Page 102 of We Shouldn't Be Together
“Not me, dude. She seems too squeaky clean.”
“She’s actually a lot more fun than she presents herself.”
Tyler’s lip slightly upturns as he gets a read on me. “How often are you hanging out with her?”
I shrug. “We just have to keep texting each other because of our assignment.”
This gets a bigger reaction. “You two are texting? That’s weird.”
“It’s just for homework.” I bite the bullet. “And, yeah, we go off topic sometimes.”
“What does Jamie think?”
“I dunno. Why don’t you tell her and let me know?”
Tyler sniggers. “You haven’t told her? Since when are you chicken?”
I groan. “She knows Tabitha and I are lab partners. I just never mentioned the texting or study dates.”
“Dates?” Tyler fixates on the word.
“I’ve just bought her these fru-fru coffee drinks. That’s all.”
Tyler leans forward, narrowing her eyes. “Man, you like her.”
I bite my lip, remembering holding her in my arms and hoping it doesn’t show on my face. “I’ll admit, I’ve noticed she’s pretty.”
“Pfft. She’s gorgeous, no question.”
“But Jamie doesn’t like her.”
Tyler smirks. “Jamie doesn’t like any girls.”
I tap the edge of his desk. “So, you’ll tell her?”
Tyler laughs. “Nah, man. You can dig yourself outta that hole all on ya own.”
I sigh. “Yeah, thanks.”
Our history teacher hands out a list of group discussion questions, and they may as well be in a spiral and written backwards. There’s only one thing on my mind, and it’s not schoolwork. Besides, my history teacher always discredits anything I write as too radical.
Around the classroom, there are the sounds of pens scraping against paper, and the murmurings of quiet conversations. Breaking me out of my zombie state, my phone buzzes in my pocket, and my mind instantly goes to Tabitha.
Although, it could be James whining about her math teacher.
When our teacher isn’t paying attention, I sneak my phone out and check the text message. I catch myself smiling when the notification reads from Tabitha.
“Maybe we should stick to talking via text, lol.”
I look up to check my teacher is still reading at his desk.”It’s a little awkward in the hall, huh.”
“I figured you didn’t want your friend knowing you’re talking to the enemy.”
“You’re not limping! I wanted to cheer when I saw you!”
“Nope. Mom fussed over me and made sure there was ice on my foot. Dad called and talked us through some physical therapy. Good as new.”
Her dad called. Gross, my hands are all sweaty. Yuck, this never happens. Okay, so did her dad not mention calling my mom? Or is Tabitha waiting for me to say something? Ugh, I don’t wanna know, so I’ll just skip it.
