Mouse laid on her stomach on her bed, quietly paging through Leo's yearbook from the year before. She turned the page and studied a black-and-white shot of some kids standing around in front of a fence on a field trip to Valley Fair. It looked like a candid shot- only a couple of the kids in the picture were looking at the camera. Three of the girls from the cheerleading squad stood in a group, wearing sunglasses and bikini tops with shorts, laughing. On the other end of the fence were Chris and Geoffry. They had their arms around each other's waists and they were both smiling, looking at something beyond the frame of the picture.
Mouse scowled down at the photo. They looked so f--king happy. She slammed the yearbook and threw it across the room, it hitting the floor with a loud crash. She turned over and put her pillow over her head.
A few seconds later, there was a hesitant knock at the door.
"Go away." Mouse called from under her pillow.
There was a pause, then another knock.
"Go away." Mouse repeated.
The knock came again. Mouse threw the pillow at the wall and got up, storming over to the door. She flung it open and scowled at Leo. He smiled and said, "Hey, can I come in?"
"No, go away." Mouse said, starting to close the door. Leo put out his hand and grabbed the door. "Please?"
"What do you want?" Mouse said angrily, walking back to her bed and laying down on it.
Leo, knowing better than to get too close, closed the door and stood by it, putting his hands in his pockets.
"I just wanted to check on you." He said, "You looked pretty f--king pissed off today."
Mouse groaned melodramatically and complained, "Why do all of you want to talk about your feelings all the time?"
She sat up and said, "Worse, why do you want to talk about my feelings all the time? I'm Mouse, can't you just... Except that I don't have feelings?"
Leo grinned at her and she snapped, "What?"
"You'd like that, wouldn't you?" He asked.
Mouse rolled her eyes and said, "Why do any of you give a damn? Especially you. I used to just be able to trust that you were a moron and you would stay out of my way if I scared you enough."
Leo crossed his arms and raised his eyebrows at her, smiling.
"Now, you have, like, feelings and shit and it's terrible!" Mouse said, trying hard to fight back a grin.
Leo put his hands back into his pockets and he slowly walked a little closer to her. He said, "Well, maybe I'm not the only one who's developed emotions recently."
Mouse crossed her arms and tried to keep frowning. She looked down at her lap and smiled.
Leo smiled warmly at her and said, "Mom said she'd take us out for ice cream. You in?"
Mouse looked up at him and asked, "Is there peanut butter cup?"
"You bet."
"Hell yeah, I'm in." Mouse got up and joined her step brother. Leo grinned and put his arm around her shoulders. She smacked his arm away and he recoiled.
"That doesn't give you permission to touch me."
"Yeah, sorry."
Wednesday, April 11, 2012
Tuesday, April 10, 2012
Cool With A "K" PART 30 - CHAPTER 20
Ever since yesterday when I told my friends about Mouse's crush on Geoffry, the atmosphere at school just seemed totally different. I walked down the hall, a sinking depression crawling over me. It seemed like everyone felt like that; sad and isolated, maybe angry. It felt like everyone was hiding something, like they all had something that they wanted to say, but they felt like they couldn't. Unless they were me and they already said something stupid that they wished they hadn't said.
I felt the worst for Mouse and Chris. I think that Mouse is kind of stuck, because she wants to be mad at me, but it would only prove that we were right about her being in love with Geoffry. That Geoffry was right.
Chris just seems troubled. Troubled and sad. We went home yesterday and he just sat at the kitchen table by himself, his mind off somewhere far away.
You know when you do something really stupid without thinking of how it affects others and you don't even realized that it was stupid until the damage is done? And everybody else knows that it was stupid and you feel like there isn't any way that you can fix it, so all you can do is sit there are let guilt crush you into the ground? That's kind of like how I feel now.
No, that's exactly how I feel.
I felt the worst for Mouse and Chris. I think that Mouse is kind of stuck, because she wants to be mad at me, but it would only prove that we were right about her being in love with Geoffry. That Geoffry was right.
Chris just seems troubled. Troubled and sad. We went home yesterday and he just sat at the kitchen table by himself, his mind off somewhere far away.
You know when you do something really stupid without thinking of how it affects others and you don't even realized that it was stupid until the damage is done? And everybody else knows that it was stupid and you feel like there isn't any way that you can fix it, so all you can do is sit there are let guilt crush you into the ground? That's kind of like how I feel now.
No, that's exactly how I feel.
Cool With A "K" PART 30 - CHAPTER 19
Leo glanced at Tae-Hyun, sitting a couple of seats away at their lunch table with her iPod in her lap. She had earbuds in her ears and was watching some sort of TV show.
Leo leaned over to her and asked, "Wha'cha watching?"
Tae-Hyun looked at him, "Hm? Oh, it's a K-drama that I really like... A Korean TV show."
"Yeah, I got that." Leo said. He smiled.
Tae-Hyun quickly smiled back and returned her attention to her iPod. Leo studied her face.
She's so beautiful. He thought, I can't believe that she fooled me into thinking she was a guy for so long.
Leo watched the little screen and a pretty girl came on screen, frantically saying something to a boy onscreen.
"She kinda looks like you." Leo commented.
"Tsk, yeah right." Tae-Hyun said. She glanced at him and grinned a little.
"She does." Leo said, pointing to the screen, "See? She's got those big eyes and that look like she's really worried about something."
Tae-Hyun chuckled and Leo said, "She'd look just like you if you had long hair."
He looked at Tae-Hyun and asked, "Have you ever had long hair?"
Tae-Hyun nodded, "Yes, it was about this long until I moved to America."
She gestured to her waist with her hand and Leo said, "Wow, so cutting it was a big sacrifice... That must have been hard for you."
Leo recalled when Chris first broke up with Geoffry and how Geoffry was so desperate to get him back that he cut off his dreadlocks. Leo thought of hair as being something that was important to people, but he realized how meaningless it really was.
Leo stared at Tae-Hyun and he said, "I like your hair this way. Not many girls at this school have short hair."
Tae-Hyun studied him and smiled.
I ran up to our lunch table and forcefully put my lunch tray down, sitting across from Leo and Tae-Hyun.
"Guys," I began, "I think I messed up. Bad."
They looked at me and Tae-Hyun asked, "Why? What happened?"
I looked at her, then at Leo. I guess I had already told two people, so telling two more of my friends would probably be okay.
"I think... That Mouse has a crush on Geoffry."
Leo and Tae-Hyun's eyes widened... But they weren't looking at me. I turned around in my seat to see Mouse standing behind me. She rolled her eyes and said, "Oh, what the hell?!"
"Mouse, I'm so sorry-" I started to say.
"No, you're not sorry." Mouse said, slamming her lunch tray onto the table near me. "What the hell is wrong with you? You think you can just go around telling people shit about your friends just because it's not about you?"
"No, Mouse, I-"
"It's not okay, Angie! You can't do that!" Mouse snapped.
Tae-Hyun and Leo drew away from us uneasily and Chris and Alice walked up to the table. They looked at us and both got extremely tense.
I looked up at Mouse and said honestly, "Mouse, I'm sorry. I didn't mean to-"
Mouse rounded on me and snapped, "Didn't mean to what? Humiliate me in front of all our friends?"
She scowled darkly at me, but she slowly looked around at our table, taking in all of the staring faces. She straightened up, realizing how out of character she was acting. As if nothing happened, Mouse quickly sat down and began to unwrap her sandwich.
We all watched in silence as Mouse bit into the sandwich. She cringed and said, "Uhg, these sandwiches are disgusting. Somebody should talk to the lunch ladies or something."
I said softly, "It's... Okay if you're mad at me. I would be, too."
Mouse stopped chewing and she slowly turned her head to look at me. Her glare was deadly this time.
"Look, Blondie," She said, "I don't wanna talk about feelings with you."
We stared at each other and I could sense all of our friends watching with bated breath. Mouse turned back to her sandwich and took another bite. I watched her for a moment, feeling hurt, before leaning over my own lunch, my hair hiding my ashamed face. No one else said a word for the rest of lunch.
Leo leaned over to her and asked, "Wha'cha watching?"
Tae-Hyun looked at him, "Hm? Oh, it's a K-drama that I really like... A Korean TV show."
"Yeah, I got that." Leo said. He smiled.
Tae-Hyun quickly smiled back and returned her attention to her iPod. Leo studied her face.
