Page 11

Abby

February came and went. It’s March now. Ivy, Vicky, and I decided to go out for drinks. Get hammered, to be precise. So, we did that and went to Matt’s. Nothing good came from it. I only discovered he’s not interested in me at all and that he doesn’t even like to talk to me. Well, that’s a bummer. But at the same time, that’s not the entire truth. A couple of days later I met him randomly, and he chatted me up. We explained some things to each other. I like it when things are clear. He told me we aren’t a good match and that he has a crush on Gini. I can respect that. I officially consider the chapter “Matt” closed.

I’m not sure if that’s how it’s supposed to look. Someone appears who’s visually one hundred percent your type, but then it turns out that despite you being an attractive person, the guy you like isn’t attracted to you at all. I don’t get it. Take Ivy and Lucas, for instance. She got it into her head she wanted Lucas, and she persisted until she got him. She made it, but sometimes I wonder if a forced relationship like that makes any sense. Sometimes it’s just better to let go. We agree to disagree. We’re generally very different people, but we stick together, nonetheless.

The alarm clock wakes me up from deep sleep. I crawl out of bed, take a quick shower, and brush my teeth. One more day at school and then it’s the weekend, I think, smiling at my reflection in the mirror. I grab a tube of mascara, apply some, then face cream, and tie my hair into a ponytail, leaving a few strands loose. A last glance into the mirror. Alright, that’s the best I can do. Time to go. Since Mom bought me mascara last year—and Dad had something to say about that!—I haven’t left home without my lashes done, not to mention a shower and proper hair routine. You never know what’s going to happen, right? At the same time, I couldn’t apply full makeup like my friends or even younger girls often do. I tried it once and thought I’d suffocate. It felt like wearing a thick mask.

I pull on a pair of tights and grab my favorite miniskirt. Maybe I won’t freeze to death. I don’t have an idea for an outfit today, and my favorite pants are in the laundry. It’s ten past seven in the morning when I’m ready. I go out and head to the bus stop. I pass my primary school, my mind wandering back to the carefree days of early youth, take a right and see… him. He’s walking towards the bus stop with a backpack swinging from one shoulder. He notices me and slows down. My stomach knots. What’s with that painful cramping? Must be the result of this unexpected meeting. My heart starts beating faster. Is that because of him? Maybe that’s because I don’t like surprises. I like to have everything under control, otherwise I get nervous.

Strange. I’ve never seen him here before. Coincidence? No way! Alright. Let’s play this game, Ve.

“Hi!”

“Hi, Ve! What are you doing here?”

“I’m on my way to school.”

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

“Uhh, no, we just never ran into each other.”

“Maybe. So, you’re going to school? Which one?”

“ONC.”

I ask him a couple more questions, thinking about the weird feeling of pleasure this unexpected conversation brings. Or maybe it’s his presence. Anyway, when we reach the bus stop, my bus is approaching. To my surprise, he gets on it too. Right, eleven-eleven goes to the ONC too.

Startled, I conclude that I really like hearing his voice. It’s different from those I’ve known before. Erotic in and of itself. It sounds like the sweetest melody. I feel an unpleasant emptiness when the time comes for me to leave the bus.

“Bye, Ve. This is my stop. Have a nice day!”

I can’t focus during class. My thoughts keep going back to Ve.

“Hey, where are you? What’s going on with you?” I hear Nikki asking.

“Oh… I’m just thinking… I haven’t told you, but I met this boy recently.”

“Yeeeah?” Nikki stretches the sound on purpose, telling me I have her undivided attention.

“It was nothing, really. You know, I still liked Matt back then. It’s that guy whose friends were pissing me off.”

“You met the guy who sent his buddies after you?”

“Yeah, him. Can you believe it? What a kid.”

“Well, duh! What’s his name?” She turns my way and leans on an elbow, propping her head on her hand.

“I don’t actually know.”

“What do you mean?”

“He introduced himself as Ve.”

