Chapter79 – Forget it
Atticus paused mid-sip, then lowered the mug. He nodded slowly, but without hesitation. “Yeah. That’s okay.”
Clarissa’s smile softened. “Alright then. Now no more reading. Time for bed.”
“Got it.”
She picked up the empty cup, gave his shoulder a light pat, and walked out.
Atticus watched the door close behind her. Only then did he lower his gaze, flipping a page halfheartedly. He stared at the lines of text, unread, then quietly closed the book.
Friday afternoon. Clarissa’s school had an early release, so she made her way to Atticus’s school, arriving during the second period. His last class of the day was PE.
She wandered toward the sports field and spotted him instantly—sitting off to the side, shaded beneath a tree.
His legs still weren’t up for full activity, so the PE teacher had let him rest.
He wore a crisp white tee, navy cropped pants, a black zip-up jacket, and white sneakers. His hair stirred gently in the breeze, catching the afternoon light.
He wasn’t doing anything. Just sitting there. And yet, he stood out like a flame in the dark.
Clarissa noticed it immediately—how many of the girls on the field kept sneaking glances at him. Whispers, flushed cheeks, half-hidden smiles.
She smiled to herself, walked over, and sat beside him.
“Another month, and you’ll be cleared to run again,” she said, bumping his shoulder lightly. “Won’t be stuck on the sidelines much longer.”
Atticus looked up at her. Her smile was bright, open. Familiar.
His chest tightened for a split second. “…Yeah,” he muttered, eyes flickering downward.
“Hey, you free this afternoon?”
“…Yes.”
Clarissa tilted her head. “Then I’ll talk to your teacher. I’ll check you out early. Let’s go out—just you, me, and mom. We’ve been overdue for a little fun.”
She had no experience raising kids, not really. But she figured a day out, some sunlight, laughter—those things were essential.
“Okay…” Atticus replied after a pause. “I’m kind of bored here anyway.”
“Good. Wait here, I’ll handle it.”
Clarissa walked toward the teacher’s area. The PE teacher was young—fresh out of college—and when he saw her approaching, his jaw nearly dropped.
“Uh, hi—hello… Can I help you?”
“I’m Atticus’s sister,” Clarissa said warmly. “I hope he’s not been any trouble.”
The teacher blinked hard. “Trouble? No, no! Not at all!”
Nearby students were already buzzing.
“Holy crap, is that his sister? She’s gorgeous!”
“She’s prettier than a celebrity…”
“Are we surprised? Atticus looks like he walked off a billboard.”
Clarissa smiled through the chatter and got to the point. “His legs are still recovering, and I’d like to take him home early.”
“Of course. No problem at all.”
“Thank you, teacher.” She turned—and there he was. Atticus stood just behind her. “Atticus?” she blinked. “When did you get here?”
“Just now,” he said, voice calm and even.
Under the watchful gaze of the crowd, Atticus reached out and took Clarissa’s hand without hesitation. “Let’s go.”
Clarissa was pulled forward by him, surprised but not resisting. She glanced sideways, slightly amused. “What’s the rush? Don’t you want to say goodbye to your friends?”
“I’m hungry,” he said flatly. “Let’s just go.”
“That so…” Clarissa didn’t push. She simply followed his lead, allowing herself to be guided toward the school gates.
Atticus glanced at her from the corner of his eye. She hadn’t pulled away from his hand. His lips curved into a subtle smile—almost imperceptible—and he quietly tightened his grip.
Just then, a shout interrupted them. “Atticus!”
“Hey, little guy! Free this weekend? There’s a new place downtown!”
A group of familiar voices broke into the moment. Atticus froze, his expression immediately darkening. He turned his head slowly—and sure enough, it was his teammates, heading his way.
At the front, as always, was Thaddeus. The boys swarmed in without missing a beat, slapping his back, joking around, ruffling his hair. Atticus instinctively let go of Clarissa’s hand just in time to avoid dragging her into the chaos.
His face soured. “Let go.”
But then someone finally noticed Clarissa standing quietly off to the side. One glance—and then a collective gasp. “Holy—!”
Clarissa had dressed a little more formally for the visit today. Over her light lavender dress, she wore a soft knit shawl. Her long, dark hair was neatly tied in a side braid, with tiny violet beads woven through, catching the light. Elegant. Serene. Effortlessly graceful.
Clarissa offered them a composed smile. “Hi. I’m Atticus’s sister. Thank you all for taking care of him.”
Thaddeus blinked, caught entirely off guard. He lowered his gaze, then quickly stepped forward. “Hi… uh, I’m Thaddeus. Nice to meet you.”
One by one, the rest followed suit, trying not to trip over their own feet.
“Hi! I’m—uh—nice to meet you, sister!”
“Hello, big sis!”
Clarissa chuckled softly. Her gaze was warm, gentle, even motherly. She gave them a polite nod.
Before any of them could get too close, Atticus stepped between them, pushing the boys back with a quick arm. “I’m leaving. No plans this weekend.”
He didn’t wait for their reaction—he just turned and walked away, Clarissa in tow.
Behind them, the guys crowded around Thaddeus.
“Dude, his sister is insanely hot.”
“Yeah, no wonder Atticus is always wearing the latest sneakers. Bet those designer hats come with the family package too.”
“Man’s living the dream. Gorgeous sister, cushy life…”
Meanwhile, Atticus and Clarissa were walking side by side down the tree-lined path outside the school.
Clarissa glanced at him. His expression was tight, unreadable. “What’s wrong?” she asked softly. “You don’t look happy.”
“I’m fine.” He met her gaze for a beat, then asked, “What about you?”
“I’m happy.”
“…Why?”
Was it because of those guys? The attention? That thought made his jaw tighten.
Clarissa tilted her head with a smile. “Because it’s nice to see you getting along with your classmates. You’ve made friends. I’m proud of you.”
Atticus was visibly stunned. He stared at her, speechless. Then slowly dropped his gaze. A soft flush crept up his neck and colored the tips of his ears.
“…I don’t want friends,” he muttered. “I…” His voice trailed off—too low for her to catch.
“What was that?” Clarissa asked gently.
“…Nothing,” he said after a pause. “As long as you’re happy.”
She sighed, half-laughing. “Silly boy. You should be the one enjoying school.”
Atticus said nothing. Clarissa looked at the boy walking beside her. It’s going to be a long road, she thought.
Without a word, she reached out and took his hand again. “Let’s go home. Mom said she made some snacks…”
Atticus blinked, caught off guard. “Uh… okay.”
Her fingers were soft—cool from the breeze but slowly warming in his palm. His own hand tensed reflexively, tightening around hers.
They were about the same size, but hers were so much smoother, more delicate. That warmth traveled from her skin into his chest, curling around his ribs like a whisper.
The faintest tremble ran through his body. He didn’t understand what was happening to him lately. There were moments he couldn’t even recognize himself. His emotions were out of control. All it took was a glance, a word, the barest brush of her fingers…
Atticus risked another look at Clarissa. Her eyes were bright. Her smile gentle. Her skin—whiter than snow.
He quickly looked away. Forget it, he thought. Don’t think about it. Just leave it alone.
But the heat in his chest said otherwise.