She's so beautiful. He thought, I can't believe that she fooled me into thinking she was a guy for so long.
Leo watched the little screen and a pretty girl came on screen, frantically saying something to a boy onscreen.
"She kinda looks like you." Leo commented.
"Tsk, yeah right." Tae-Hyun said. She glanced at him and grinned a little.
"She does." Leo said, pointing to the screen, "See? She's got those big eyes and that look like she's really worried about something."
Tae-Hyun chuckled and Leo said, "She'd look just like you if you had long hair."
He looked at Tae-Hyun and asked, "Have you ever had long hair?"
Tae-Hyun nodded, "Yes, it was about this long until I moved to America."
She gestured to her waist with her hand and Leo said, "Wow, so cutting it was a big sacrifice... That must have been hard for you."
Leo recalled when Chris first broke up with Geoffry and how Geoffry was so desperate to get him back that he cut off his dreadlocks. Leo thought of hair as being something that was important to people, but he realized how meaningless it really was.
Leo stared at Tae-Hyun and he said, "I like your hair this way. Not many girls at this school have short hair."
Tae-Hyun studied him and smiled.
I ran up to our lunch table and forcefully put my lunch tray down, sitting across from Leo and Tae-Hyun.
"Guys," I began, "I think I messed up. Bad."
They looked at me and Tae-Hyun asked, "Why? What happened?"
I looked at her, then at Leo. I guess I had already told two people, so telling two more of my friends would probably be okay.
"I think... That Mouse has a crush on Geoffry."
Leo and Tae-Hyun's eyes widened... But they weren't looking at me. I turned around in my seat to see Mouse standing behind me. She rolled her eyes and said, "Oh, what the hell?!"
"Mouse, I'm so sorry-" I started to say.
"No, you're not sorry." Mouse said, slamming her lunch tray onto the table near me. "What the hell is wrong with you? You think you can just go around telling people shit about your friends just because it's not about you?"
"No, Mouse, I-"
"It's not okay, Angie! You can't do that!" Mouse snapped.
Tae-Hyun and Leo drew away from us uneasily and Chris and Alice walked up to the table. They looked at us and both got extremely tense.
I looked up at Mouse and said honestly, "Mouse, I'm sorry. I didn't mean to-"
Mouse rounded on me and snapped, "Didn't mean to what? Humiliate me in front of all our friends?"
She scowled darkly at me, but she slowly looked around at our table, taking in all of the staring faces. She straightened up, realizing how out of character she was acting. As if nothing happened, Mouse quickly sat down and began to unwrap her sandwich.
We all watched in silence as Mouse bit into the sandwich. She cringed and said, "Uhg, these sandwiches are disgusting. Somebody should talk to the lunch ladies or something."
I said softly, "It's... Okay if you're mad at me. I would be, too."
Mouse stopped chewing and she slowly turned her head to look at me. Her glare was deadly this time.
"Look, Blondie," She said, "I don't wanna talk about feelings with you."
We stared at each other and I could sense all of our friends watching with bated breath. Mouse turned back to her sandwich and took another bite. I watched her for a moment, feeling hurt, before leaning over my own lunch, my hair hiding my ashamed face. No one else said a word for the rest of lunch.
Monday, April 9, 2012
Cool With A "K" PART 30 - Chapter 18
The door slowly opened and Geoffry stepped out of the boys' bathroom, a smug look on his good-looking face. A junior girl slinked out after him wearing the same smirk. They looked at each other and smiled devilishly.
Geoffry turned to the girl and she said silkily, "I'll see you around, handsome."
Geoffry merely chuckled and said, "Yeah... Bye."
He turned and walked away, the girl waving flirtily after him.
Geoffry walked down the hall with his hands in his pockets, grinning like he had done something clever. He reached his locker and twisted the dial on the locker, chuckling to himself. He opened the locker and took out two books. He slammed the door and revealed Tina, standing behind the door. She was wearing a pink sweater, lavender sweat pants, and her hair was tied up in a ponytail, spilling out of the bright blue scrunchie in wisps of purple. She also had, of course, her navy blue hall monitor sash.
Geoffry, who hadn't noticed her, jumped. Recovering, he said, a bit uneasily, "Oh, it's you... Hello, Tina."
"Hello, Geoffry." Tina said coolly, watching him with a bland look on her face. Her eyelids sagged slightly, giving her a tired sort of look.
Tina turned to go down the hall, stuffing her hands into her pockets.
"Walk with me, Geoffry." She said simply.
Geoffry looked at her, compulsively checking over his shoulder to see if anyone else was in the hall. He hesitantly obeyed.
As they walked, Tina said, "I saw you with that girl just now. How was that?"
Geoffry eyed her nervously. He quietly answered, "Er, good. Fine, I suppose."
Tina asked calmly, "Did you have fun with her?"
Geoffry averted his gaze to the floor and he mumbled, "Uh, sure I did... May I ask why you care? You're not... Into me, are you?"
Tina sighed, watching her feet and looking the slightest bit brought down. "No, Geoffry, I'm not interested in you in that way."
"'In that way.'" Geoffry muttered mockingly.
"Do you know her well?" Tina asked.
Geoffry shrugged, "Well... Not too well. Why does it matter?"
Tina looked straight ahead and a small grin crept onto her face. She replied, "Well, I think I should let you try to answer that question."
She stopped walking and turned to Geoffry. He stopped, too, and faced her. Tina's lips flattened to a line and she studied Geoffry seriously, making him feel quite uncomfortable.
"You hurt people, you know." Tina said gently.
Geoffry's face softened slightly and he gave her a puzzled look.
Tina nodded and continued, "I know you've been upset with me and you probably don't want my advice..."
She didn't tear her gaze from Geoffry's. "It's not really my place... But I could name a couple of people who you have brought quite a lot of heartache."
Geoffry looked serious. He rose his chin slightly and said, "Do you?"
Tina nodded quietly and said, "Yes. I think you know who they are."
Geoffry stared into space for a moment, thinking. Tina said, "Well, I'll leave you to your thoughts."
She started to leave and Geoffry said, "Hey, Tina."
Tina turned back to look at him and he hesitated.
"... Why are you suddenly helping me?"
Tina studied him, then she smiled warmly. A new look for her in Geoffry's experience.
"It seemed like you needed a bit of a wake up call." She said knowingly. With that, she gave him one last smile and she disappeared down the hallway.
Geoffry watched her leave. He sighed deeply and walked silently to class, deeper in thought than he had been in ages.
Geoffry turned to the girl and she said silkily, "I'll see you around, handsome."
Geoffry merely chuckled and said, "Yeah... Bye."
He turned and walked away, the girl waving flirtily after him.
Geoffry walked down the hall with his hands in his pockets, grinning like he had done something clever. He reached his locker and twisted the dial on the locker, chuckling to himself. He opened the locker and took out two books. He slammed the door and revealed Tina, standing behind the door. She was wearing a pink sweater, lavender sweat pants, and her hair was tied up in a ponytail, spilling out of the bright blue scrunchie in wisps of purple. She also had, of course, her navy blue hall monitor sash.
Geoffry, who hadn't noticed her, jumped. Recovering, he said, a bit uneasily, "Oh, it's you... Hello, Tina."
"Hello, Geoffry." Tina said coolly, watching him with a bland look on her face. Her eyelids sagged slightly, giving her a tired sort of look.
Tina turned to go down the hall, stuffing her hands into her pockets.
"Walk with me, Geoffry." She said simply.
Geoffry looked at her, compulsively checking over his shoulder to see if anyone else was in the hall. He hesitantly obeyed.
As they walked, Tina said, "I saw you with that girl just now. How was that?"
Geoffry eyed her nervously. He quietly answered, "Er, good. Fine, I suppose."
Tina asked calmly, "Did you have fun with her?"
Geoffry averted his gaze to the floor and he mumbled, "Uh, sure I did... May I ask why you care? You're not... Into me, are you?"
Tina sighed, watching her feet and looking the slightest bit brought down. "No, Geoffry, I'm not interested in you in that way."
"'In that way.'" Geoffry muttered mockingly.
"Do you know her well?" Tina asked.
Geoffry shrugged, "Well... Not too well. Why does it matter?"
Tina looked straight ahead and a small grin crept onto her face. She replied, "Well, I think I should let you try to answer that question."
