XIII

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~Friday January 7th~

I open the double doors leading into the cafeteria, grateful that I still have time to eat some lunch before I'm off to chemistry. Glancing around the room, I find Olivia sitting at our usual table surrounded by our usual friends, but I am both surprised and pleased to find Cameron sitting in the seat normally saved for me. I pause next to a trashcan in order to take a look at the two of them without ruining any kind of moment they might be having or getting run over by other students entering the cafeteria. Cameron keeps saying something that makes Olivia burst out into laughter multiple times. It's not cute giggly laughter either, it's the kind of laugh I get out of her late at night when we are so tired that we're loopy and in hysterics over something not all that funny. Her eyes are squeezed shut and she is clutching her stomach as small snorts escape through gasps of laughter.

My favorite part, though, is the look on Cameron's face. Everyone else at the table is laughing lightly as well - most likely more at Olivia's reaction than the joke itself - but Cameron's smile is the brightest. His shining white teeth are fully visible as he watches Olivia's fit, seeming quite proud that he was able to make her laugh like this.

I smile to myself as I watch it all unfold. I'm really happy for my best friend, she's been crushing on him for about a year now, and I'm sure that she's ecstatic that she is finally getting to build a relationship with Cameron, even if it's just a friendship for now. A little lost in thought, I'm startled by a voice behind me.

"Well that was fast," Noah's voice remarks. I visibly jump and put a hand on my chest, turning around to face him.

"Geez, you already scared me once this lunch, why'd you have to do it again," I say, laughing lightly. Noah is looking down at me with a blank expression when something switches and he lifts his head up from meeting my gaze. He glances around the cafeteria before looking at me once more with a cold glare, immediately walking off. I watch in confusion as he walks up to my table, has a short conversation with Cameron, and then walks to his table, followed by Cameron after he says goodbye to Olivia.

Moody, much? One second he's playing a practical joke on me and laughing like a maniac, then the next he is giving me cold glares and walking away from me mid-conversation. At least now I know that I'm not the only one who can see a blooming relationship between Cameron and Olivia, though, Either way, seeing as I won't be ruining anything by joining Olivia, I sit down in my normal seat.

"Hey, where have you been?" she asks as I plop down.

"Good story," I laugh as I grab my lunch and prepare to explain to Olivia the complexities of Noah Thompson.

~~~~~

Glancing down at the small square of green paper in my hand, I double check the room number for my detention. Heaven knows I don't want to walk in on our school's recycling club and have to explain that I was looking for the detention room, not joining their club. Feeling assured with my location I turn the handle on the classroom door and step in, closing it gently behind me. Glancing at the front of the room, I recognize the older man sitting at a desk as one of the teachers often assigned to duty in the cafeteria or library. With a small smile and a slight wave I get him to acknowledge my presence.

"Name?"

"Teresina White," I state. I watch as he finds my name on a paper with a short list, making a small check.

"You can sit wherever," he says before turning back to his newspaper. Glancing around the room I'm not surprised to see that Noah isn't here yet - not that I would have chosen to sit next to him anyway, of course. He's the reason I'm here, and I am determined to hold a grudge against him for it, even if I didn't for the majority of the day today. Sitting down in a random empty seat, I decide that I might as well get some homework done. Normally I allow myself to procrastinate and save some of my work for Saturday and Sunday on the weekends, but I've got nothing better to do now, especially since I'm not sure if we're allowed to be on our phones or not and I don't want to take my chances.

After a couple minutes of chugging through some English homework the door to the classroom opens and I look up to see Noah walking into the room, his normal stoic expression plastered onto his face.

"Noah, you came," the teacher says in surprise.

"Yeah, don't get used to it," he responds grumpily with an eyeroll. He begins glancing around the room for a seat and I immediately focus my attention back onto my homework, avoiding any awkward eye contact. Scribbling notes about the novel I am reading onto a pad of sticky notes, I hear the chair next to me being pulled out with a scratch on the floor. I don't have to look up to know that it's him, so I don't give him the pleasure of gaining my attention - if that's what he wants. I ignore his presence as I continue to work. Ten minutes later, he finally speaks.

"Are you seriously doing homework?" He whispers, leaning towards my desk to see what I am doing. I simply grunt in agreeance, still determined to hold a grudge and pay him as little attention as possible. "You know it's Friday, right?"

"Yes, I'm just getting ahead on my work," I respond in a low whisper.

"I knew you were a goody-goody," he whispers back. I look up at him with what I hope is a murderous glare, but his evil smirk only widens.

"Shut up," I whisper. "Now if you would please keep quiet, I don't want to have to change your contact name to That-hot-guy-who-got-you-two-detentions," I say smugly, earning an eyeroll from Noah. I focus back down on my work, and find that I finish up my English assignment just as the clock reaches three-fifteen.

"Alright, you guys are free to go," the teacher speaks for the first time since we all walked in as I am putting my things back into my bag. Finally the school day is over, I can go to dance, go home and take a nice long shower, and then get a good night of sleep. As I walk out of the classroom and down the hallway, I hear him calling me from a couple steps behind.

"Theresa," I turn around to face him as I slow my pace enough for him to catch up to me. "I'll send you a text about what time we should meet on Sunday, okay?"

"Sure. I'll see you then," I say with a small polite smile before we part ways, myself on my way to my car in the school's parking lot. Just as I am about to walk up to my car - just as I am about to leave this cursed school - I hear a new voice calling my name from behind. Turning around, I see Andrew jogging up to me from his car where it is parked in another part of the lot.

"Hi Andrew," I say, plastering a polite smile on my face.

"Hey Tert," he says as he approaches me. Immediately any kind of pleasant expression drops from my face.

"We've been over this Andrew. Don't call me Tert," I say in a harsh tone.

"Right, right. Emma, painful past, I get it. Sorry," he says, laughing slightly.

"Whatever," I say, knowing I should address this further but not really having the will to do it right now. But any politeness that he might have received is certainly gone now. "What's up?"

"Well, I was wondering why you were talking to Noah Thompson?" he asks, crossing his arms over his chest with a questioning look.

"What are you, some kind of stalker?" I ask, confused.

"No, I just happened to walk past you two talking. You shouldn't talk to him Theresa, he's no good."

"Excuse me, you do not have the right to tell me who to talk to, and you don't even know him. How do you know he's so bad?"

"He's done bad things to girls in the past, Theresa. I don't want him to hurt you."

"Andrew, I appreciate your concern," I lie, "but I can look after myself. And I'm never going to date him anyway, if that's what this is about." I can tell he is about to deny that this is his motive, even though it obviously is, but I cut him off before he has the chance. "I need to leave now or else I'll be late. Bye Andrew." Leaving before he can respond, I get into my car and start the engine, watching through my rearview mirror as he walks back to his car. Finally free to enjoy my afternoon, I drive home to put up my hair and change before I have to head to class.


~~~~~

Written 10/31/17, Published 12/24/17

Sorry for the long wait again, but since I don't have school or dance all week you can expect consistent updating for at least the first few weeks of the New Year! Speaking of vacations, Merry Christmas (Eve) if you celebrate Christmas, and if not Happy Hanukkah, Kwanzaa, or any other winter holiday you celebrate! See you next Sunday! :)

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