Page 4 of Fervency Love

“Hey, Stan, long time no see.”

“Yeah, well, I’ve been busy. I just stopped by on my way from the market,” he says and adds: “Well, time for me to go.”

“Wait up. I’m going too. Let’s go together.” I say, getting up and following him out.

Stan keeps asking how things are with Abbs.

“Since you’re asking, Stan, listen… We got introduced.”

“Oh? How’s that going for you?”

He’s close to the only person who didn’t believe what people said about Abbs. He used to say she was the best friend he could have. The way he spoke about her made me feel jealous about the time he got to spend with her. They were too close to each other. I even started wondering if he had a thing for her.

“I don’t know. I’d like to get to know her better. Maybe you could tell me which way she goes to school? At what times?”

“I could tell you, Connor, but why would I do that?”

“Come on, spill.”

“Do I have a choice here?” he grumbles. “She takes the morning bus, the eleven-eleven, at seven thirty-five, and walks through there.” He gestures to a path between the school and some buildings.

“Thanks, bro.”

“Just don’t fuck this up, Connor. I really do like and respect her.”

“Chill, dude. I’m good.” At this point, I’m not even interested in the bet anymore. This is something else. For some reason, I just can’t stop thinking about her. Morning can’t come soon enough.

I get up and shower. It’s twenty past seven. I’m on my way to the door when I bump into Dad, who shoots me a shocked stare.

“What? I’m going to school. Got some change for a bus ticket?”

“You’regoing to school? All the luck getting there, son,” he mutters, but he hands over a couple of bills. I don’t blame him. Even when I pretend to go to school but end up in the Den, I never leave so early.

I reach the crossing behind the school and stop, scanning the neighborhood. I’m standing by a tree and—fuck me!—I’m getting nervous. Weird as balls.

I light a cigarette to calm down a bit. When I’m at my last drag, I notice her. She’s wearing a short, tight-fitting miniskirt and a short coat. Holy hell, look at those legs! I imagine her wrapping them around me, losing herself in… I shoo away the distracting thoughts that keep trying to take my mind over. She’s going toschool wearing that? Is that, like, even allowed? They shouldn’t allow that. Jesus, I couldn’t keep my focus in class if I had a piece of ass looking so sexy sitting next to me.

I set out nonchalantly. Her face twists into a puzzled expression as our eyes meet.

“Hey!” I call out.

“Hi, Ve! What are you doing here?”

“I’m on my way to school.”

“Really? I’ve never seen you here at this time.”

Fuck, she’s smart. I’d better watch my tongue. Wouldn’t want to ruin this.

“Uh, no, we just never ran into each other.” I attempt to sound natural.

“Maybe,” she says, apparently accepting the explanation. “So, you’re going to school? Which one?”

“ONC,” I reply fast.

She asks me a few more questions. I try to keep my cool and reply logically, but listening to her melodic voice scrambles my brain. She’s so pretty. I like looking at her—the way her lips move, the dimples in her cheeks as she smiles.

The bus arrives. I get in, intent on continuing our conversation. She seems surprised that I’m on her bus, but it also goes to my school. It’s her stop in a couple of moments. I want more. I’d like to kidnap her and spend the whole day with her.

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