She stopped walking and turned to Geoffry. He stopped, too, and faced her. Tina's lips flattened to a line and she studied Geoffry seriously, making him feel quite uncomfortable.
"You hurt people, you know." Tina said gently.
Geoffry's face softened slightly and he gave her a puzzled look.
Tina nodded and continued, "I know you've been upset with me and you probably don't want my advice..."
She didn't tear her gaze from Geoffry's. "It's not really my place... But I could name a couple of people who you have brought quite a lot of heartache."
Geoffry looked serious. He rose his chin slightly and said, "Do you?"
Tina nodded quietly and said, "Yes. I think you know who they are."
Geoffry stared into space for a moment, thinking. Tina said, "Well, I'll leave you to your thoughts."
She started to leave and Geoffry said, "Hey, Tina."
Tina turned back to look at him and he hesitated.
"... Why are you suddenly helping me?"
Tina studied him, then she smiled warmly. A new look for her in Geoffry's experience.
"It seemed like you needed a bit of a wake up call." She said knowingly. With that, she gave him one last smile and she disappeared down the hallway.
Geoffry watched her leave. He sighed deeply and walked silently to class, deeper in thought than he had been in ages.
Thursday, March 29, 2012
Cool With A "K" PART 30 - Chapter 17
Mouse sat in her desk in the French room, waiting grumpily for class to start. Chris stormed over and slammed his books down on her desk, making her jump. Mouse looked up, then grinned.
"Oh, hey, Christina. How's your time of the month treating you?" She said, smirking, "You look kinda pissed."
"When exactly were you planning on telling me that you had a thing for Geoffry?" Chris asked loudly.
Mouse frowned and, her voice low, said tersely, "I do not have a thing for Geoffry."
Chris snorted, "Yeah, you do."
He looked straight at her and his expression looked hurt, "It all fits together. You love him a-and that's why you've been acting all weird."
"I do not-" Mouse started.
"And that's why you made out with him when we were playing Seven Minutes in Heaven at your house." Chris went on, his voice wavering.
"What's it to you?" Mouse snapped. A couple of kids looked over and Mouse scowled back. She stood up and grabbed Chris' arm, pulling him into the hall. She said, more quietly, "What's your problem? Why does it matter to you?"
Chris locked eyes with her, his brimming with tears. Mouse's shoulders sagged and she said, sounding annoyed, "Oh no... You've gotta be kidding me."
She put her hand on her hip, putting her face in the other. Chris tried to say something, "Mouse... I know that it's-"
"You know, I really don't get what the hell is wrong with you." Mouse said, moving her hand from her face, "I've been trying to get you- I've been trying to understand what the hell goes on in your head ever since you started dating that stupid Geoffry guy and guess what? I have no f--king idea!"
Mouse pointed accusingly at Chris and snapped, "After all the stupid crap he did to you, you're still after him."
"Then why are you after him?" Chris scoffed.
Silence. Mouse stared at him, her lips tight. Down the hall, the bell rang for class to start.
Chris sighed heavily. He nodded toward the French classroom and said, "Come on, we have to get to class."
Mouse stomped forward and shoved Chris forcefully in the chest, making him stumble backward. He caught himself and said, "Seriously. We need to get to class."
"Why do you keep avoiding talking about Geoffry?" Mouse said.
"Why do you?" Chris snapped back.
Mouse clenched her jaw and Chris said tiredly, "I think you know perfectly well why we're trying to avoid this conversation... We're afraid."
Mouse glared daggers at Chris and he continued, "We're afraid that talking about Geoffry together will ruin our friendship-"
Mouse gave a hollow laugh, "We're not friends!"
"Let me finish, Mouse." Chris said firmly, "We... Are also afraid to admit that we're in love, and that he won't feel the same way about us."
Mouse scowled, then she smiled tightly.
"That's cute, Chris." She said bitterly, "Here's the deal. You already know that Geoffry loves you."
Chris studied Mouse, taken slightly off guard. It seemed to take Mouse a moment to realize what she had just said. She and Chris stared at each other, both trying to figure out what to say next.
Mouse slowly let her shoulders relax and she stood away from Chris.
"Let's go to class." She muttered, turning and walking away. Wordlessly, Chris nodded and followed her down the hall.
"Oh, hey, Christina. How's your time of the month treating you?" She said, smirking, "You look kinda pissed."
"When exactly were you planning on telling me that you had a thing for Geoffry?" Chris asked loudly.
Mouse frowned and, her voice low, said tersely, "I do not have a thing for Geoffry."
Chris snorted, "Yeah, you do."
He looked straight at her and his expression looked hurt, "It all fits together. You love him a-and that's why you've been acting all weird."
"I do not-" Mouse started.
"And that's why you made out with him when we were playing Seven Minutes in Heaven at your house." Chris went on, his voice wavering.
"What's it to you?" Mouse snapped. A couple of kids looked over and Mouse scowled back. She stood up and grabbed Chris' arm, pulling him into the hall. She said, more quietly, "What's your problem? Why does it matter to you?"
Chris locked eyes with her, his brimming with tears. Mouse's shoulders sagged and she said, sounding annoyed, "Oh no... You've gotta be kidding me."
She put her hand on her hip, putting her face in the other. Chris tried to say something, "Mouse... I know that it's-"
"You know, I really don't get what the hell is wrong with you." Mouse said, moving her hand from her face, "I've been trying to get you- I've been trying to understand what the hell goes on in your head ever since you started dating that stupid Geoffry guy and guess what? I have no f--king idea!"
Mouse pointed accusingly at Chris and snapped, "After all the stupid crap he did to you, you're still after him."
"Then why are you after him?" Chris scoffed.
Silence. Mouse stared at him, her lips tight. Down the hall, the bell rang for class to start.
Chris sighed heavily. He nodded toward the French classroom and said, "Come on, we have to get to class."
Mouse stomped forward and shoved Chris forcefully in the chest, making him stumble backward. He caught himself and said, "Seriously. We need to get to class."
"Why do you keep avoiding talking about Geoffry?" Mouse said.
"Why do you?" Chris snapped back.
Mouse clenched her jaw and Chris said tiredly, "I think you know perfectly well why we're trying to avoid this conversation... We're afraid."
Mouse glared daggers at Chris and he continued, "We're afraid that talking about Geoffry together will ruin our friendship-"
Mouse gave a hollow laugh, "We're not friends!"
"Let me finish, Mouse." Chris said firmly, "We... Are also afraid to admit that we're in love, and that he won't feel the same way about us."
Mouse scowled, then she smiled tightly.
"That's cute, Chris." She said bitterly, "Here's the deal. You already know that Geoffry loves you."
Chris studied Mouse, taken slightly off guard. It seemed to take Mouse a moment to realize what she had just said. She and Chris stared at each other, both trying to figure out what to say next.
Mouse slowly let her shoulders relax and she stood away from Chris.
"Let's go to class." She muttered, turning and walking away. Wordlessly, Chris nodded and followed her down the hall.
Wednesday, March 28, 2012
Cool With A "K" PART 30 - CHAPTER 16
As I walked to homeroom the next day, Geoffry ran up to walk next to me.
"Look," He said calmly, "I know that you and I have kind of a bad history..."
I gave him a nasty look, "What do you mean by that?"
"I mean that I dated your brother and you've never liked me." Geoffry said, smiling, "Except for when I first got here. You were so nice to me. I probably never would've fallen in love with Chris if it wasn't for you."
I stared straight ahead, quickening my pace. Geoffry added, "Well, I probably could've, but you contributed. You were an accessory to our love."
"I hope you're not trying to get something from me, Geoffry, because all I feel like giving you now is a kick in the balls." I snapped, looking at him.
Geoffry chuckled and looked down at his feet as he walked, "No, no, nothing like that. I just thought I should point out who you're putting me up against, Angela. It's me against Mouse."
"Yeah, you said that yesterday." I muttered, walking even faster. Geoffry sped up, too. He continued coolly, "You said that I'm worse than she is, but that doesn't mean something couldn't be going on with her. Maybe you should talk to your friend about her issues instead of me. I mean, you don't even like me."
I knit my eyebrows and looked at Geoffry. He kind of had a point.
Geoffry looked back at me and smiled warmly... Were there no loopholes? He was just saying something intelligent and there was no catch?
"Oh," He added, "And I know what it is that's bothering Mouse."
