Chapter 40: ♤Chapter 30♤

Two Months Later

I walked into the class and looked around for a couple seconds and had to hold back a smile.

Today was the beginning of the second semester, meaning, we all change classes. At first I was kinda bummed out because I wouldn’t have any classes with Chris, but that was before we got our schedules for the second semester and saw that we indeed had, not one, but two classes together. This one being Pre-Calculus. And not just with him, but with a couple more of his friends, most of them whom I’m not really close to like others, but regardless, it’s gonna be great.

That means I’m gonna fail this damn class.

Not so surprisingly though, I passed Spanish. Not to sound smug, but I pass all my classes. All the time. So does Chris. The guy’s a fucking nerd and goes crazy if he gets anything less than an A. Apparently he’s an honors student—makes sense—and this was his first year taking academic courses, which is probably why we never had classes in the past. I think it was fate that brought us together. Or the devil sometimes because that boy is an-noy-ing.

Despite that, the past couple of weeks were… interesting, to say the least.

Chris’s birthday came and went in early December and that was good. He had a small sparty with just his usual friends, his mom, my mom, and a couple other grown-ups who were either parents of his friends that he was close to, or some other family members. It was nice.

It was actually a birthday party. With a cake and everything. And that’s one of the things I like about him—he likes doing simple, normal things. He actually stood in front of his lit cake and let everyone sing him happy birthday—not like he had a choice— but he didn’t seem to mind with the huge grin he was wearing. Then we had karaoke and played a bunch of games. It was the first party I’ve been to in a while, and I liked it.

On a serious note though, I had no clue what to get him, so I ordered him a custom made hoodie… with my face on it. But that was before I had the idea to get him a camera. My mom helped me purchase it and I put both our names on the package. His face was comical when he opened my gift with the hoodie though. Everyone started laughing while I just smiled at his blank face. He wears it though, to my misfortune.

Then Christmas came around, and we both went to New York. Not together, we had family to see, but we were in New York nonetheless. Different sides of it too, so I didn’t get to see him over the holiday. Cry. But I was fine. Detoxing is good for the mind and body. However I did get him a present and he got me one, and we lived happily.

All too soon we had to go back to school and finish up the last of our classes for the semester, while kids slaved through Keystone Testing. Ha. So happy I was over that.

Which brings us here… me standing in the door of my second class of the day and staring at a smirking Chris, who was perched on the edge of a desk in the back of the class. He wasn’t even paying attention to the girl talking to him and I almost ran when people started turning to see what he was looking at.

I shook my head, looking away but I couldn’t stop myself from smiling. Making my way around the desks, I pushed my glasses up on my nose as I notice that the desks were all pushed together, forming five groups instead of rows. Then and there, I knew this was gonna be a bitter-sweet experience.

I don’t like working in groups, especially seeing as each groups had at least four desks, but this way I can be close to Chris and Theon (yes, he’s in this class, so the last thing I’ll be doing is work). But this will only work in my favor if we get to choose our groups. Which I doubt.

“What’s poppin, Riana?” Theon greeted as I got closer, and waited until I set my stuff down on a desk before pulling me into a hug, “My lil midget friend.”

I laughed against his chest, wrapping my arms around his back, patting softly, “Slenderman,” I greeted, tilting my head back with a grin, “How you like your classes so far?”

“It’s fuckin lit,” he said with a laugh, “I’m bout to be kicked out of all my shit. I got squad all over.”

I snickered, “Try to behave.”

He scoffed, “Is that even a word? Stop makin shit up.” He said and I tried not to laugh too loud.

“Y’all cute,” I heard and turned my head to see a light-skin girl standing there. She was here already but I totally forgot she was talking to Theon before he hugged me.

Theon snickered, “She cute wid everybody. It’s just how she is.” He retorted, then said, “Look- yo, Rich,” he called, turning us. I saw Chris, now partially sitting on the desk with one foot firm on the ground and the other hanging from it, turn, jerking his head once.

And if that wasn’t the finest shit I’ve ever seen.

Theon pushed me in his direction gently and I turned back to snap at him over my shoulder playfully, “Do I look like a card to you? Don’t be passin me around.” All while I was still walking over to Chris.

He laughed and I shook my head, my heart thumping at the small smile on Chris’s face.

“Hi,” I muttered, smiling.

“Hello,” he drawled, his smile turning into a grin, and pulling me in for a bear hug, making me giggle into his shoulder.

“See, that’s different, they obviously like each other. Aren’t they dating?” the girl said and my face got hot.

Okay then, bitch can you lower your voice.

Chris squeezed me tighter, leaning back a little and making my feet lift off the ground for a second. I let out a strangled sound, mixed with a laugh, and gripped his sides. He sets me back down not long after, loosening his hold, but I didn’t even have it in me to drag myself away from him immediately after and he didn’t let me go.

