Page 90 of All of You

I stare at him in wonder. “Fine,” I say tightly.

He picks up the empty pudding cup and chucks it back at his table.

“Langdon!” I bark.

“What?” He shrugs and bumps my shoulder with his. I’m confused and wary as hushed whispers kick up around us.

I roll my eyes. “Save yourself,” I say.

“Save your breath,” he responds.

I cock my head at him. “Excuse me?”

“Save. Your. Breath. Delia…I don’t want to save myself if it means I’m not with you. I thought it was kinda obvious by now…” He’s staring at me intently.

“Langdon, what are you doing?” I ask slowly.

He wraps an arm around my shoulders. It’s suddenly so quiet in the cafeteria you could hear a pencil hit the floor.

Langdon waits, I can see his brain working and then he says, “If the future gave sneak peeks, I give all mine awaybecause I already know we end up together.”

I shrug his arm off. My eyes bug out of my head. He’s committing social suicide and being corny to boot.

“Jesus, Langdon, if you stay on this boat, you’re going to sink it. You’ll lose your coveted friends and —”

His eyes are patiently focused on mine as he interrupts. “If I go down it’s going to be as your friendandyour boyfriend. So would you shut up and give me your lips?”

One hand reaches out and snakes behind my neck as he pulls me toward him. “What I’m trying to say, Delia…” he leans his face to mine until his lips ghost mine. “…is that I’m fucking lost without you.”

My body feels like it’s on fire. Not from embarrassment though, from straight-upromance. A blush rises to my cheeks, a crimson glow that spreads like wildfire across my face. My eyes are wide and fixed on him, unable to look away. I’m lost, floating untethered in the ether. My mouth is dry, a constant thirst for something so sweet and intoxicating. It’s like the taste of forbidden fruit, a craving that cannot be satisfied. I wet my lips.

His lips crash into mine and there is suddenly a plethora of chaos around us. Whoops and hollers and cheers from kids I don’t know and the distinct snort of disgust followed by a, “This is fucking pornographic” from Hailie.

Langdon’s tongue slips into my mouth effectively drowning out all the noise surrounding us. I wrap my arms around his neck and kiss him back with everything I’ve got. There’s noone else here, it’s just me and Langdon. Sparks and fireworks and all the cliche bullshit people spout explode inside me. I feel delirious with joy. When he pulls back he’s panting.

“I’ve wanted to do that for a long time.”

“What? Kiss me?” I ask breathless.

Langdon laughs. “No, well kinda, kiss you in front of everyone. Make sure every goddamned person here knows that you’re mine.”

A giggle bursts out of me. “No need to make things so hard. You could have just asked me out.”

Langdon’s eyes widen for split second and then he doubles over with laughter.

He gathers himself and says, “Delia, will you officially be my girlfriend.”

I can’t hide it away any longer. My smile takes over my entire face and I nod. “I’d love that.”

Langdon pulls me against his chest in a bear hug and I sort of hope he never lets go.

Forty Four

Langdon

It’s annoyingly windy and rainy, as if October is forcefully trying to remove the last of the leaves before November. Yet they cling to their branches refusing to be knocked down.

“Dude!” Niko hollers as I cross the parking lot after school. I grimace but turn slowly around.