I get to school early to get some time to study for my geometry test in the library. The lady who works there I don't know her name but in my head it's Ms. Librarian. She loves me because I never forget to ask about her day, and when she forgets her bifocals I keep a smile on my face and don't turn into that bothered customer. Last year I lost my Of Mice of Men book and at a cost of $12 I have no intention in finding it, but that doesn't stop Ms.Librarian from praising me for being nice and comparing me to the rowdy people who frequent the library. One of these people being Vince and his crowd who use the library as a shelter for when it rains.
"Goodmorning Daya," she says when I stroll in the doors.
"Goodmorning," I say and flash a smile.
There is no one here and I sit in the best table towards the front of the library where the heater is and I can drink my kombucha without being caught.
I take out my geometry papers and try my best to not look at my phone which outside of the library I've been doing a lot. I get through some problems, but numerous shapes and formulas swarm around my head. The library doors open and I take my eyes off of my crumbled papers.
"Good morning Dylan," Ms. Librarian says and turn my head to the side. I thought I was the only student she called by name.
"Good morning, you look gorgeous today," Dylan says and flashes a little smile. What a kiss up. Dylan then turns to look at me and walks right up to my table. He's no longer depressed and back to his normal wanna a be hype beast outfits with a big smile across his face.
He pulls out a chair and narrows his eyes at me, "Can I sit here?" The whole library is empty, yet he wants to sit at my table, weird, then again it is the best table.
"Here?" I whisper.
"Yes this is the best table," he says and proceeds to pull out a seat. I flinch a little at his response, but he doesn't notice. First Ms.Librarian greets him now he knows the geographics of the library, he's moving out of the cocky football player box I put him in, and I'm impressed. I revert my eyes from him as he takes out his supplies, and trace over my name on my paper.
"You good," He asks and eyes my paper. I've traced over my name so much it's bolded and the lead on my mechanical pencil breaks.
"Yes," I say. He nods and I look back at my paper. I'm about to pull out another cheat sheet, but a light bulb goes off in my head. Why am I being so standoffish to this good looking smart guy who's choosing to be nice to me? Ziyah kissed another girl and won't text me or look at me in the halls, until I get a clear answer from Ziyah why don't I get some?
"Actually can you help me with this problem."
"What kind?" He licks his bottom lip and puts his pencil on top of his ear.
"Geometry," I say dryly.
"Oh ok," he says.
He moves from his seat and sits in the chair right next to me. He doesn't smell like the cinnamon scent I've gotten used to, and he has a weird manly man smell that hits me right in my nose.
Dylan takes my paper and scans my paper. He does a nod then stops and squints at the paper. "Two plus two is four otherwise you're on the right track." He slides the paper to me and I can feel his smile as I look closely at my paper. On the problem I've been struggling to find x with sure enough in my early stages of the problem I wrote 2+2=5.
"Thanks," I say and begin erasing the whole problem.
"No problem."
In a matter of minutes I solve the problem without looking at my cheat sheet, and Dylan doesn't take his eyes off of me.
"So your brother is really make a comeback."
And Dylan was just starting to look hot. I look up from my paper and try to not let my eyes roll back. He isn't wrong yesterday when I watched Vince's practice he was dominating the field and catching every ball that came his way. It shouldn't have, but his seizure is swimming in water under the bridge.
"Yup he is." I start placing my papers back in my binder, but Dylan is in the same position looking at me.
"Has he decided which college he's going to." He literally just finished his applications, chill Dylan. Ziyah wouldn't ask me that.
Saving me from answering the bell rings and we both scatter to put our things together.
"Bye Ms. Librarian!" We say in unison and Ms.librarian waves. We totally forget about the question and exit the library side by side because we are going to the same class, but Dylan goes with some of his friends.
I make my way inside the hallway, but stop to tie my shoe. When I get up I flinch at the sight of the strawberry blonde who kissed Ziyah.
She's leaning against her locker with a skateboard in hand and her phone in the other. Her strawberry blonde hair is dark and sodden with a rasta hat on top that is definitely breaking the school hat policy. She bobs her head to whatever her airpods are playing and she looks like doesn't give a care in the world as I begin walking again. I pass her, but I keep my eyes on her and she doesn't notice instead she hops on her skateboard and skates down the hallway breaking another rule. I haven't seen her with Ziyah since last week, but I guess Ziyah might like her because she's so careless and is able to wash her hair everyday.
The day goes by smoothly, but I did hide my face from anyone walking past me when I was sitting alone at my locker. I don't stare at Ziyah at all during 5th period because I'm too busy worrying about if Unna is talking about what my hair that smells like and how I'm going to nail my French final. Ziyah is back to his chil composure and it's like we never happened, but the good thing is I never see him holding hands or kissing other girls.
To avoid an awkward confrontation I don't leave through the back of the school head towards the front instead. When I get to the front fences I'm greeted by everybody who's not playing an afterschool sport and waiting for their parents. Everyone is separated in their groups while parents honk the same melody over and over again. Before I dash off to the elementary school I find Harper staring off into space with a frown I only saw when she was going through her breakup.
"Whatcha looking at?" I say. I stand by Harper and she doesn't revert her eyes from the sky.
"Nothing I'm just waiting for Navia, where's your boo?" Of course Harper is out of the loop.
"Ain't got one."
Harper turns to face me how I expected her to. "What?" Her voice somehow overpowers a mom cursing at her son to get in the car. "What happen why did you guys break up?" I should've just rushed off, why? Why didn't I rush off to the elementary school.
"We didn't break up we technically weren't ever together."
Harper shakes her head and places her hand around my shoulder. "Girl you were smiling from cheek to cheek with him for two months you were together."
"I guess."
"Eww it's her," Harper snarls and rolls her eyes. There's so many people roaming around, she could be talking about the woman selling ice cream out of her cart.
"Who?"
Harper has no problem being rude and points in front of us. "Her." Her acrylic nail is directed at the skater boys who are failing at doing tricks and getting in everyone's way. Behind a guy doing an ollie stands the strawberry blonde girl facing Navia with a smile. Her hair isn't wet like this morning and it's being carried by the wind under her Rasta cap.
"What's wrong with her?" I ask like I don't want to go up to her and give her a piece of my mind.
"What's wrong with her? She's Navia's ex that's what's wrong with her." What?
"Wait she's bisexual?"
"No she's a lesbian," Harper shakes her head as Navia laughs at something strawberry blonde said.
"Are you sure?" Because she didn't look like a lesbian last week.
"Yeah I'm pretty sure look at her." Harper points to the girl again and strawberry blonde is just a tad shorter than Navia giving her the opportunity to stare right at her chest.
"What's her name?"
"She doesn't have one in my world she's just Navia's ex who loves Navia, why the questions?" With all of the times Harper has got into my business I'm a bit taken back that that came out of her mouth.
"She's the girl Ziyah kissed."
Harper's mouth goes agape and she burst into laughter. "What?"
"Yup."
"Well now you know you have nothing to worry about because there is a better chance at her liking you than Ziyah." Harper laughs some more, but I stay in my same position with my arms crossed confused as hell. "Bye Daya I have to go make sure that bitch keeps her hands to herself." Harper pats me on the shoulder and rushes over to Navia's side to plant a sloppy kiss on her lips right in front of strawberry blonde, who I will now be calling strawberry, because apparently she's nameless and gay. What the fuck?
Thanks for reading!!!