During Irish, I quickly text my mom, telling her not to collect me straight after school, that I am going to the beach with some of my friends, and I will call her to fetch me later.
Being her usual overprotective-self and not paying attention to the time, my ringtone echoes through the classroom.
Mr. Halpin stares at me over his little owl glasses and says in a sharp voice, "No mobiles in class, Elizabeth!"
" Yes sir," I say embarrassed as I press the mute button at the same time.
This is now going to cost me another text, I think frustrated while I discreetly push the buttons on my phone, under my desk.
Mom. In class. Will call you as soon as the bell goes.
I send the message and then switch off my phone, just in case.
After school, Aaron waits for me while I collect my books, and then he walks with me to my locker, not saying anything and looking anxious.
I get the books I will need for homework from my locker, and as we walk out through the main door, Aaron guides me in the direction of the only two cars parked next to each other at the far end of the parking lot.
He says apprehensively, "We'll drive down to the beach with my brother."
I look at him, with a frown. "I didn't know you have a brother."
He seems apologetic. "Sometimes I forget I only know you a few months."
I ignore the hint of expectation in his voice and say, "But surely, I would have noticed by now that you had a brother?"
" He has been at a rugby training camp and only arrived back very late last night," he explains.
" He didn't come to school today?"
" No, he decided to take the day off."
" Oh, okay." I smile up at him. "This is kind of a surprise. So he has not been at school since I met you?"
" No. He was here the day you arrived." He glances at me and when our eyes meet, he looks away quickly. "He left during the mid-term break. Before you and I became friends."
He says the word friends as if it has a deeper meaning, and I feel a twinge of guilt because he likes me so much more than I could ever like him. He did not evoke any deeper feelings in me, feelings I equated with love.
We reach the parking lot, and I recognize Connell's Citroen, but not the ruby red Jeep next to it.
Jane, Connell, and Sarah, Siobhan, and John, are talking loudly and laughing - happy that the sun is holding onto its place in the sky.