Writer’s Corner: ‘Infatuation’

The Writer’s Corner features poetry, essays, short stories, satire and various fiction and non-fiction from SCAD Atlanta students. To submit your own work for the Writer’s Corner, email features@scadconnector.com.

Infatuation by Amanda Glover

“Oh my gosh, Rebecca. Do you see him? Tyler keeps looking at me,” I whispered to my best friend.

I promise, I’m not delusional. Tyler Lewis has been sneaking glances at me since class started today. I could’ve sworn he winked at me too.

I admit, I’ve had a crush in Tyler since the semester started and we were put in the same art class. Besides his obvious good looks, his artistic talent amazes me. One of our first projects was to create a 2D self-portrait using any medium. Tyler created a stunning charcoal portrait. The detail used on his freckles, and the curls in his hair shocked everyone in our class.

“Claire, don’t you know he’s dating Valerie Hampton?” asked Rebecca.

“No, she broke up with him over two weeks ago,” I said shaking my head.

Rebecca arched an eyebrow. “Hmm…I wonder why? Tyler is gorgeous.”

“I heard she broke up with him for that British foreign exchange student.”

She groaned. “I swear, that girl goes through guys like toilet paper.”

Tyler looked up at me from his sketchbook, the quickly went back to his sketching.

“Okay, if he looks at me one more time, I’m going over there,” I said.

“And say what?”

“I don’t know. I mean, he’s been staring at me every two minutes since class started.”

“Okay, the fact that you’ve been counting is pretty creepy.”

I leaned closer to her. “Maybe he’s attracted to me too.”

“Or, he’s like half the guys in this school and is thinking dirty thoughts about anything with boobs and you’re just next on the list,” Rebecca laughed.

I slowly rose from my seat.

“Where are you going?”

“I’m going skydiving. Where do you think? I’m going to talk to Tyler.”

I walked over to Tyler’s table. He immediately flipped his sketchbook over once he saw me.

I pursed my lips, hoping he wasn’t drawing anything pornographic. “Hey.”

“I swear, it wasn’t me!” He blurted holding his hands up in surrender.

“What wasn’t you?

He smirked and shook his head. “I’m just messing with you. How’s it going, Claire?”

I grabbed at my neck to fiddle with the locket my mother gave me for my fifth birthday. But it wasn’t there.

I remember running late for school today, so I had shoved the locket in my jacket pocket. It wasn’t there either. It must’ve fallen out when I was running to make the bell.

“Are you okay?” Tyler asked.

I forced a smile. “Yeah, um…I noticed you kept looking my way and — ”

“Oh, I’m sorry! I’ve been trying to work on this drawing,” he said peeking in his sketchbook.

“By staring nonstop?”

He smirked again, then flipped his sketchbook over for me to see. When he revealed the beautiful pencil drawing, my smile faded.

The drawing was of Rebecca.

Tyler had been looking at Rebecca this whole time. She was his muse.

“It looks just like her, right?” he asked with a hopeful look on his face.

I handed the book back to him before he could notice my shaking hands. “Yeah. It looks great.”

He smiled. “Thanks. I mean, look at her. She’s so gorgeous.”

I turned to look at Rebecca, who was applying a fresh coat of lipgloss.

“I know it’s a little weird me asking you this, but does she have a boyfriend?”

I blinked rapidly to stop my eyes from watering. “You’ll have to ask her that yourself. Excuse me.”

I rushed out of the classroom and locked myself in the girls restroom stall.

Maybe it was stupid crying over a boy who was never mine to begin with. Maybe it was that on top of losing the most precious piece of jewelry I owned. Maybe it was me worrying no one would ever fall in love with me.

I stepped out of the bathroom after drying my tears, only to bump into another student.

“I’m so sorry,” I mumbled picking up his books.

“No, it’s okay. It was my fault. I was rushing to get these books back to the library.”

I wiped my eyes with the back of my hand.

“Hey, are you alright?” The boy asked. I knew he was in my grade, but I couldn’t remember his name.

“Yeah, I’m fine,” I lied.

His eyes widened like he’d just remembered something. “Oh, Claire!” He dug in his backpack and pulled out a silver piece of jewelry.

It was my locket.

I placed a hand over my heart. “Oh my gosh! Where did you find it?”

“I found it in the parking lot. I recognized it immediately. You wear it everyday,” he said.

I studied his face. “I’m sorry. I totally forgot your name.”

He smiled and held out his hand, which I shook. “Duncan Paul.”

 “Claire Sawyer.”