already know. Everyone knows Neema, it was on the news. I just want you to be prepared for the ambush of questions. Even the personal questions."

"Personal questions like what?"

Turning my head back to the field the girl Neema was talking to earlier was making her way towards us with two other girls. Hiding my arm in the hoodie I picked up the lanyard to Neema's whistle messing with it just to have my hands near her for the girls coming to see who I was.

"Who was that girl and guy you were talking to when I came out?"

"My teacher Mr. Noel and Arianna, Derrick's little sister. She wants to be second drum major next year, why?"

"Derrick's little sister and her friends are coming over to play and those personal questions are related to sex and how I would touch you with my prosthetic."

"Hey Neema!" Arianna shouted stopping a few feet from us. They girls behind her glared at my lip piercings holding their clarinet and something that looked smaller but identical to a flute. "Did you hear that Derrick got into it with Eric over you? He really misses you." She spoke as if I wasn't standing right there.

Hooking her finger in my belt loop Neema lifted herself off the gate wrapping her arms around my waist. "I'm not with him anymore so I don't care."

"How can you toss away two years like that? Like he meant nothing to you." She scoffed crossing her arms. "I see you moved on quickly."

Neema opened her mouth to reply but the shrill of a whistle sounded. "Can I have all band members on the field so we can begin practice please?" Their teacher shouted in cupped hands.

The trio turned around heading back to the field leaving us alone once again. Looking down to Neema she shook her head. "Can you believe them? Blaming me as if I was the one that cheated? I was feeling pressured every time we were alone and -"

"Ms. Marshall?" I cut her off tilting her chin up to look at me. "I was debating if I should kiss you to shut you up but we never really agreed to that so instead I will . . ." I leaned down placing a kiss to her forehead, "kiss your forehead and wish you a great practice."

"Neema!" The band director called.

"Better get going."

Watching me without speaking a single word her lashes fluttered a few times before she smiled, "Right. Right, I should go. Thanks for staying."

"No problem."

Walking up a few bleachers I sat down leaning back on the hot seat almost frying my skin off. Sitting up, the thought of taking my hoodie off came and went. I didn't want to draw anymore attention to myself or make Neema uncomfortable with any questions.

Feeling my cell vibrate I searched my pockets seeing my mom's picture on the screen. Swiping the green phone icon I placed the phone on my ear hoping that it wasn't my dad actually on the line. "Hello?"

"Lars, where are you?" Ellie whined from the other end.

"What do you want Eloise?"

"You have to take me to Lacy's."

"Says who?"

"Says mom."

Looking back to the field Neema stood to the side of a ladder on wheels while a guy climbed up blowing his whistle twice gaining everyone's attention. Clapping his hands four times yelling something he raised his hands up the same time some of the students raised their instruments. They all stood with their heels touching like statues waiting. The guy on the ladder counted before moving his hands and the music started to play.

"Where are you?"

"School." I pressed the phone harder against my ear. "Why can't you walk to Lacy's house. You're ten years old and she lives a couple streets over."

"She does not! It takes thirteen minutes to get from our house to hers in the car and even longer if I walked. What if someone tried to kidnap me?"

"Then I'd knock down your wall and make my bathroom bigger."

"Mom!" Eloise screamed in my ear. "Mom! You're supposed to be at home anyways. You're still grounded."

"You really need to stay out of adult conversation and I'm not grounded."

"Dad took you car keys."

"So?"

"So, that means you're grounded."

"What is means is that you have to walk to your friends house. Make sure you beat the lights home kiddo. Bye."

"Wait!"

Rolling my eyes I lowered the phone ready to hang up not caring about her crying to mom that I hung up. Exhaling I looked over as Neema looked back at me waving with a smile. Waving back with the phone I put it to my ear ready to end the conversation. "Eloise, I'm busy so you'll have to ask your parents to give you a ride or use those perfectly capable legs you were born with."

"Busy doing what?"

"Mom!" My heart began to race.

"Hello son."

"When did you -"

"Why are you still at school? Are you in after school detention again?"

"Mom -"

"Lars, you have got to stop fighting. Your father and I have had just about enough of this -"

"Mom."

"I know you want to stand up and show the world that having a prosthetic doesn't affect who you are but this fighting -"

"Mom, I'm watching the band practice!"

The line was silent as the students on the field walked to a different spot that was in a shape of a car. Then the six students at the bottom started moving as the wheels. Clever.

"Why are you watching the band practice?"

I didn't want to tell my mom about Neema but I didn't really see a way around it. I just hoped that she wouldn't tell dad. "There's this girl."

From the silence over the line I knew that she was covering her mouth smiling or worse, dancing. Mom had been suggesting for me to put myself out there four months after Cas' death. I had finally started attending dinner when, for some unknown reason, the topic of dating came up. Come to think of it I believe it had to do with Eloise saying she had a boyfriend and mom smiling just has hard as Ellie while dad choked on his asparagus.

"Oh honey I didn't know you were - wait, are you two together or just a step past friends?"

Placing my shoes on the bleacher in front of me, I rested my arm on my knee watching the guy climb down the ladder then watch Neema go up clearly lusting as she moved. I needed to find out his name.

"No, we're together mom like dating together."

"That's . . . that's really great news Lars. I just have one question . . . I know that you feel more . . . comfortable hiding your arm and -"

"She knows about my arm mom."

"Okay." She heavily exhaled. "Okay." Hearing the blow of a whistle I looked back to Neema give a count off before the band started to play again. "As happy as I am about you having a girlfriend son, you are still in trouble. I want you straight home after her practice is over."

"I kind of need to be a good boyfriend and hang out with my new girlfriend." I tried hoping to get out of being grounded early.

"No one told you to start dating while being grounded but I will talk your punishment over with your father and we'll have a sit down after dinner."

Nodding my head I agreed seeing no way around it. I needed to get off punishment so I could hangout with Neema and figure her out. Spending some personal one on one time with her would help me accomplish where we knew each other from much faster.

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