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“You don’t have to stay outside with me anymore. You can go back to the party if you want,” I added.
“No, I’m not missing anything. There’s a little bit of a prince inside this black heart that can’t leave damsels in distress, especially when I’m the one who upset you,” he added, pointing to his chest. The movement made me gaze at the t-shirt that was hugging his clearly toned stomach. I immediately looked back up into his eyes, hoping he didn’t notice me looking at him.
“What about Kiki and Mimi?”
I can’t believe I just said that. But he didn’t appear upset since he broke out laughing.
“You mean Lexi and Riley? They were getting on my nerves with all the giggling in my ear. By the way, nice names. I’m going to use them again sometime.”
“Thanks, I have my moments of genius sometimes. Not to make you uncomfortable, but is it strange that I feel a little awkward talking to you after what you said to me earlier?” I asked.
“Not at all. Do you know what we need to do to make you feel better? Let’s act it out. I’ll call you ‘fatty’ again, but this time, instead of walking away, give me a good slap in the face,” he said as he got up and pulled on my arm to make me stand up, too. I wasn’t sure if this would help, but it was worth a try.
He continued, “Now before we do this, I really don’t mean to offend you when I say ‘fatty’ this time.” “
I shook my head to show that I understood, then nodded my head to let him know he could start. He smiled at me and then looked me square in the eyes and said,
“Hey fatso, what are you staring at? “
I knew this was all a game, and he had just stated he didn’t want to hurt me, but the word still wounded me. This made me a little more furious, and when I pulled my hand back and smacked him square in the face, I hit Rod with too much power.
I was quite happy to see the shocked look on his face. A red handprint had started to form on the cheek I had slapped, and he started to touch it.
He laughed a little and added, “Damn, you hit really hard for a girl.”
“Wow, thanks for that, Peter. I feel much better,” I responded with a smile.
Want to have lunch?
“Oh, the pain,” Chloe moaned as she leaned against the locker. “My head feels like it’s going to explode.”
I was getting my books out for my first class when I looked up. Chloe was leaning against the locker next to mine with black sunglasses on her face.
“What’s the matter with you? The celebration occurred on Friday, and today is Monday. I told her, “I didn’t know you drank that much to have such a strong hangover.”
“I don’t feel bad. I woke up this morning and noticed that it was Monday and school was coming up. I had a bad headache.
I don’t know why Chloe skips school. They say high school is hell, but when Chloe first walked through the gates of our school, it shook her hand and said, “Hey, I’ll be your heaven.” She was naturally popular, had real friends, and was well-liked. She wasn’t beautiful in the traditional sense, but her personality shone through, and she was stunning. She was wearing a size four body that was currently clad in a fitting white mini skirt, a tank top that stopped mid-off, showing off her belly button, and three-inch heels. Her naturally platinum blonde hair was in a messy bun on top of her head.
Chloe said that I looked like a Coca-Cola bottle since I had lost weight, and she looked like a ruler. I might concede that I had more curves, but at least hers weren’t wrapped in fat.
“Come on,” I urged, pulling her away from the locker and towards our first-period AP History class. “You’re too annoying for your own good, and I don’t want to be late for my first period.”
I was able to pull her for a few more seconds until she ripped her arm away and started walking by herself.
“Talking about the party on Friday, you left for about an hour, and when you came back, your cheeks were all red, and you looked like you had just come back from a midnight tryst,” Chloe added.
I tripped on the flat ground because of what she said, and I’m sure she would see that my face was just as bright now. Peter and I had been talking for almost an hour about something I don’t remember, but I knew he was really funny and even though I was still on my guard because of what he said before, I liked being with him. I hadn’t told Chloe any of this, though.
“Wha…Wha…What,” he mumbled uncomfortably. “I didn’t look like that; you were the one who left me behind on the way to the drinks table.”
“Le gasp, I didn’t leave you. I came back, and you were gone, she continued, putting her hand over her heart as if I had hurt her by saying she had deserted me.
We got to history class and sat down in the middle. We weren’t quite nerds or delinquents. I don’t talk to Chloe much in class because I know she can be very distracting when she wants to be. I took out my history book and opened it to chapter thirteen, which I remembered Miss Bennett, my history teacher, saying we would be reading in class today.
I heard a noise at the door and looked up. I was astonished to see Peter walk into the classroom wearing a black sweatshirt, brown khakis, and black shoes. I don’t know if he sensed me looking at him, but he immediately looked up and stared right at me.
For a moment, I thought he didn’t know who I was or that he was going to act like he didn’t know me. But then he smiled and nodded his head, then turned and walked straight to the back of the room. I don’t know why, but I felt wonderful.
I turned to see that Chloe was looking at me with a mix of curiosity and uncertainty, and the grin that was going to bloom on my face faded. I moaned within because I knew what was coming.
“What was that all about? “She asked.
“What was that about?” I asked back, attempting to appear like I didn’t know what she was talking about. I suppose I failed badly since she asked.
“That staring contest you had with Peter Arthur, and I should add that he smiled at you.”
“Chloe, take off those dumb sunglasses. They’re making your eyesight blurry. “I was staring at him because I’ve never seen him in class before or at school, for that matter,” I said, and it was true that I didn’t know he went to our school.
“First, my sunglasses let me see better. Second, I’ll accept your explanation for why you were gazing for now. You haven’t seen him because you don’t look people in the eye because you fear they’re gazing at you and also because he’s only been here for a year. “He moved to our school in our junior year,” she said.
I never really looked at anyone. When I did, I either saw disgust or pity for the fat girl. Even though I had lost a lot of weight, I still couldn’t do it. When I think about it, I looked Peter in the eyes at the party and didn’t see either of those feelings.
“Look, Ava, you could tell me…” Chloe was cut off as our instructor came in. I knew she was going to bring it up again, but I wasn’t in the mood.
Miss Bennett began, “Good morning, class. You all look fresh and rested this Monday morning.” She looked directly at Chloe, who quickly took off her shades.
“I hope you all are ready to read a lot.” Read about Montesquieu’s Separation of Powers and Checks and Balances in chapter thirteen, and then connect it to the American Revolution. You have the full time, and in the conclusion, I’ll take it up. You may work in couples if you like.
Miss Bennett sat down behind the teacher’s desk, and I got to work on the homework, grateful that I had read the chapter previously. I knew Chloe wouldn’t want to work with me because we both liked to work alone.
I tried to avoid Chloe’s looks at me and not look back at the seat that Peter was seated in as I worked.
It was lunchtime, but Chloe and I weren’t in the same lunch period, so I normally ate in the library. Mrs. Archer, the librarian, and I were really close, and she not only let me eat in the library but also bought me low-fat lunches every day.