Well, I could've seen that coming a mile away. I asked, "What, Geoffry?"
Geoffry grinned widely, quickening his pace to pass me, "She's in love. With I think you know who."
I slowed to a stop, letting Geoffry walk off to his homeroom. My brain slowed down, too. It was like someone had jammed something in there to keep it from working, like a broomstick or a bag of marshmallows... Or a giant wad of bullshit.
I shook my head and opened the door to my homeroom class. No, come on, Ange. Who are you gonna trust? Mouse or Geoffry? Seriously?
But it all kind of made sense. Mouse has been acting totally weird lately and she's been extra mean to everybody... Especially Geoffry.
My eyes widened. I rushed into my classroom and sat down by Chris, slamming my books onto the table. Chris jumped and I said, "Chris!"
"Hi." He said, looking surprised.
"Chris, I have to tell you something." I said quickly.
Chris recovered and said, "Okay, what?"
I grinned and leaned into the table. Chris did, too.
"Mouse... Is in love." I said intensely.
Chris studied me for a moment and cracked a grin. He laughed, "No way."
I nodded frantically, "Yeah! It totally fits! That's why she's been acting so weird lately!"
"Okay, okay. With who?" Chris asked excitedly.
"Alright, ready for this?" I said, "Mouse... Is in love with Geoffry!"
Chris stared at me and the smile slowly faded from his face. There was an odd, still pause.
"What?" He asked quietly.
Just then, Alice walked into the classroom.
"Hey, guys." She said, setting her books on the table on the other side of Chris.
Chris was still staring at me. Uh-oh. Did I mess up?
I studied his face and said, "Chris?"
"I have to go." Chris said, pushing back his chair. He got up and quickly left the room.
Alice and I looked at each other.
"Should I go get him?" I asked.
"No, no," Alice shook her head, sitting down where Chris had been, "We still have five minutes before first hour. What happened?"
I shook my head, "I dunno, I just told Chris this crazy that Geoffry told me and he got all weird."
"Well... What did Geoffry say?"
Now that I had put it in the context of something that Geoffry had said, it sounded a lot less true. I felt stupid.
I shifted uncomfortably in my seat and said, "Well... He, uh... He told me that Mouse was in love with him."
Alice raised her eyebrows, "And you told Chris that?"
"Well, yeah. I didn't think he was gonna freak out about it." I said, scooting up to Alice, "Alice, Mouse has a crush on Geoffry. This is as weird as it gets, but it explains everything."
"How does it explain everything?" Alice asked, looking exasperated.
"It all fits together," I explained, "Mouse has been acting all weird lately, has she not? She's been a total dick to everyone."
Alice's shoulders relaxed a bit and she said flatly, "Ange, she's always a total dick to everyone-"
"No, no, I know. I mean she was even worse." I said, getting frustrated, "You seriously haven't noticed her being weird?"
Alice pursed her lips. She shrugged and said, "I guess I have."
I nodded and she cracked a grin, "But... In love with Geoffry? Really?"
"I know... And I think it might be the truth."
Alice chuckled, "Wow, that's weird."
She looked up and said, "Now, I have a question."
"What?"
"Why the hell would you tell Chris?"
I sat, feeling stupid again. "Well... I don't know! I just did! I had to tell somebody and I thought he would think it was funny for some reason."
I turned in my chair to look at the door out of the classroom, where he had just left, "He seemed really upset."
Alice nodded in agreement.
Chris shoved open the classroom door, storming into the hallway. The door drifted closed behind him and he stopped walking. Where to go?
Chris looked down the hall; it was deserted. He blinked back tears and walked down the hall until he reached a group of lockers. In between the rows, Chris sank down to the floor, his back against a locker. He pulled his legs up to his chest , his hands in his lap. Now, he was safe.
Chris stared at a spot on the floor for a while, thinking. Then, he began to cry. His sniffles echoed quietly through the hall. He covered his face with his hands, tears running down his cheeks.
He looked up and stared at the lockers in front of him. He wanted to get up and kick them. Just kick him and kick him and kick him.
Chris looked up at the clock. He sighed and muttered to himself, "Time to go back to class."
Just before we had to go to first hour, Chris came back. He stormed into the room and I said, "Hey, buddy."
Chris shot me a dirty look, then looked me up and down, like he was trying to decide how to react to my greeting. He picked up his books and looked down at the floor, mumbling, "Hi, Angie."
I frowned and followed him out of the classroom, "Hey, what's going on?"
Chris ignored me and I put my hand on his shoulder, "Hey..."
"Not now, Angie." He snapped, shrugging off my hand.
I reluctantly let him go, watching him disappear into the crowd of students filling the hall. I sighed and walked off to my first class.
"Look," He said calmly, "I know that you and I have kind of a bad history..."
I gave him a nasty look, "What do you mean by that?"
"I mean that I dated your brother and you've never liked me." Geoffry said, smiling, "Except for when I first got here. You were so nice to me. I probably never would've fallen in love with Chris if it wasn't for you."
I stared straight ahead, quickening my pace. Geoffry added, "Well, I probably could've, but you contributed. You were an accessory to our love."
"I hope you're not trying to get something from me, Geoffry, because all I feel like giving you now is a kick in the balls." I snapped, looking at him.
Geoffry chuckled and looked down at his feet as he walked, "No, no, nothing like that. I just thought I should point out who you're putting me up against, Angela. It's me against Mouse."
"Yeah, you said that yesterday." I muttered, walking even faster. Geoffry sped up, too. He continued coolly, "You said that I'm worse than she is, but that doesn't mean something couldn't be going on with her. Maybe you should talk to your friend about her issues instead of me. I mean, you don't even like me."
I knit my eyebrows and looked at Geoffry. He kind of had a point.
Geoffry looked back at me and smiled warmly... Were there no loopholes? He was just saying something intelligent and there was no catch?
"Oh," He added, "And I know what it is that's bothering Mouse."
Well, I could've seen that coming a mile away. I asked, "What, Geoffry?"
Geoffry grinned widely, quickening his pace to pass me, "She's in love. With I think you know who."
I slowed to a stop, letting Geoffry walk off to his homeroom. My brain slowed down, too. It was like someone had jammed something in there to keep it from working, like a broomstick or a bag of marshmallows... Or a giant wad of bullshit.
I shook my head and opened the door to my homeroom class. No, come on, Ange. Who are you gonna trust? Mouse or Geoffry? Seriously?
But it all kind of made sense. Mouse has been acting totally weird lately and she's been extra mean to everybody... Especially Geoffry.
My eyes widened. I rushed into my classroom and sat down by Chris, slamming my books onto the table. Chris jumped and I said, "Chris!"
"Hi." He said, looking surprised.
"Chris, I have to tell you something." I said quickly.
Chris recovered and said, "Okay, what?"
I grinned and leaned into the table. Chris did, too.
"Mouse... Is in love." I said intensely.
Chris studied me for a moment and cracked a grin. He laughed, "No way."
I nodded frantically, "Yeah! It totally fits! That's why she's been acting so weird lately!"
"Okay, okay. With who?" Chris asked excitedly.
"Alright, ready for this?" I said, "Mouse... Is in love with Geoffry!"
Chris stared at me and the smile slowly faded from his face. There was an odd, still pause.
"What?" He asked quietly.
Just then, Alice walked into the classroom.
"Hey, guys." She said, setting her books on the table on the other side of Chris.
Chris was still staring at me. Uh-oh. Did I mess up?
I studied his face and said, "Chris?"
"I have to go." Chris said, pushing back his chair. He got up and quickly left the room.
Alice and I looked at each other.
"Should I go get him?" I asked.
"No, no," Alice shook her head, sitting down where Chris had been, "We still have five minutes before first hour. What happened?"
I shook my head, "I dunno, I just told Chris this crazy that Geoffry told me and he got all weird."
"Well... What did Geoffry say?"
Now that I had put it in the context of something that Geoffry had said, it sounded a lot less true. I felt stupid.
I shifted uncomfortably in my seat and said, "Well... He, uh... He told me that Mouse was in love with him."
Alice raised her eyebrows, "And you told Chris that?"
"Well, yeah. I didn't think he was gonna freak out about it." I said, scooting up to Alice, "Alice, Mouse has a crush on Geoffry. This is as weird as it gets, but it explains everything."
"How does it explain everything?" Alice asked, looking exasperated.
