Chapter Ten

School flew by in a blink of an eye, and for once I wasn't tired. My attention was mostly on the lessons, and because of that I took good notes. I took so many that by the middle of the day I just stopped. So when the last class came around, I had already packed my things up.

The lesson was  just a continuation of the last one, and most likely we would have a test tomorrow. I wasn't that worried because I knew the material, and most likely I wasn't going to study for it.

I turned my attention from the lesson to the blank wall. I let my mind wander, and it settled on one thing. My father. I hadn't spoken to him in days, and it was unusual for him not to contact me for such a long period of time. I dug my phone out of my pocket and sent him a quick message.

Me: just checking in?

It was a strange thing to send him, but he would understand it. I was about to put my phone back in my pocket when it vibrated. That was fast. I opened it to see that it wasn't my father who had texted me, it was Ba Wei.

Ba Wei: What are you doing?

That was a dumb question. I was in the same place he was, and I couldn't necessarily just walk out when I pleased.

Me: what do you think?

I waited patiently for the text back. I made sure to spare a glance to the teacher every now and then to make sure she didn't notice me on my phone. I wasn't scared of the consequences of being caught, but it was best not to be.

Ba Wei: idk, you could've been on the roof.

I don't know why he would think that. I never missed class unless I had to. If I did, my father would find out and you know how angry parents go. Wait.

Me: are you?

A response came back right away. I wonder if he sent it with sarcasm in mind because that's what it was dripping with.

Ba Wei: of course I'm not.

Before I could text back a stern voice calls my name. I immediately stood up. Dammit.

"Are phones permitted in this classroom," the teacher asked? I could feel all the eyes on me, and it made me very uncomfortable. Pushing how I felt to the back of my mind, I answered her as I usually would.

"No ma'am."

"Then why were you on yours?" I didn't know how to answer. I couldn't tell her that I was texting another student, it would add fuel to the fire.

"I was texting my father," I lied. The teacher was silent for a minute before she cleared her throat.

"Take your seat, don't let me catch you on it again." I slowly sat back down, and when she turned around I sent a quick text to Ba Wei.

Me: liar

———

When class finally ended I was surprised that Yaling didn't approach me. In fact, she didn't even look in my direction the entire day. I enjoyed her absence, but I couldn't help but feel a bit guilty. Maybe she actually thought that I hated her. She did accuse me of it Saturday. Even though I felt slightly bad, I refuse to apologize. Her and her feelings aren't my responsibility.

I picked up my things and exited the classroom. I made my way to room 205, and when I made it there I wasn't surprised that Ba Wei was already there. Seeing that the last thing he sent me was informing me he was on the roof.

He stood beside the door looking at the tile floor silently. His dark hair hung over his eyes, casting a shadow over the rest of his face. If I didn't somewhat know him, I would say that he was largely intimidating.

"How was the roof," I said as I walked up. His head snapped in my direction, and to my surprise he smirked.

"You should've joined me." I shook my head and walked Into the room. He followed right behind me. I sat my things down and took out the subjects we would be studying.

"I can't just skip class like you."

"You could've."

I chuckled, " how about we focus on getting these done." I pointed at my science and literature books.

He nodded in agreement, and thus the tutoring started. It went how it normally went. He struggled in the science but excelled in the English. Every time he would come across a science problem he didn't understand he would squint his eyes, and I would respond with showing him how to do the problem. I don't think he was aware that he was doing it because he seemed surprised when I would help.

"Do the last two and I'll check them. If you get them right, we can leave early."

"No pressure at all."

I didn't say anything and instead watched him as he worked. I tried to focus on the problem he was working but I couldn't help but glance up at him. Why are you checking out a guy? I tried to answer that, but I couldn't find an answer.

"Here." I pushed those thoughts to the back of my mind and checked the problems he did. As I looked them over I could feel a pair of eyes on me. I hated being stared at, but it didn't bother me that much.

"They're correct," I said smiling.

"Good. We get to leave early." I nodded and started to pack my things. When I got done I glanced at Ba Wei then to my bag.

"Hey," I said reluctantly, "since I couldn't join you on the roof during class, how about now?"

Ba Wei slung his bag over his shoulder and walked to the door. He could've said no out loud. He stood there with the door open and looked back at me.

"Well, come on." I smirked as I threw my bag over my shoulder and walked out the door. Ba Wei wasn't to far behind.

The walk to the roof was silent and that didn't change when we got there. The night sky was clear and the air was cool. It would be a very comfortable setting if it weren't for the silence. I sat down where I usually did, and Ba Wei took a seat not to far from me. We sat in silence for a good minute before I decided to break it.

"Do you always look like that?" Ba Wei looked at me in confusion.

"What do you mean?"

"I mean, do you normally have such a stern look on your face?" Ba Wei shifted his eyes and answered.

"Yes."

Silence once again took a hold of us. I didn't want to stare at him but I couldn't help it. He says that he always has that stern look on his face, but Friday night he smiled.

"Friday," I said confidently.

"What about it," he asked without looking at me.

"You smiled." That seemed to catch his attention. Those dark eyes met mine and even though I didn't want to I looked away.

"That was different."

"Different how?"

"What you did was cute." My eyes widened and I could feel my face began to heat up. I looked up at him and pushed him slightly.

"Don't remind me." I put my hands over my face and closed my eyes.

"Do you usually act like this when complemented?"

"Yes," I lied. In truth it was only him that made me react this way, and I had no idea why. I removed my hands and I was shocked to see a smile on Ba Wei's face. I couldn't help but smile back at him.

"What are you smiling for," I chuckled out?

"Nothing." I didn't say anything after that, and neither did he. We sat there in silence once more, but this time it was comforting. It wasn't awkward. "Smile more."

"Huh?" I looked over at him, but he didn't glance in my direction.

"I said smile more."

"I smile all the time."

"I mean genuinely smile." I didn't have anything to say to that. How did he know? How could he tell? Before I could respond at all he stood up. "We should get going." I nodded my head in agreement and grabbed my bag.

As we made our way down the stairs I couldn't help but wonder how he knew. No one has ever commented on my smile. Hell, no one has ever commented on the facade I put on for the world. I want to get to know him more.

"I never see you hang around anyone," I said as we reached the halls. Ba Wei didn't look behind him to me, and he didn't respond. "Do you not have any friends?"

"People don't really like me." His answer didn't really answer the question, but it was safe to assume he didn't have many friends. I stared at his back wanting to ask him one question but couldn't. I don't know why I felt so nervous because it wasn't a big deal. All I was going to ask was if we can be friends, so why did I feel so weird. When we exited the school building I finally asked him.

"I want to be your friend." I was confident in those words when I said them, but the silence that followed made me regret saying them. He just kept walking and I followed close behind him. He came to a stop at the school gates, only then did he look at me.

"Why?" His face was stern as always, but something about it was different. It was a certain emotion that was mixed with it.

"Because you interest me," I said truthfully. He pushed his hair out of his face, and I could perfectly see his eyebrows knitting together. That's weird. Those dark eyes met mine as he sighed. He turned towards the road just as a black car pulled up. He opened the door and just when he was about to get in he turned to me.

"Let's be good friends then." I couldn't stop a smile from spreading across my lips as I nodded. He smirked and climbed into the car and it pulled off not long after.

I started my journey home in a good mood. I  didn't know making a friend could feel this good. Maybe it was because I never had to ask. It was always the other way around I couldn't help but wonder why he thought people didn't like him. Probably because he appears to be a delinquent. The more I thought about it, the more intrigued I became. I want to know everything about him.