Nerves

Zoe wasn't at school and Melissa couldn't hide her delight. I glowered at her. I walked rigidly to the cafeteria with Melissa, Kyle ran up to catch up with us.
Melissa was excitedly wondering about her engagement ring, how much it would cost, worrying if it'd be a perfect fit as we caught up in the line to buy food.
A hand lightly gripped my shoulder. I froze. It was Sebastian.
"Hello," he said.
Was he talking to me? I blinked. "Hi." It came out as a gasp.
He pushed my tray to the register and paid. I watched him carefully.
He led the way to an empty table. I followed behind him like a zombie. Unable to form a coherent thought.
"Nuru," he said, turning around to face me.
I stopped, almost running into him. "You know my name?"
He laughed nervously. "You're famous on these grounds."
I frowned.
"You drive an expensive car, you know an influential man, plus you're the only red-haired around campus. Kinda makes you stand out..." he saw my grimace. "In a good way though."
I hesitated, unsure how to respond. "Er... okay."
"Sit with me today," he offered.
I glanced over my shoulder and swept my gaze around the room, looking for Roman, expecting to find him hiding in the shadows. My heart pounded guiltily. Like I was doing something wrong by simply standing here, with this boy.
My eyes narrowed in suspicion. "Why?"
"Well, I think I owe you an apology," he answered grimly. "I shouldn't have behaved the way I did. It was rude."
I hadn't expected that. "Oh."
He glanced down at me and then quickly looked to the floor and he was hesitating as though thinking about sitting down but afraid to sit alone because I hadn't yet accepted his offer.
He pulled the chair open for me and then shifted his weight from foot to foot. Was it because we were subjected to questioning gazes? Was it the small whispers and hushed speculative voices?
As I hesitantly say down, I was vaguely aware of Roman's disapproving face in my head. Sebastian sighed in relief and sat down, his usual confidence returning.
"Tell me something," he said pushing the tray towards me.
I looked up at him. "Yes?"
"Are you and Thomas..."
I took a slice of pizza and ate it. "What makes you ask that?"
"He's been telling all the boys about your date."
My face and neck flashed red with anger. "He said I went in a date with him?" Was he trying to get himself killed? Roman would kill him if he caught wind of this.
"Oooh, I knew it wasn't true," he said to himself. "Thomas and Nuru on a date?" he continued, scoffing to himself.
I sighed irritated.
"A couple of my friends and I are going to the Port Edward Music Festival, you can join us if you want."
"When?" I asked to be polite. I knew my answer already.
"This Saturday,"
"Oh," I made my face look disappointed. "I'd already promised mom I'd go shopping with her."
"Okay." He was enthusiastic. "Another time then."
"Hmm."
"So you don't like Thomas at all?" His voice was anxious.
The bell rang and I watched the cafeteria fill out.
"Not really," I mumbled. I got to my feet.
Sebastian walked me to class.
"It was nice," he said. "I enjoyed lunch."
"Me too." I meant the food.
We were at the door of my Physics class — I glanced over my shoulder, again — and I sighed. Roman's not here, I told myself repeatedly. And yet that fact made me sad. I sighed.
Sebastian tucked an un-cooperative strand of hair behind my ear. His fingers brushed against the exposed skin on my neck.
I tried not to cringe in discomfort.
He waited at the door as I paced into class. I was already late. Once I'd settled into my assigned seat, I fidgeted often, and I sighed... a lot.
"Stop that it's annoying," Roman's voice said in my head.
I let out another irritated sigh. Why couldn't I just stop thinking about him already? It was so frustrating.
"Ugh!" I snapped, bouncing my foot up and down on the floor.
Several heads turned to look at me. The teacher was probably wondering about my sanity.
His forehead creased with worry. "Are you okay, Ms. Lynn?"
"Sorry Mr. Wells. I'm fine," I gasped.
He turned his back to the class and I let out another mouthful of air, hitting the pencil rather loudly against my desk.
Mr. Wells turned again to look at me with narrowed eyes.
"Am I boring you, Ms. Lynn?"
A faint blush crossed my cheeks. "Not at all, Sir. Sorry."
He stared at me for a minute longer, his eyes tightening in suspicion. And then turned back to the projector.
My shoulders hunched as I leaned back against my seat and let out another sigh. It was becoming unbelievably excruciatingly not being able to see Roman.
My tapping intensified as the hour progressed. Mr. Wells shot me a pointed look but said nothing. I just needed a gush of clean, fresh air, I figured. That would help clear my head.
I couldn't run fast enough as I paced to the parking lot. A few people I shared classes with bid me farewell and I waved shyly, racing as I went. I played some music that usually calmed my nerves, but it seemed it had lost its calming effect.
Instead of pondering over this alarming fact, I threw the car into reverse. I swung the car around, almost ran a scrawny boy over, and accelerated down the street.
"Bloody fool!" he shouted behind me. His English accent making a prominent appearance.
As I sped through the corners, going above sixty, I was vaguely aware of the... hope inside me. I knew that I had to be away from Roman, I shook my head recoiling. I hated the thoughts dancing around my head. If I were to be in Roman's presence at the moment, then I might do something he'd forever hate me for. Something worse than Friday.