"It all fits together," I explained, "Mouse has been acting all weird lately, has she not? She's been a total dick to everyone."
Alice's shoulders relaxed a bit and she said flatly, "Ange, she's always a total dick to everyone-"
"No, no, I know. I mean she was even worse." I said, getting frustrated, "You seriously haven't noticed her being weird?"
Alice pursed her lips. She shrugged and said, "I guess I have."
I nodded and she cracked a grin, "But... In love with Geoffry? Really?"
"I know... And I think it might be the truth."
Alice chuckled, "Wow, that's weird."
She looked up and said, "Now, I have a question."
"What?"
"Why the hell would you tell Chris?"
I sat, feeling stupid again. "Well... I don't know! I just did! I had to tell somebody and I thought he would think it was funny for some reason."
I turned in my chair to look at the door out of the classroom, where he had just left, "He seemed really upset."
Alice nodded in agreement.
Chris shoved open the classroom door, storming into the hallway. The door drifted closed behind him and he stopped walking. Where to go?
Chris looked down the hall; it was deserted. He blinked back tears and walked down the hall until he reached a group of lockers. In between the rows, Chris sank down to the floor, his back against a locker. He pulled his legs up to his chest , his hands in his lap. Now, he was safe.
Chris stared at a spot on the floor for a while, thinking. Then, he began to cry. His sniffles echoed quietly through the hall. He covered his face with his hands, tears running down his cheeks.
He looked up and stared at the lockers in front of him. He wanted to get up and kick them. Just kick him and kick him and kick him.
Chris looked up at the clock. He sighed and muttered to himself, "Time to go back to class."
Just before we had to go to first hour, Chris came back. He stormed into the room and I said, "Hey, buddy."
Chris shot me a dirty look, then looked me up and down, like he was trying to decide how to react to my greeting. He picked up his books and looked down at the floor, mumbling, "Hi, Angie."
I frowned and followed him out of the classroom, "Hey, what's going on?"
Chris ignored me and I put my hand on his shoulder, "Hey..."
"Not now, Angie." He snapped, shrugging off my hand.
I reluctantly let him go, watching him disappear into the crowd of students filling the hall. I sighed and walked off to my first class.
Friday, March 23, 2012
Cool with a "K" PART 30 - Chapter 15
I slung by backpack over one shoulder and pressed my hip against my locker to hold it shut against all of the crap inside it. I put the lock on and started walking. Leo joined me and said, "Hey."
"Yo." I said. "What's going on?"
Leo sighed and shrugged, "I dunno..."
He paused, then said, "Do you think things seem to be getting kind of... Weird?"
I looked at him and asked, "What do you mean?"
Leo shrugged again, knitting his eyebrows, "Ah, I don't know. It seems like... Sometimes everything will be fine and normal, then things will just suddenly get all weird and..."
He paused. I offered, "Not normal?"
"Yeah, that."
We turned a corner and I said, "Eh, I don't know. I guess I know what you mean. What seems so weird to you this time?"
"Well, I guess there's..." Leo's voice trailed off as he looked at something ahead of us. I followed his gaze and saw Mouse storming down the hallway with Geoffry on her trail.
"Come on, Mouse." Geoffry was saying.
"Piss off, Canning, for the last freaking time!" Mouse shot back over her shoulder.
Geoffry snatched at her backback. Mouse whirled around and slapped his hand away.
"Geoffry!" She yelled, "F--k off! For God's sake, leave me alone!"
Geoffry stared at her, a grin breaking across his face, showing his white teeth. He looked like he was about to start laughing. He straightened up and said, "Sure thing, Mouse. I'll talk to you tomorrow."
Mouse gritted her teeth and turned away, storming our way.
"Hey, Mouse." Leo began, but she shoved past him, walking in between us. She pushed open the doors leading outside and stomped out. Leo and I exchanged a look.
Geoffry turned and started walking leisurely away, his hands in his jeans pockets. Leo and I stormed over to him.
"Hey!" I snapped, grabbing his shoulder and turning him around.
Geoffry said, smirking, "Oh, hello, Angela. Leo."
I spat, "What did you do to her?
Geoffry smiled warmly at me. "I didn't do anything, love. Except for maybe being too charming and handsome and irresistible."
"Come on, man. Why's Mouse so pissed off?" Leo said.
Geoffry turned his smirk to Leo and said smoothly, "Oh, Leo. Remember when we took Julien down together? We were such good friends then."
I started, "Well, I don't think you guys really took him-"
"Yeah, I remember that." Leo snarled, "It was just a few weeks ago."
"Exactly!" Geoffry said, beaming, "We could be friends again!"
Leo scowled, pointing a finger in Geoffry's face. "Look. I don't know what you did to my step sister, but I will never be your friend again."
I nodded beside him, putting on my most menacing face.
Geoffry smirked and said, "Okay, okay. So, do you wanna catch a movie sometime?"
Leo nodded, "Oh, sure, bro. I mean- no!"
I rolled my eyes and snapped, "Geoffry! I don't know what you did to Mouse, but you need to stop messing with her!"
"Why do you think I did something to her?" Geoffry asked.
Leo snorted, "Because it's always you!"
I snarled, "You sexually harassed my brother, then you did the same thing to Alice!"
Geoffry looked like he wanted to argue with us, but he tightened his lips and said smoothly, "Point taken... But think about this."
Leo and I crossed our arms at the same time and Geoffry continued, "We're not talking about me verses Alice or Chris. We're talking about me verses Mouse."
He grinned, "Am I worse than her?"
Scowling, I spat at Geoffry, "Hell yeah, you are."
Leo shook his head, looking at him in disgust, "You are one crazy S.O.B."
On that, we spun on our heels and walked away. As we exited the building, Leo leaned over and said, "That was so freaking awesome."
"I know, we're so cool." I said calmly, and I gave him a high five.
"Yo." I said. "What's going on?"
Leo sighed and shrugged, "I dunno..."
He paused, then said, "Do you think things seem to be getting kind of... Weird?"
I looked at him and asked, "What do you mean?"
Leo shrugged again, knitting his eyebrows, "Ah, I don't know. It seems like... Sometimes everything will be fine and normal, then things will just suddenly get all weird and..."
He paused. I offered, "Not normal?"
"Yeah, that."
We turned a corner and I said, "Eh, I don't know. I guess I know what you mean. What seems so weird to you this time?"
"Well, I guess there's..." Leo's voice trailed off as he looked at something ahead of us. I followed his gaze and saw Mouse storming down the hallway with Geoffry on her trail.
"Come on, Mouse." Geoffry was saying.
"Piss off, Canning, for the last freaking time!" Mouse shot back over her shoulder.
Geoffry snatched at her backback. Mouse whirled around and slapped his hand away.
"Geoffry!" She yelled, "F--k off! For God's sake, leave me alone!"
Geoffry stared at her, a grin breaking across his face, showing his white teeth. He looked like he was about to start laughing. He straightened up and said, "Sure thing, Mouse. I'll talk to you tomorrow."
Mouse gritted her teeth and turned away, storming our way.
"Hey, Mouse." Leo began, but she shoved past him, walking in between us. She pushed open the doors leading outside and stomped out. Leo and I exchanged a look.
Geoffry turned and started walking leisurely away, his hands in his jeans pockets. Leo and I stormed over to him.
"Hey!" I snapped, grabbing his shoulder and turning him around.
Geoffry said, smirking, "Oh, hello, Angela. Leo."
I spat, "What did you do to her?
Geoffry smiled warmly at me. "I didn't do anything, love. Except for maybe being too charming and handsome and irresistible."
"Come on, man. Why's Mouse so pissed off?" Leo said.
Geoffry turned his smirk to Leo and said smoothly, "Oh, Leo. Remember when we took Julien down together? We were such good friends then."
I started, "Well, I don't think you guys really took him-"
"Yeah, I remember that." Leo snarled, "It was just a few weeks ago."
"Exactly!" Geoffry said, beaming, "We could be friends again!"
Leo scowled, pointing a finger in Geoffry's face. "Look. I don't know what you did to my step sister, but I will never be your friend again."
I nodded beside him, putting on my most menacing face.
Geoffry smirked and said, "Okay, okay. So, do you wanna catch a movie sometime?"
Leo nodded, "Oh, sure, bro. I mean- no!"
I rolled my eyes and snapped, "Geoffry! I don't know what you did to Mouse, but you need to stop messing with her!"
