<< Back Next >>
Just then, Drew held out his handkerchief and somewhat “fanned” his mouth with it.
“Ugh, yuck!!! Totally weird. I totally get why you were staring at him like that.” Blare said.
“What the hell? Is that even legal?” Sarah hissed.
“Yeah, that guy’s a total weirdo. A total handkerchief-obsessed freak.” I laughed.
For a moment I thought I was in trouble because of him. But because f a freakish act, he actually did me good. I couldn’t stop smiling.
“Hey, word of advice, atop staring at him, or he’ll know we’re dishing dirt about him.” Blaire warned.
“I will. Thanks.” I said.
I looked at him. He wasn’t doing the “thing” anymore. To tell the truth, I should be totally turned off but surprisingly, I wasn’t. Even if they thought ha was a freak, he wasn’t for me. He wasn’t a freak; he was just a really “unique” person with “unique” habits.
“Hey, Carson!” Drew said.
I looked at “Carson”. He was a big guy with almost baldy hair. He reminded me of “Emmet Cullen” from “Twilight”.
Drew went closer to him and they somehow did a “secret handshake” of some sort. And they talked and laughed. This was the first time in the history of my life that I’ve seen him smile, much less laugh.
Then, five other guys went closer to them. They talked and laughed, as high school guys usually do.
“Blaire, do you know those guys with Carson and Drew?” I whispered.
“Oh, them. That really white guy, on the right is Mart Sonnie. His mom’s a, I don’t specifically know but she works in court. He’s really wealthy. That guy next to him, which is the total opposite of his appearance, is Edwin Gates. He used to live in Discord, New Hampshire but his mom moved here, he has family issues. Then that guy with the somehow loud voice, you can hear him, right? Anyway, that’s Ollie Haydensen, that’s Collin Klein and that one’s Mac Beard. Sorry, don’t know much about them.”Blaire informed.
“Thanks. Wow, you really know a lot about people.” I said.
“I do? Thanks.” She smiled.
So, they were his posse or whatever. I could tell they were best friends forever, in a non-girly type of thing.
Mart, Collin, Edwin and Mac came closer to the three of us. But Drew and Carson stayed.
“Hello, ladies.” Mart said. “Hey, Blaire, why don’t you introduce me to your friends here?” He added.
“This is Sarah Greene and this is Aera Kessler.” Blaire said. “FYI, Aera has a crush on a junior, RUPERT.” She blurted.
“Blaire!” I hissed.
“What? People have the right to know. Plus, it’ll draw more attention to you. You’ll see.” She replied.
“But I don’t want any attention whatsoever.” I said.
“Rupert Simmons?” Edwin asked.
“Yeah.” She replied.
“Well, he is hot. If I were a girl, I’d have a crush on him, too.” Collin said.
“Gross. You know, you’re lucky to even be a guy.” Sarah said.
“You’re not a guy.” Mac said.
“Maybe on the outside, but on the inside, I’m a total guy.” Sarah fired.
“Oh my God, Sarah. You wouldn’t want to be a guy. Guys are such losers and they leave their stinking mess anywhere. Believe me, being a girl is way mpre fun.” Blaire said.
“Okay, guys. Zip it. We’re leaving. Nice meeting you, Rupert-lover.” Mart said.
“Whatever.” I dismissed.
They walked away from us and went back to Carson and Drew. Then, they did the laugh-talk thing again.
I just went on with my business, listening to Blaire and Sarah’s debate on the “Genders”. As they went blah-blah-blah on their debate, I was startled by the guys.
“Rupert, Rupert.” They said. I looked at them, wondering what they were doing.
“See, she looked.” We so own her.” Mart said.
“What are you talking about?” I said.
“We’re talking about your insane crush on Rupert Simmons.” Edwin replied.
“I do not.” I said.
“Do to.” Mac said.
“Do not!” I hissed.
“Ooh, she’s so fired up. This is interesting.” They laughed.
“Look, I don’t have a crush on---“I broke off. I saw the expression on Drew’s face. He looked like a child who was filled with happiness. He was enjoying this. So, I did something that I never dreamed I could do.
