Please Don't Touch

Theodore's POV
I sit in the room. . . .
Alone. . . . .
On a Saturday. . . . . .
Ever since Quen left and moved into a new apartment-
I have no idea how she did it so fast.
-I haven't been seeing her a lot around the school except for in classes but she would sit far away, and bolt as soon as the class
ended.
Picking up my phone, I dial the only person I know that can help me.
"Woah, am I seeing the contact name correctly or. . ." I roll my eyes amused.
"Hello would be nicer, mom," I tell her and she chuckles.
"Hello sweetie, how are things?"
"Good. . . School wise."
"Oh, is something wrong?"
"Girl trouble." I sigh rubbing my forehead and she gasps.
"Girl trouble? That's a first." She mutters the last part my face goes flat at her response. "Who is this special girl?"
I take a deep breath before responding.
"Do you remember Quensilla?"
"Quensilla? Isn't she the one that you. . . . Oh... "
"Yup."

My mom was literally my best friend, I told her everything. Including what I did a few years ago.
"You guys ended up in the same college?" She asks surprised. "What a coincidence!"
Right.
'Coincidence."
"Right so. ." I began explaining everything to her leaving out the dirty parts, of course, and by the time I was done, she was
already ranting.
"Theodore Anthony Beckett. That is no way to treat a lady. I have-"
"I know mom I get it. Can you please help me now?"
She sighs.
"Well, right now you need to start from scratch. Try being friends first before just jumping into something that both you and her
aren't ready for. She needs to learn to trust you. Most importantly you need to learn to trust each other."
"When is the right time to move on with things?" I ask her and I can already sense her smile.
"You'll know. You're a smart boy."
Great.
She was so useful just a while ago.
"Thanks, mom." I murmur.
"You're always welcome sweetie. I love you. Don't her knocked up. Use a condom! When the time is right of course."
"Mom! I thought I told you I believe in marriage before sex." I yell feeling my cheeks heat up and she laughs loudly, mumbling a
'sure'.
"I love you too," I say before she hangs up and begins planning.
Yes. It's true, despite all the rumors, I am still a virgin.

#
"I bet you think that Soap is better than Pity Party." My new friend Lauren says as we discuss songs from Melanie Martinez.
"It is!" I exclaim and she rolls her eyes amused, her black curls bounce as we walk down the hall.
"Quensilla."
I know that voice.
So I keep walking.
"Um, Silla. There's a boy like literally running towards you." I shut my eyes and walk faster.
"Lauren. Whatever you do, don't turn around again." She nods looking confused and soon I am spun around.
"You didn't hear me?" Theodore asks and I act confused shaking my head.
He doesn't look convinced but he brushes it off.
"Can I talk to you after school?" He asks and I immediately open my eyes to decline.
"Please, I promise I'm not going to force you into anything." He says and I eye him skeptically.
"Alright. Meet me at the cafe just two blocks from here." I agree wearily and he smiles.
"Okay, I'll see you then." He walks off and I can't help but wonder what I just got myself into.
"What and who was that?" Lauren asks and I almost forgot she was behind me.
#
"Woah. So he actually did that? And now he wants you? I call b.s." Lauren shrugs biting into her sandwich. It was lunchtime and
I filled Lauren in at what happened that night. I was surprised she didn't judge me instead she agreed with me.
"So. . .you're not totally and utterly disgusted with me?" I ask her and she raises an eyebrow.
"We all make mistakes and we learn from them. . . which also goes for him too. He made a mistake and I'm not saying that you
have to go plunging into his arms, but don't be too harsh on him if he is genuine when he apologizes." She tilts her head in his

direction and I catch him looking at me, sitting at his usual table, with his usual gang. As soon as I meet his eye, he leans
forward and stares at me even more. I avert my eyes back to my pudding.
"Hey, don't be too harsh on him okay? It may seem hard to forgive but. . . we all do some things that we're not supposed to and
end up regretting it later. It's the cycle of life."
"Woah, when did you get so inspirational?" I joke and she grins.
"I don't know, it just came to me."
#
I'm running a little late since I overstayed at the library so I rush to the cafe.
When I enter, I immediately spot him checking his watch and I shake my head.
He was never a patient person.
I walk towards the table, clutching my books to my chest, my bag hanging low.
His eyes find mine and they instantly soften.
I slide into the booth, taking off my bag and leaning forward.
"Hey. . ."He smiles.
"Hi." I murmur.
"How are things? Is the apartment... .okay?" He tries and I hold in my laugh.
"Yea. It's pretty nice."
"That's good." He states and I nod, drumming my hand on the table and looking around.
He sighs.
"Quensilla. . . I don't know how I'm going to get you to forgive me, and I've gotta say I haven't been doing a good job. I'm sorry
for pushing you and making you feel trapped, that was never my intention. I'm not going to force you anymore instead I'll take it

slow. I'm okay with us being just friends... " I'm honestly surprised by his speech and yes, he looks 100% genuine.
I would normally be telling him that I despise his ugly soul but I decided to take Laurens word instead.
"Okay." I breathe staring at him and his eyes widen.
"What?"
"Okay." I nod and he grins.
"Okay." He mutters.
"I gotta go study, I'll see you tomorrow," I tell him and he nods. I grab my bag and slide out of the booth. He stands but doesn't
make any sudden moves. Instead, he just stretches out his hand and I smile, grabbing it.
We shake hands and I offer him another soft smile before leaving.