"Why do you think I did something to her?" Geoffry asked.
Leo snorted, "Because it's always you!"
I snarled, "You sexually harassed my brother, then you did the same thing to Alice!"
Geoffry looked like he wanted to argue with us, but he tightened his lips and said smoothly, "Point taken... But think about this."
Leo and I crossed our arms at the same time and Geoffry continued, "We're not talking about me verses Alice or Chris. We're talking about me verses Mouse."
He grinned, "Am I worse than her?"
Scowling, I spat at Geoffry, "Hell yeah, you are."
Leo shook his head, looking at him in disgust, "You are one crazy S.O.B."
On that, we spun on our heels and walked away. As we exited the building, Leo leaned over and said, "That was so freaking awesome."
"I know, we're so cool." I said calmly, and I gave him a high five.
Thursday, March 15, 2012
Cool With A "K" PART 30 - CHAPTER 14
Geoffry walked purposefully across the lunchroom, holding his lunch tray. He walked up to the table where Tina was sitting. She was wearing a bright orange and yellow sweater and her purple hair was in buns on either side of her head. Her navy blue Hall Monitor sash was draped over one shoulder.
Geoffry forcefully put his tray down on the table and sat down across from Tina. She looked up from her lunch, chewing slowly.
Geoffry stared at her with his eyes in slits.
After a while, Tina asked, "May I help you?"
Geoffry flinched, sitting up straight. He didn't take his eyes off her and he slowly picked up his fork.
Tina watched him nervously. She watched Geoffry hold up his fork, then thrust it into his mashed potatoes. He scooped it back up and took a quick bite.
Tina gave him a puzzled look and Geoffry said, "What? I have to eat, too."
"Alright." Tina said, nodding. She set down her spoon and folded her hands on the table. "So, what brings you here?"
Geoffry, who hadn't stop staring at her, said, "Oh, I just thought that since we're enemies now, I should keep a better eye on you."
"Pardon?"
"Enemies, Fackler." Geoffry said, putting his hands on the table as well, "Don't even try to stop me. There's no rule that says I can't stalk you to keep you from ruining my life."
Tina stared at him, a look of complete confusion on her face.
Tina stared at him, a look of complete confusion on her face.
I studied Geoffry and Tina from our lunch table across the room. I said, "Huh. I've been seeing Geoffry and Tina together a lot. What do you think is going on?"
Leo snickered, "Maybe they're dating."
Chris hit him on the shoulder and said, "Uhg, gross!"
"Well, that would be an odd couple." Alice said, chuckling.
"Alice!" Chris gave her a helpless look. "What's wrong with you guys?"
I raised an eyebrow at him. I glanced at Alice, then gave Chris a curious look.
"What's wrong with us?" I asked, grinning, "Why are you so bent out of shape?"
Chris froze. He said sharply, "I'm not!"
Leo snorted and said, "Yeah, you are."
We all stared at Chris. He clenched his teeth and stared back, then he relaxed and said coolly, "Angie likes Tina."
I smacked my hand to my face and said, "Chris, for the last time, I do not have a crush on Tina."
Leo looked shocked, "Woah, Ange, you have a crush on Tina?"
"No!" I cried.
Leo shook his head, "That is so hot."
Alice started laughing. I looked at Mouse, who had her head propped up on her hand and she was stirring all her food together on her lunch tray.
"Dang, Mouse. You've been awfully quiet." I said, distracting my friends from Chris' comment about Tina.
Mouse glanced up from her tray and said, "So?"
"We've been arguing since we sat down and you haven't said anything." Leo said.
Mouse gave him a sour look and said, "Don't be so full of yourself, ass wipe. Your conversations aren't that interesting."
Leo and I looked at each other and we all said, "Ooooh!"
Chris was grinning now. He took a sip of his milk and said curiously, "So, Mouse, what's gotten your goat?"
Mouse looked disgusted. "What?"
Alice remarked, "You're acting weird."
Looking angry, Mouse snapped, "I'm not acting weird, guys, lay off. Go back to your gossip about Geoffry and Tina."
We all watched her stab her broccoli rather viciously with her fork. She wouldn't look at us and didn't say anything else.
I put up my hands in surrender and said, "Okay, fine. Nothing's wrong."
Mouse shot me a look and we went back to our conversation without her.
Tina studied Geoffry and said slowly, "... What do you mean keep me from ruining your life?"
Geoffry scoffed, "Oh, please, Fackler. Don't act so innocent."
"You know, you can call me Tina."
Geoffry smiled tightly and said, "Right. You really don't know anything about being enemies, do you?"
"Wait, I still don't understand." Tina said, holding up her hands, "Why do you think we're enemies?"
Geoffry stood up from his seat and leaned over the table. Tina leaned back as he got closer. He stared at her.
"I know what you're doing. You're trying to keep me off your trail." Geoffry said, smirking, "It's not working."
Tina looked confused and Geoffry went on, his face suddenly stoic, "Look, I know that you think it's funny to make my life miserable, but honestly! On a bad day- which is quite often -My mother won't let me have anyone over."
Geoffry pointed to himself and said, "If I can't hook up during school hours, all I have is a little bit of fooling around after school, and I can not cope with that."
Tina watched him, startled, and asked, "Why are you telling me this?"
"Because," Geoffry said, "You asked why we're enemies. You'll just waltz over to me and a girl and break it up for your own entertainment."
"Geoffry," Tina said flatly, "It's not for my own entertainment. Ms. Nelson made me the hall monitor-"
Geoffry shook his head and said, "Please, Fackler. Don't make excuses."
With that, he abruptly stood up and walked to another table.
Tina sat by herself, trying to understand what Geoffry was talking about.
I raised an eyebrow at him. I glanced at Alice, then gave Chris a curious look.
"What's wrong with us?" I asked, grinning, "Why are you so bent out of shape?"
Chris froze. He said sharply, "I'm not!"
Leo snorted and said, "Yeah, you are."
We all stared at Chris. He clenched his teeth and stared back, then he relaxed and said coolly, "Angie likes Tina."
I smacked my hand to my face and said, "Chris, for the last time, I do not have a crush on Tina."
Leo looked shocked, "Woah, Ange, you have a crush on Tina?"
"No!" I cried.
Leo shook his head, "That is so hot."
Alice started laughing. I looked at Mouse, who had her head propped up on her hand and she was stirring all her food together on her lunch tray.
"Dang, Mouse. You've been awfully quiet." I said, distracting my friends from Chris' comment about Tina.
Mouse glanced up from her tray and said, "So?"
"We've been arguing since we sat down and you haven't said anything." Leo said.
Mouse gave him a sour look and said, "Don't be so full of yourself, ass wipe. Your conversations aren't that interesting."
Leo and I looked at each other and we all said, "Ooooh!"
Chris was grinning now. He took a sip of his milk and said curiously, "So, Mouse, what's gotten your goat?"
Mouse looked disgusted. "What?"
Alice remarked, "You're acting weird."
Looking angry, Mouse snapped, "I'm not acting weird, guys, lay off. Go back to your gossip about Geoffry and Tina."
We all watched her stab her broccoli rather viciously with her fork. She wouldn't look at us and didn't say anything else.
I put up my hands in surrender and said, "Okay, fine. Nothing's wrong."
Mouse shot me a look and we went back to our conversation without her.
Tina studied Geoffry and said slowly, "... What do you mean keep me from ruining your life?"
Geoffry scoffed, "Oh, please, Fackler. Don't act so innocent."
"You know, you can call me Tina."
Geoffry smiled tightly and said, "Right. You really don't know anything about being enemies, do you?"
"Wait, I still don't understand." Tina said, holding up her hands, "Why do you think we're enemies?"
Geoffry stood up from his seat and leaned over the table. Tina leaned back as he got closer. He stared at her.
"I know what you're doing. You're trying to keep me off your trail." Geoffry said, smirking, "It's not working."
Tina looked confused and Geoffry went on, his face suddenly stoic, "Look, I know that you think it's funny to make my life miserable, but honestly! On a bad day- which is quite often -My mother won't let me have anyone over."
Geoffry pointed to himself and said, "If I can't hook up during school hours, all I have is a little bit of fooling around after school, and I can not cope with that."
Tina watched him, startled, and asked, "Why are you telling me this?"
