Honor Student - By Teresa Mummert Page 0,46

my phone buzzed with a new message. I pulled it out and couldn’t help but smile as ‘William the Conqueror’ scrolled across the screen.

Where are you headed?

I thought for a moment about driving straight back to William’s house, but I needed to make an appearance at home.

Home

Mine?

I smiled at his words and scanned the parking lot for his car. He was parked several rows away from me.

My Aunt is going to start asking questions if I don’t show up every once and awhile.

He didn’t respond for a moment and I strained to see over the rows to his car. Angela stood by his door and they where engaging in a conversation. I put my car in drive and pulled out of the parking lot, making sure I drove by him. I didn’t glance their way as I made my way to the road and headed towards my house.

Chapter Twenty-Nine

I was surprised to see my Aunt in the kitchen when I arrived. She said hello but didn’t even look my way. I walked back to my bedroom as my phone vibrated.

Angela means nothing to me. You know that right?

I rolled my eyes and tossed my phone on my bed.

“I’m going to go lay out.” I called down the hallway.

“Whatever” My Aunt called back. It hurt how distant her and I had become. When I was younger she was my favorite person in the world next to my mother. After she moved away we barely spoke. She was the spitting image of my mom, but their personalities couldn’t be more different. I slipped out that back door and spread my towel on the grass. The sun was beating down and I yawned, spreading out onto my stomach.

“You are going to burn that pretty little ass of yours.”

I jumped at the sound of William’s voice.

“What are you doing here?” I asked as I flipped over to look at him.

“You didn’t respond. I got worried.” He looked genuinly hurt. I rolled my eyes.

“You didn’t respond to me earlier and you don’t see me acting like a stalker.” I shot back, regretting the words as they rolled off my tongue.He stepped back as if I had actually hit him.

“You’re mad at me?” He leaned down onto his knees, panic on his face. “She doesn’t mean anything to me. She’s trying to work through her own feelings. She doesn’t want to stay with her husband.” I held up my hand to stop him.

“I don’t care about her marital woes. She brought that on herself.” He swallowed hard.

“Fair enough.” He stared at me expectantly.

“I’m not mad at you but you have to understand all of this is very new to me. I’m not exactly sure what we are doing here but I know seeing you with Angela scared me.” I rambled. I had lost nearly everyone I had loved in my life and it was just as hard for me to trust as it was for William. He leaned in closer to me, placing his hand on the small of my back.

“You have nothing to worry about.” His eyes frantically searching mine. “ I won’t ever hurt you, Emma. I promise. I will never talk to her again if that’s what you want.” I had never seen him like this before. William was always so strong and always in control. Looking at him now, it was hard to believe it was the same person.

“No, I trust you. I’m sorry I just got a little jealous seeing you two together.” His lips found mine as he pulled my body closer to his. I slid my hand into his hair, tugging it gently. He hugged me tighter than he ever had before.

“I thought you were going to leave me.” He said into my ear, his voice shaking.

“I’m not going anywhere, William.” I pulled back to look him in the eye. “I love you.” His lips crashed into mine again.

“I Love you so much, Emma.” I heard a noise from inside the house. William heard it too.

“Go! I’ll call you later.” I whispered. He gave me a quick peck on the lips before leaving. A minute later, my Aunt poked her head out the door.

“I’m going out. See you tomorrow.” I nodded and smiled. When the door closed behind me I laid back onto the towel, breathing a sigh of relief. I listened to her car start and grow more distant. I ran inside and grabbed my phone from the bed. I had several frantic messages from William. I frowned