“Fucking hell!” she mouths and shrieks soundlessly.

“What?” I can see the shock on her face.

“That Ve?”

“That? Which one? What are you talking about?” What indeed?

“Elsa said she was really into that guy who goes by Ve. Lives near you. A bad boy. Half of the projects have a crush on him. I heard he’s handsome as hell.”

“I wouldn’t know about that. He has nice eyes and a super sexy voice.”

“Ooooh!”

“Nikki!” the professor cuts in. “Be a dear and repeat what we were talking about just now.”

Nikki gets up and repeats word for word, which makes the teacher visibly taken aback.

“Alright then, stop the chitchat. I feel left out.”

“Sorry, professor.”

I have no idea how we always know what the lesson is about despite talking to each other nonstop.

The classes pass quickly. I’m called to the board during math. I’m prepared, but I don’t like being called out. I hate speaking in front of audiences. If I could just write the answers down, I would have got an A. Instead, I get an F. My folks aren’t going to be happy. Well, no matter, I’ll have another shot.

I have this strange fear left over after primary school. Other kids used to bully me relentlessly whenever I was called to the blackboard. That’s when I got this paralyzing fear. Weird how one bad teacher can impact a kid’s psyche. Shocking. It should be punishable. It’s unprofessional to dump your personal problems on anyone else.

The last bell rings, which means classes are over. Nikki, Mandy, Catherine, and I go for a smoke. I don’t know why we smoke, to be honest. Probably it’s our way to blow off steam.

The eleven-eleven arrives. I hop on and immediately feel he’s there. Is it possible to feel someone’s energy? Nervously, I scan the crowd. My eyes stop, locking on that sky-blue stare of his. It’s him! I squeal in delight in my mind. He’s sitting at the back, looking straight at me.

“Hey, Abby,” he says, and my heart skips a beat. I feel my palms getting sweaty.

“Hey, Ve,” I reply.

I need to talk to Vicks. She must have told someone too much. Who’s side is she on? Hmm, but maybe he found out on his own when I would finish school. Is he that clever? No, I wouldn’t think so.

“Want to sit down?” he calls.

“You know each other?” Mandy asks, shocked.

“Oh, yeah, we were introduced a while ago.”

“Okay then, just go to him already. We’ll talk tomorrow. I’ll take your bus, and you’ll tell me everything.” She winks at me.

Meanwhile, I’m considering if I’d like to go sit next to him. If I’m to be honest, I don’t think I do. He’s getting on my nerves. Making me do things. But, me being me, I can’t have someone think I’m not nice without a reason. Wouldn’t want to hurt anyone’s feelings after all. So, I decide to accept his invitation.

I turn around and head to the back of the bus. Nobody’s tried flirting with me for a while. It’s kind of nice. Besides, the way my body reacts to his… hmm… energy? It’s frustrating.

“Going back from school? Your classes end the same time mine do?” I ask.

“Seems so,” he says curtly. I think I caught him lying right now.

“How was your day?”

“Dragged on forever,” he drawls with a widening smile.

When the bus reaches our stop, Ve gets up and lets me through first. We walk so close and yet so far away from each other. I catch myself thinking I’d like to touch him. The discovery shocks and terrifies me. I don’t know what we’ve been talking about, but the walk felt too short. I’d like to spend some more time with him. I think he’d like that too. I’m about to suggest he walks me home, but experience tells me to keep my mouth shut. A man is a conqueror. If I’m the one with the initiative, he’ll grow bored fast, and I think I wouldn’t like that. This acquaintance of ours is beginning to feel intriguing.

“That’s my turning,” he says.

“I’m going the other way.”

“See you around,” he says like he doesn’t care.

“See you, Ve.”

I can feel his eyes on my back as I leave. I turn my head, and our eyes meet. I wave at him and walk away. Damn, I don’t like where this is going. I don’t like it at all. Or maybe I like it too much, and that’s why I’m so afraid.