"Because," Geoffry said, "You asked why we're enemies. You'll just waltz over to me and a girl and break it up for your own entertainment."
"Geoffry," Tina said flatly, "It's not for my own entertainment. Ms. Nelson made me the hall monitor-"
Geoffry shook his head and said, "Please, Fackler. Don't make excuses."
With that, he abruptly stood up and walked to another table.
Tina sat by herself, trying to understand what Geoffry was talking about.
Monday, December 19, 2011
Cool With A "K" PART 30 - CHAPTER 13
Geoffry opened his locker and admired himself in a little mirror inside the door. Then, Chris slammed it in his face.
Geoffry recoiled, then looked at Chris and smiled. He said with a smirk, "Oh, hey, Chris. How was your day?"
"What the hell are you trying to pull?" Chris snapped, scowling.
Geoffry leaned against the locker, studying Chris and looking very amused. He chuckled, "I don't know what you're talking about."
Chris pointed a finger at him and said sternly, "Don't try to be funny with me, Geoffry-"
"Why, is it working?"
Chris' face turned red and he snapped, "No. What were you thinking?"
Geoffry paused and asked, smiling curiously, "What are you referring to?"
He is such an ass. Chris thought angrily. His blue eyes narrowed and he said bitterly, "In homeroom yesterday. Why did you kiss me?"
Geoffry crossed his arms, looking even more entertained.
Chris' face reddened in frustration and he crossed his arms defiantly.
Geoffry said, smiling, "'Cause, Ms. Nelson decided to crack down on us with the PDA rules."
"Public display of affection?"
"Uh, yeah. How did you know?"
Chris sneered, "I know what PDA stands for. Not everyone's an idiot like you."
"Oh, ouch." Geoffry said playfully. He turned and started walking. Chris went after him, "Geoffry! You didn't answer my question."
Walking fast, Geoffry said calmly, "Chris, I kissed you because I'm protesting against the PDA rules by making out with people and streaking and things like that. Mature things that you wouldn't understand."
"But why me?" Chris wondered out loud, walking quickly at his side.
A smirk krept onto Geoffry's face. "You're the only one who would let me get away with it."
Chris slowed to a stop, gawking, and Geoffry walked away with a grin because he could tell without looking back, exactly what Chris was thinking.
Geoffry recoiled, then looked at Chris and smiled. He said with a smirk, "Oh, hey, Chris. How was your day?"
"What the hell are you trying to pull?" Chris snapped, scowling.
Geoffry leaned against the locker, studying Chris and looking very amused. He chuckled, "I don't know what you're talking about."
Chris pointed a finger at him and said sternly, "Don't try to be funny with me, Geoffry-"
"Why, is it working?"
Chris' face turned red and he snapped, "No. What were you thinking?"
Geoffry paused and asked, smiling curiously, "What are you referring to?"
He is such an ass. Chris thought angrily. His blue eyes narrowed and he said bitterly, "In homeroom yesterday. Why did you kiss me?"
Geoffry crossed his arms, looking even more entertained.
Chris' face reddened in frustration and he crossed his arms defiantly.
Geoffry said, smiling, "'Cause, Ms. Nelson decided to crack down on us with the PDA rules."
"Public display of affection?"
"Uh, yeah. How did you know?"
Chris sneered, "I know what PDA stands for. Not everyone's an idiot like you."
"Oh, ouch." Geoffry said playfully. He turned and started walking. Chris went after him, "Geoffry! You didn't answer my question."
Walking fast, Geoffry said calmly, "Chris, I kissed you because I'm protesting against the PDA rules by making out with people and streaking and things like that. Mature things that you wouldn't understand."
"But why me?" Chris wondered out loud, walking quickly at his side.
A smirk krept onto Geoffry's face. "You're the only one who would let me get away with it."
Chris slowed to a stop, gawking, and Geoffry walked away with a grin because he could tell without looking back, exactly what Chris was thinking.
Thursday, November 17, 2011
Cool With A "K" PART 30 - CHAPTER 12
Mouse tore through the hallway, looking frantically for somewhere to go. She retreated to the girl's bathroom and locked herself in a stall.
Mouse sat down on the toilet and thought for a moment. Hot tears filled her eyes and she wiped them away, sniffing quietly. She listened for a moment and, hearing no one else in the bathroom, put her head in her hands and cried.
"Stupid fricking Geoffry." Mouse said quietly to herself, "That jackass always gets away with whatever he wants."
Like kissing Chris? She thought. She slammed her fist angrily against the metal stall wall.
Like kissing Chris? She thought. She slammed her fist angrily against the metal stall wall.
Sh-t, Chris doesn't even want Geoffry. She thought, But he gets him anyway.
Mouse slowly looked up in realization.
But I don't want Geoffry either, do I? Of course I don't. That's the stupidest thing I've ever heard.
Tears streamed down Mouse's cheeks and she wiped them away with her sleeve in protest.
"I hate Geoffry." She whispered shakily, "I hate stupid Geoffry."
During recess, Chris sat on a bench by himself. He had his jaw propped up on his hand and a look of deep thought on his face.
Geoffry... He thought, What is wrong with him? Out of all the people, why would he kiss me?
Chris' stomach lurched slightly.
Geoffry kissed me... No, it wasn't like that. He was just being a jerk. Uhg, shut up, Chris. You're making it sound like you actually want him.
Chris shifted uncomfortably, I don't want him, do I? Psh, that's ridiculous. He's just messing with people for his own entertainment...
But why me?
"I hate Geoffry." She whispered shakily, "I hate stupid Geoffry."
During recess, Chris sat on a bench by himself. He had his jaw propped up on his hand and a look of deep thought on his face.
Geoffry... He thought, What is wrong with him? Out of all the people, why would he kiss me?
Chris' stomach lurched slightly.
Geoffry kissed me... No, it wasn't like that. He was just being a jerk. Uhg, shut up, Chris. You're making it sound like you actually want him.
Chris shifted uncomfortably, I don't want him, do I? Psh, that's ridiculous. He's just messing with people for his own entertainment...
But why me?
Saturday, November 5, 2011
Cool With A "K" PART 30 - CHAPTER 11
On Monday, I sat in homeroom, talking to Alice.
Then, the door opened and Geoffry came in. He stood in front of the door, smirking proudly, until kids started to look at him.
Geoffry walked across the room with Alice, me, and some other students watching him.
Chris was reading a book and didn't look up. Geoffry walked right to him and grabbed his wrist, pulling him out of his seat.
Chris, who hadn't noticed Geoffry, was completely defenseless. Geoffry grabbed Chris with both hands and kissed him dramatically.
Alice and I gawked at them. Chris' hands waved helplessly in the air.
Mrs. Green leaned around her computer to look at them.
Geoffry leaned away and grinned. Chris just stared at him, stupefied.
"Mr. Harper, will you please save all of that for outside of school?" She said, sounding annoyed.
Chris turned his head and gawked blankly at her. "What?"
Mrs. Green gave him a look and said, "That behavior is not appropriate for school, Mr. Harper."
"And you're telling me this?" Chris asked, "But it was- he just- Geoffry-"
"And Geoffry Canning!" Mrs. Green squealed, "Get out of my classroom! And go straight to yours!"
"Oh, sorry." Geoffry said coolly. He smirked and waved flirtily at Chris, walking to the door.
As he left, he tugged down his pink skinny jeans by his belt loops so we could all see his underwear.
Geoffry left the room and Mrs. Green looked even more angry than she did when Monica chewed her out the week before.
Chris fell limply into his chair, speechless.
When we went to our first hour classes, I snickered to Chris, "Well, that was one hell of a kiss."
"Shut up!" He hissed.
Chris got into the lunch line after Mouse. He was still in a bad mood from that morning.
Tina got in line next to him and said, "Good afternoon, Chris."
"Hi, Tina." Chris murmured.
The lunch lady plopped food onto their trays and Tina said, "So, I heard that Geoffry kissed you."
Staring at his tray, Chris shook his head, "Tsk, he has. Quite a few times, actually."
"I meant today." Tina said, "And he did it without your permission, didn't he?"
Mouse looked at Tina.
Chris sighed, "Yeah, he... Wait, how did you know that?!"
"Well, I-" Tina began.
"Do other people know?" Chris cried defensively, leaving the lunch line with his tray.
Mouse stood next to Chris and listened silently.
Tina said quietly, "The kids in your homeroom class do."
