In Your Time novel Chapter 32

Going back to school, I felt refreshed from my weekend with Elizabeth and my bruising was all healed up. I finally looked and felt normal for once. Braden grilled me about not answering his calls but he was just worried. Elizabeth found Braden's worry funny. She knew about us, but she promised to pretend like she didn't know for Braden's sake. School was beginning to feel mundane. Braden walked me to my locker as he continued to pester me about what Elizabeth and I talked about this weekend. I giggled as I closed my locker.

"I swear it was just a relaxing weekend. And you saw for yourself, my bruising is all gone. It was more therapeutic than an interrogation. Seriously, you don't have to worry," I smiled at Braden.

"Phoenix!" Someone yelled from down the hallway. I turned just in time for Torin to reach me and pull me into a hug.

"Thank God. I found a soul I actually know," he hugged me. I chuckled and hugged him back before he let me go.

"Torin this is Braden. Braden, Torin. I met Torin in Palm Springs. He's a new transfer," I introduced them. Braden sighed before looking at me.

"You said nothing happened," Braden complained as Torin stuck his hand out. I chuckled as I ruffled Braden's hair.

"Torin, Phoenix's new friend. Senior," Torin said to catch Braden's attention. Braden hesitated before shaking his hand.

"Junior. Braden, Phoenix's fiancé," Braden replied. They griped each other's hands for a while as they stared at each other. The bell rang, diverting my attention, but both of them refused to let go. I put a hand on both of they're wrists and tried to pull them apart.

"Alright, alright. We're already late for class. Let's go," I said. Braden grabbed my books before turning me down the hallway and lightly pushing me in the direction of my class.

"You don't like him? Torin is actually a really nice guy," I said as we walked down the hallway.

"I don't want any rivals," Braden muttered, leaving me confused.

"Rivals for what?" I asked as we arrived at my classroom. Braden stopped to hand me my books.

"Go. You're already late," he said shortly before he turned and left. I let his attitude go because he was right. I was late. I tried to sneak into my seat and pay attention to the lesson, but I couldn't get my mind off of Braden's weird behavior.

At lunch, Braden and I sat at the table with everyone. I don't think Tara gave up, but she at least gave my seat back.

"Phoenix!" I heard Torin call. I looked over and waved at him as he pulled up a seat. Braden got quiet as he stared at his food.

"Everyone, this is Torin. He's a senior and just moved here," I introduced him.

"How do you know him if he just moved here, Phoenix?" Bryce asked with a smirk.

"We spent time together at Palm Springs this past weekend," Torin explained. I hit his arm gently.

"Don't say it like that. We met this past weekend when Elizabeth took me to Palm Springs for a girls' weekend," I corrected him.

"You seem close," Nevaeh noted.

"Well, Phoenix is the only person I know here, and I heard she transferred late too. It's a new kid thing," Torin joked.

"How is your future mother-in-law?" Josh asked. I smiled, thinking back to our bonding weekend.

"She's good. We had a great weekend," I answered happily.

"So you got left behind then, Braden?" Heather asked. Braden rolled his eyes as he picked at his food.

"Don't remind me," he muttered before taking a bite of his food. I frowned as a feeling cane over me. I gripped Braden's arm tightly. He perked to attention as he looked me over with questions in his eyes. He was asking if I was being pulled. I nodded once before he shot up. He picked me up in a cradle me out of my chair.

"Phoenix isn't feeling well," he tossed over his shoulder before running out of the cafeteria with me. My breathing became labored as he set me down in a quiet, hidden corner. After a while, the feeling passed and I was able to catch my breath. Braden watched me quietly the whole time. I sighed as I rested my head on my knees as I sat.

"Is it over?" Braden asked. I nodded before picking my head up.

"It didn't work," I said in realization. I felt the beginnings of the pull, but I didn't go anywhere.

"What does that mean?" Braden asked as he looked me over.

"I'm not sure," I answered honestly. He stood me up as he continued to look me over.

"What about the bruising?" He asked. I lifted my shirt to check. Luckily, there wasn't any. Braden turned me around and checked my back before looking at my stomach again.

"Mr. Park! Ms. Di! My office, now," a voice startled me. I looked over to see the principal. I realized how bad this looked. We were hiding away in a corner with my shirt half off. I can only imagine what she thought we were doing. She clicked off in her heels as I pulled my shirt down. If the situation wasn't so serious, I probably would have laughed.

"Don't worry," Braden said quickly to me before grabbing my hand and leading me to the principal's office. Once we were seating inside, she stared us down from behind her desk.

"Just what in the world were you doing? I understand, you two are engaged, but this is still a school. What you were doing was highly inappropriate," she ranted.

"Mrs. Meyers, it was completely innocent. Phoenix didn't feel well at lunch and she recently cracked a few ribs. That's why she was in the hospital that week. I was checking to make sure she didn't break them or re-injure herself... honestly," Braden spoke up.

"If she wasn't feeling well, why didn't you take her to the nurse's office?" The principal challenged.

"She was having a hard time breathing and I didn't want to make it worse by moving her. At the same time, I didn't want to cause a scene in the cafeteria," Braden explained easily.

"Well, I still need to call your mother to confirm," Mrs. Meyers said doubtfully. Elizabeth would get a kick out of this.