Chapter 18

Everyone is looking.

All attention is on Nate and me as I step out of my car and walk over to his side. He opened the door himself but I am right there to grab onto his hand to walk into the school.

It's comical really, how everyone's heads are turned and their eyes and mouths are wide open. Danny and some friends stand in the grass, tossing a football around like they do most mornings, staring, watching, most possibly in shock as Nate and I stroll hand in hand by them. The football hits Danny in the side of the shoulder as he is caught off guard at our public outing.

I try my best not to make eye contact because though I feel slightly uncomfortable at the moment, I feel more proud to have Nate holding my hand in public. This was a large step from the shy, timid, boy who stuttered his first and fifth sentence to me.

"I don't have to have working eyes to know everyone is looking at us," Nate says low in his throat, his head ducked closer to my ear as we walk across the front court.