I left my head resting against his shoulder with my eyes closed and my hands on his sides, breathing him in and letting his scent wrap around me. He ran his hand across my back in small, slow circles, his other resting on my hip lightly.

“You okay?” he asked lowly, his lips by my temple.

“Mhmm,” I hummed lowly, sighing.

It only lasted for seconds though because I didn’t want to get the suspicions and rumors going. So I pulled back and took a step away, smiling, even though I didn’t want to.

I groaned, looking away when I saw what he was wearing, “Are you serious?” I tried to cover my face on his hoodie, “Dude, you fucking suck.”

He laughed, pointing at me, “You got it for me.”

“It was supposed to be a house shirt,” I said for like the dozenth time.

No, it wasn’t the first time he’s worn it to school and every time, I die. This is like his fifth time wearing it at school—yes, I’ve counted—and I’ve gotten numerous snaps with him in it whenever he goes out with anybody. I didn’t think he would wear it so much—or to school—or I wouldn’t have gotten it. It was a joke in all honesty.

Somebody even made a meme about it, saying they want their ‘man’ to wear their face on a shirt as proudly as he does. It’s embarrassing and he loves seeing my face whenever he wears it. I dread every day now, praying he doesn’t come to school in it.

“This face,” he gestures to the front of it, “Doesn’t belong in the house.”

“Okay,” I retorted with a groan, turning away.

He laughed again and I felt his hand snake around me, laying his palm on my pudgy stomach and pulling me back into him.

“Geeze,” I said breathlessly when my back met his chest, smacking his arm and trying to pull his hand away.

He tightenined his hold, making my face warm because his fingers were practically digging into my stomach. It wasn't enough for it to hurt, but I could feel my fat almost spilling through his fingers and I'm pretty sure he felt it too.

I turned my head to grit out lowly, “Can you stop feeling up my fat.”

“I’m not,” he replied, “If I was you wouldn’t want me to stop.”

I had to press my lips together to stop myself from gaping.

Christ, this guy.

A voice at the front of the class caught our attention and I sighed when it was the teacher telling everyone to sit. Chris finally moved his heavy ass hand and I leaned away from him quickly when I saw that the teacher was looking at us.

I was about to sit when she waved us over, “Can I speak to you two?”

It wasn’t really a question and I cursed under my breath when she made her way to the door.

“Look what you did,” I scowled at him.

“Ouuuu, on the first day? Y’all some troublemakers,” Theon teased as we started walking away, taking a seat across from some guy. I’ve seen him around our group before, but I really forgot his name.

“Shut up,” I said, shaking my head with a laugh when he threw his head back, laughing like an idiot.

I ignored all the eyes on us as we made our way around the group of desks, Chris following behind me. I reached up, fixing the bun on top of my head that I’d made with my braids. I felt him tugging at the the ends of the others that were falling down my back and reached back to smack his hand away.

“Stop touchin me,” I gritted, holding back a laugh. This is what got us into this mess, I already know it.

He lets out a low chuckle as we stepped out of the classroom and into the hall.

The teacher eyed us for a second before saying, “I’m just going to ask you two to keep your hands to yourselves whenever you enter my classroom,” she said and I averted my eyes to stop myself from making a face, “I understand if you two are together. You can do whatever out here,” she said, gesturing to the hallway, “But I’d appreciate it if we are all appropriate in class and take others into consideration.”

Yeah, try telling him that. I almost rolled my eyes.

“That’s my fault, Mrs. D,” Chris spoke up while I tried to sort through a way to talk and not give her attitude, “I was just annoying her.”

He admits it for once.

I nodded, “Yeah, and we’re not together or anything, but you’ll probably have to stick a note on him for him to remember,” I waved my hand at him, “That’s like second nature to him now when it comes to irritating me.”

“She didn’t ask for all of that,” Chris retorted.

I made a face, turning and tilting my head back to look up at him, “Am I talking to you?”

He shook his head at me, his jaw clenching as he laughed humorlessly, “You know what-” he stopped, shaking his head.

I held back a laugh because I knew that got under his skin.

“So we have an understanding then?”

I looked back at the teacher and she seemed amused as she looked between the two of us.

We both nodded and she nodded also, gesturing to the door, “So let’s head back inside.”

We started heading back and I was in the doorway when there was a sharp tug at my hair, causing me to backtrack and crying out, “Ow, ow, ow!”

It stopped suddenly and Chris walked around me. I didn’t hesitate to slap him so hard on the side of his back that it sounded through the room and a couple people made some noises.

“Shhh-” He started loudly, reaching around to hold the spot.

He turned around in the doorway and I squared up.

“Fight me,” I said, shrugging and leaning most of my weight back on my left leg.

He took a step toward me, but there was a loud sound behind me.

“Guys, what did we just talk about?” The teacher reminded, “That includes fighting.”