“You know what, you guys? I don’t want to hide it anymore. I mean, what’s the use? It’s just a crush, right? I mean, come on. So, I’m just gonna come out and say it. I have an insane, huge crush on Rupert Simmons.” I revealed. But it was a total lie.
They stared at each other. It was more like they thought together, with their minds linked telepathically.
“Rupert! Rupert! Rupert!” They shouted in unison.
Then I looked at Drew again. He was shouting with them, laughing as he did. His dimples showed as he smiled. I knew they were teasing me but I didn’t have to care.
I acted my way through. They were happy and he was happy, period. But there was this whole other feeling inside of me that was bothering me. The horrible feeling that I had to lie to make other people happy. It was the feeling of guilt.
I actually did something bad to make other people happy. It was like Robin Hood stealing for the poor. Only, he didn’t feel bad about it because he knew he was doing something right. I know I’m doing something wrong but I did make him happy.
“Stop it, you guys. It’s not like I’m the first and only person who likes someone. I bet you, all of you, have crushes, too.
“Maybe, but we don’t want to brag about it.” Mart fired back. “I meant “them, not “it”.” He added.
“Say whatever you want. I don’t care, really.” I said.
“Whatever---Rupert.” He laughed.
“Are you going to torment me about it forever?” I said.
“Uh, yeah. Most likely.” He said.
“Do you ever get tired?” I asked.
“Nope, never.” He said.
“Fine, go. Do whatever you want. But just leave me be, got it?” I said.
“I wouldn’t guarantee that.” He said.
I rolled my eyes. “Don’t you guys have to be somewhere right now?” I said.
“Nope, not that we know of. Right, guys?” Mart asked. “Nope” They said one by one.
“Well, that’s unfortunate. But fortunately for me, we have to go to the library. Right girls?” I said, as I mouthed the words “Please say yes”.
“Right, yeah, research about something. Got to go.” Sarah dismissed.
We stood up, Blaire followed. Then, off we went to the solitary place called the LIBRARY. At least, if they follow us, they won’t be able to make noise there. As we got out of the room, I huddled them together.
“Thank you so much for saving me out there. You don’t know the agony and suffering you get from those guys.” I said.
“Okay, first we know the agony and suffering or whatever you call it that some people can get from them. Second of all, you saved yourself. We just backed you up.” Sarah said.
“Look, you’re out of there. That’s all that matters now. You can stop all the “thank you” crap and get over it. Plus, that’s what friends are for.” Blaire said.
“Yeah, thanks. Oh, sorry, I did it again.” I said.
“Hey, why’d you tell them you had a crush on “the junior guy”?” Sarah asked.
“Because they talked me into it. Plus, “the junior guy” has a name, and his name is Rupert.” I said.
“I know he has a freakin’ name, but I prefer to call him “the junior guy”. You wouldn’t understand. It’s a guy thing.” Sarah said.
“Oh my God, Sarah. Stop your entire guy persona and be a girl. Don’t let your beauty go to waste.” Blaire said.
“Shut the hell up, Blaire! I don’t have beauty.” Sarah fired.
“You shut the hell up!” Blaire fired back.
“Hey, you guys. Stop fighting. We’re friends, we don’t fight. So just chill, okay?” I said.
“Fine. Friends?” Blaire asked.
“We’re cool.” Sarah said.
“Yeah, you guys. Anyway, we got to get to class or we’re so gonna be late.” I said.
“Right. Totally spaced.” Blaire said.
We walked to what seemed like a market, but really it was a hallway. Our room was at the second floor. We were at the library which was on the third floor.
Good thing, we were on time. Mac was just finishing cleaning the white board, and the whole class was busy arranging their mess.
It was Math. And I was a total dumbass at Math. It’s not that I didn’t like solving, but somehow solving didn’t like me.
“Good morning, I’m Ken Bale. I’m your Math teacher. So to start with, I’m not going to let you introduce yourselves in front. Instead, I would like you to pair up with your seatmate and answer an activity. The ones who gets this right, is the winner and would be exempted from your assignment.” He said.
Answer an activity in math? What the hell? I know I don’t like that introduction thing but this was so crossing the line. The only thing that kept me calm was the idea that I was going to do something with Drew. This was my chance to prove myself and impress him. And I wasn’t going to let that opportunity slip away, just because I hated the subject.
<< Back Next >>
