Landlocked by Jude Warne

Author:Jude Warne
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: ABDO
Published: 2017-09-15T00:00:00+00:00

“Finally we get to have lunch together, for once. Coach has been easing up on practice, so I jumped on my free lunch period today.”

James and I sat in the senior section of the Canyon Creek High cafeteria having lunch together. I never ate there because I couldn’t—this glossy area of the cafeteria was only accessible to senior students, and their guests.

“That’s great, James,” I replied halfheartedly.

We ate our lunches quietly for a bit and I wondered how exactly to bring up the news of my summer program. I guessed I would just have to come right out and say it. And I was about to, but just then James reached across the table and grabbed my hand.

“It was really great to spend Valentine’s Day with you Aisha,” he said. “It made me realize, how—you know—how I feel about you. We’re really together now, you know? The real thing. Since September, right?”

“Sure, that’s right,” I agreed, munching on my PB&J crusts. “Yeah, I had a good time.”

“Have you thought any more about what I told you recently? Just because—if anything—I still feel that way about you.”

James was talking about the three words, something I was not in the mood to deal with at the moment. Maybe if I changed the subject everything would be okay. I looked over my shoulder to see if Ted was around, just seeing him would make me feel more at ease. But he was nowhere to be found.

“I wanted to tell you something, James. I got some exciting news in Bio this morning. Remember that scholarship I applied for?”

James put down his granola bar and looked into my eyes across the table.

“Scholarship?”

“Yeah, the one through my Bio class. It was a few months ago.”

“Sure, I think I remember,” James said. But I could tell he didn’t remember at all.

“Well, I won it! Isn’t that exciting? I was the only Canyon Creek High student to get it!”

James face moved quickly into a vague frown, and I could tell that whatever was going to happen next wasn’t going to be good.

“Sure it’s exciting,” James agreed. “That’s great, Aisha. What does it mean exactly?”

I put down my sandwich and grabbed James’s arm in excitement.

“It means I’m going to work at the Buckingham Nature Reserve for the summer, in Washington state.”

James kind of looked off into the distance and didn’t say anything.

“The whole summer?” he asked.

“Yeah, almost the whole summer,” I explained.

Why did I feel guilty about something that was so exciting? About an accomplishment? James still wasn’t saying anything.

“What am I supposed to do, then?” he grumbled to himself.

Just then Nick came up from behind James and grabbed his shoulders.

“Buddy, Coach just announced that we have a double practice session today after school. So get ready. Hey, Aisha,” Nick added before he walked away. James still hadn’t reacted or moved.

“What am I supposed to do, Aisha? All summer? I mean—a guy should have his girlfriend with him. You’re gonna go off to the middle of nowhere all on your own?”

“Sure, of c-course I a-am,” I said.

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