I tilted my head at him, waiting for him to do something. But then he started backtracking, lifting his hand to point at me in a threatening way, but the last thing I am is worried so he can shove that finger somewhere.

“That’s what I thought,” I said aggressively, grinning mockingly. Then I mouthed, “Bitch.”

He stopped in his tracks and I giggled, taking a different route to my seat. I’m pretty sure he was about to put me in the garbage bin.

I took my seat with a grin, “Hey guys,” I greeted, leaning back in my seat, watching Chris walk over.

I eyed him, taking in how good he looks in his dark jeans and hoodie. And the fact that his hair was a couple inches taller than the usual made him look too good.

A couple weeks ago I said I wanted to see him with his hair grown out when it got brought up in one of our conversations at lunch and he was actually doing it. His hair was a sandy brown with a hint of blond, and it was so soft. I have no clue why he cuts it all the time, maybe that’s just his preference. But he looks so good and it makes it a lot harder for me to look away. I don’t tell him that though, but I have a good feeling he notices.

He pulled his chair out, his eyes on mine as he sat slowly, then he leaned back lazily, tilting his head back.

I gripped my hands tightly on my lap.

Laawwwddd…

“Yow, y’all need to…” I turned to Theon who was laughing lowly next to me.

“What?” I asked when he looked at the guy across from him who was grinning and shaking his head.

The teacher called our attention to the front of the class then.

She went through the motions of introducing herself, but it’s when I heard, “You will not be sitting in the seats you are now, tomorrow,” that I tuned in.

All the kids protested and I shook my head, unphased, and threw a hand up, “I knew it.”

“Watch her put the two of them on either side of the class,” the guy across from Theon said amusingly, gesturing to me and Chris.

I scoffed as if it didn’t bother me, “I hope so,” I partially lied, “Cause if I’m in a group with these two, I’m failing this class.”

“Right, cause you’re actually smart,” Chris retorts sarcastically with a snort.

“Ouuu,” Theon and his friend hyped, covering their mouths.

I drew back, letting my eyes run over him slowly.

The caucasity of this bitch.

“I know you’re not tryna play me, cause being a honors student doesn’t mean you’re smarter than everybody else. It just gives teachers a chance to work you like a dog and not spend ten minutes on one topic.” The nerve of this whore.

His lips twitched and he shrugged, unbothered, “If you say so.”

“I do,” I replied, “But don’t forget I was holding you by your collar all through Spanish 3,” I blasted and his jaw worked as he tried not to smile, “Or you would’ve broken down like a 5-year-old who’s kite got stuck in a tree.” I stared at him blankly, ignoring the low snickers from the two idiots next to me.

He nodded, looking away, “I’ll give you that.”

I laughed humorlessly, making a face, “I don’t need you to give me anything. We both know how that went down. So I’m gonna need you to humble yourself, okay?” I snickered, rolling my eyes as I moved my braids over my shoulder, “Get your friend,” I told Theon who was choking on his laugh.

I don’t play when it comes to my intelligence. Fuck outta here.

“Okay, in my defense, I’m white,” he said.

“And I’m black, da fuck,” my face scrunched up, “So…” I trailed off, my face saying ‘what now?’.

He shrugged, raising his hands harmlessly, “I’m just saying, we usually-”

“Waaaooooowwww,” I cut him off, staring at him with wide eyes, “So you’re one of those people.”

“What?” he responds, appalled.

“You think that because you’re white you can’t learn a foreign language, especially Spanish?” I stated, “Dude, it’s either you know how to do it or you don’t, and you just don’t. Take the L and leave it at that.” And it’s not even the fact that he’s white because plenty of white people know other languages. It’s just that he’s American. Some of us generally tend to have that mentality.

And he was actually pretty good at Spanish. It just wasn't his strongest suit.

“Did I offend you?” he asked, his eyebrows furrowed.

I shook my head with a shrug, “No, it’s just kinda annoying sometimes when people say stuff like that. Just face something instead of making it about race or how you look or some... attribute you have, mostly if it’s for like little shit. Like- a blond person would say something wrong and someone corrects them and they’re like, ‘oh, I’m stupid, I’m blond’, like no,” I shook my head, “That’s not it, you just made a mistake like everybody else.”

“Facts,” the other guy said. I should really get his name again.

“It seems like I offended you,” is his reply.

It's like he wasn't even listening.

I shook my head, “You didn’t.”

“Yes I did, let’s get something to eat later.”

I stared at him blankly while Theon and the other guy snickered. He stared back at me, not even smiling. He’s actually serious.

“Guys,” the teacher called, finally catching our attention. I wasn’t even pretending to listen to her before. “Up here please.” So I turned in my seat and pushed my glasses up again, giving her the attention she needed.

“So are you coming?” Chris asked a couple seconds later, and I sighed, holding back a smile.