“Let me guess, O'Bannon sent you out?” he asked.
“Yep, that would be the one,” Tamara said, “Well, I have someone to go talk to, so I'll be leaving you kids alone. Later.”
“Later.”
Amber stared at the wall studying an indention in one of the stones. Unsure of what to say now that they were alone she waited for Joshua to say something. The bell rang signaling it was five minutes until lunch. Amber waited to hear the stampede of footfalls fleeing the auditorium, but they didn't come.
“Looks like they're going to make us eat late,” Joshua said.
“The school board always does that stuff. Put us on a schedule. Break the schedule. Then wonder why nothing turns out their way,” Amber laughed.
“I don't think they've thought it out that far,” Joshua said, “They most likely want to get it over with as much as we do.”
“I've never been in trouble for violence. Our school has maybe one or two fights a year. I think we could have all lived without a morning long assembly on the new policies,” Amber said.
“Well, we got out of it anyway,” he laughed.
“What did you do to get sent out here?” Amber asked.
“Nothing. I simply walked out,” Joshua said.
“They didn't stop you?” Amber asked.
“Nah, they know they're fighting a losing battle,” Joshua shrugged.
“Maybe,” Amber laughed.
Joshua brushed a loose lock of hair away from Amber's face and gently tucked it behind her ear. She smiled at him and her cheeks flushed. He leaned in closer to her, making Amber's heart race. She knew she should turn away or stop him. Joshua Kirk was under the influence of a love spell. It wasn't right, but Amber didn't stop him.
Her tongue flicked over her lips and she moved into meet him. She had kissed a boy once before at summer camp during a secret game of spin the bottle, but it hadn't felt like this. Amber's eyelids drifted closed and she rested her hand on Joshua's shoulder.
BANG! BANG!
The auditorium doors swung open and crashed into the walls as the students who had been forced to endure the ending of the assembly were released. Amber jerked away from Joshua, blushing. As they stood she glanced at him. He was smiling.
“What?” Amber asked, trying to suppress the laughter that threatened to bubble over her lips.
Joshua shook his head and together they walked to the cafeteria. The line was already long and Amber couldn't find Tamara anywhere.
“I think I'm going to wait at the normal table,” Amber said over the noise.
“Sounds like a plan,” Joshua said.
His fingers entwined with hers as they made their way to the table. Amber spotted Tamara standing in line. She waved at her, but Amber pretended not to notice. Tamara would join them soon enough.
“So I was wondering,” Joshua said.
Amber tilted her head to the side and studied his brown eyes.
“Yes?” Amber said.
“I was wondering would you go to the dance with me?” Joshua asked.
Amber's heart raced and she could hear the blood pumping in her ears. Whoosh! Whoosh! Thump. Thump. She focused on the sounds as her brain tried to wrap itself around the question.
“I can't,” Amber said.
“Okay,” Joshua nodded, looking down at the table.