Chris and Mouse stared at her and she added, "I'm sorry, it's not any of my business. I wanted to make sure you were okay."
Chris softened up a little bit. Walking with Mouse and Tina, he said quietly, "Well, that's nice of you... Yeah, I guess I'm fine..."
Mouse tensed next to him.
"If he does anything like that when teachers aren't around, you should let me know." Tina said, smiling a little and pulling at the blue sash over her shoulder, "Hall monitor."
Chris smiled, "Thanks."
Mouse turned and walked the other way.
"Mouse...?" Chris said.
She stormed through the lunchroom and dropped her tray on the lunch table where her friends always sat.
Watching her leave, Tina said, "I wonder what's wrong?"
Chris shrugged, "I dunno... Want to sit with us today?"
"Sure, thank you." Tina replied.
Then, the door opened and Geoffry came in. He stood in front of the door, smirking proudly, until kids started to look at him.
Geoffry walked across the room with Alice, me, and some other students watching him.
Chris was reading a book and didn't look up. Geoffry walked right to him and grabbed his wrist, pulling him out of his seat.
Chris, who hadn't noticed Geoffry, was completely defenseless. Geoffry grabbed Chris with both hands and kissed him dramatically.
Alice and I gawked at them. Chris' hands waved helplessly in the air.
Mrs. Green leaned around her computer to look at them.
Geoffry leaned away and grinned. Chris just stared at him, stupefied.
"Mr. Harper, will you please save all of that for outside of school?" She said, sounding annoyed.
Chris turned his head and gawked blankly at her. "What?"
Mrs. Green gave him a look and said, "That behavior is not appropriate for school, Mr. Harper."
"And you're telling me this?" Chris asked, "But it was- he just- Geoffry-"
"And Geoffry Canning!" Mrs. Green squealed, "Get out of my classroom! And go straight to yours!"
"Oh, sorry." Geoffry said coolly. He smirked and waved flirtily at Chris, walking to the door.
As he left, he tugged down his pink skinny jeans by his belt loops so we could all see his underwear.
Geoffry left the room and Mrs. Green looked even more angry than she did when Monica chewed her out the week before.
Chris fell limply into his chair, speechless.
When we went to our first hour classes, I snickered to Chris, "Well, that was one hell of a kiss."
"Shut up!" He hissed.
Chris got into the lunch line after Mouse. He was still in a bad mood from that morning.
Tina got in line next to him and said, "Good afternoon, Chris."
"Hi, Tina." Chris murmured.
The lunch lady plopped food onto their trays and Tina said, "So, I heard that Geoffry kissed you."
Staring at his tray, Chris shook his head, "Tsk, he has. Quite a few times, actually."
"I meant today." Tina said, "And he did it without your permission, didn't he?"
Mouse looked at Tina.
Chris sighed, "Yeah, he... Wait, how did you know that?!"
"Well, I-" Tina began.
"Do other people know?" Chris cried defensively, leaving the lunch line with his tray.
Mouse stood next to Chris and listened silently.
Tina said quietly, "The kids in your homeroom class do."
Chris and Mouse stared at her and she added, "I'm sorry, it's not any of my business. I wanted to make sure you were okay."
Chris softened up a little bit. Walking with Mouse and Tina, he said quietly, "Well, that's nice of you... Yeah, I guess I'm fine..."
Mouse tensed next to him.
"If he does anything like that when teachers aren't around, you should let me know." Tina said, smiling a little and pulling at the blue sash over her shoulder, "Hall monitor."
Chris smiled, "Thanks."
Mouse turned and walked the other way.
"Mouse...?" Chris said.
She stormed through the lunchroom and dropped her tray on the lunch table where her friends always sat.
Watching her leave, Tina said, "I wonder what's wrong?"
Chris shrugged, "I dunno... Want to sit with us today?"
"Sure, thank you." Tina replied.
Thursday, November 3, 2011
Cool With A "K" PART 30 - CHAPTER 10
Geoffry didn't come to school for the next few days upon being suspended for running around the school naked.
Mouse, Chris, and Alice seemed to all be in a good mood. So did all the 10th grade teachers. I understood, 'cause I was, too.
"I didn't realize that Geoffry being gone would have such a big impact on the school." Leo said to me on the second day of Geoffry's suspension.
"Why not?" I said, looking up from my math homework, "Everyone hates him. It's about time we get a break."
Leo grimaced, "Not everyone hates him. He's not that bad."
Chris said from his desk behind us, "Look, Leo, we all know how much you love Geoffry, but please. This is our day off."
Leo rolled his eyes, "Okay, really, Chris? You're saying that I love him?"
"Yes..." Chris said quietly, "What's it to you?"
"Guys, do your work." Ms. Potter, the study hall teacher, said.
I looked down at my homework. When Ms. Potter walked away, I said in a low voice, "Chris, everyone knows that you still have a thing for him."
Leo looked at me, then over his shoulder at Chris. Chris' face turned red and he stared at us for a minute.
"I do not." He hissed.
Leo and I grinned at each other and went back to our work.
I swear, I could hear the smoke shooting out of Chris' ears.
"I don't love Geoffry." Chris whispered to us.
We ignored him and he recoiled in angry silence.
Chris walked out of Study Hall in a furious fog. He thought to himself, I still love Geoffry? Why the hell would they think that? Uhg, I hate that moron. Streaking? How freaking unoriginal.
Then, someone tapped on his shoulder.
Chris turned around and said, "Oh, hey, Lester."
"Hi, Chris." Lester said, taking a step toward Chris, "I just, um, I overheard your conversation with Leo and Angela in last hour and... What you had with Geoffry was precious. Savor that."
Chris stared at Lester in a mixture of confusion and fear.
Lester pulled his plastic sunglasses out of his curly hair with some difficulty. He put them on, nodded at Chris, and walked away.
Chris rubbed his temples and walked to lunch.
Mouse, Chris, and Alice seemed to all be in a good mood. So did all the 10th grade teachers. I understood, 'cause I was, too.
"I didn't realize that Geoffry being gone would have such a big impact on the school." Leo said to me on the second day of Geoffry's suspension.
"Why not?" I said, looking up from my math homework, "Everyone hates him. It's about time we get a break."
Leo grimaced, "Not everyone hates him. He's not that bad."
Chris said from his desk behind us, "Look, Leo, we all know how much you love Geoffry, but please. This is our day off."
Leo rolled his eyes, "Okay, really, Chris? You're saying that I love him?"
"Yes..." Chris said quietly, "What's it to you?"
"Guys, do your work." Ms. Potter, the study hall teacher, said.
I looked down at my homework. When Ms. Potter walked away, I said in a low voice, "Chris, everyone knows that you still have a thing for him."
Leo looked at me, then over his shoulder at Chris. Chris' face turned red and he stared at us for a minute.
"I do not." He hissed.
Leo and I grinned at each other and went back to our work.
I swear, I could hear the smoke shooting out of Chris' ears.
"I don't love Geoffry." Chris whispered to us.
We ignored him and he recoiled in angry silence.
Chris walked out of Study Hall in a furious fog. He thought to himself, I still love Geoffry? Why the hell would they think that? Uhg, I hate that moron. Streaking? How freaking unoriginal.
Then, someone tapped on his shoulder.
Chris turned around and said, "Oh, hey, Lester."
"Hi, Chris." Lester said, taking a step toward Chris, "I just, um, I overheard your conversation with Leo and Angela in last hour and... What you had with Geoffry was precious. Savor that."
Chris stared at Lester in a mixture of confusion and fear.
Lester pulled his plastic sunglasses out of his curly hair with some difficulty. He put them on, nodded at Chris, and walked away.
Chris rubbed his temples and walked to lunch.
Sunday, October 16, 2011
Cool With A "K" PART 30 - CHAPTER 9
I joined my friends at lunch and, right away, Leo said, "Hey, did you guys hear about that Monica girl?"
"She's not pregnant, Leo." I said, "That's just a stupid rumor."
Mouse said, "Wait, Monica's pregnant?"
I shook my head, "No! She's not pregnant."
Just then, Monica walked by and put her hand on Leo's shoulder, "Oh, hey, guys. Wha'cha talking about?"
Mouse, Alice, Chris, and I fell silent and she said sweetly, "Because if it's me, Angela, then I'm gonna rip your arms off, tape it, and send the video to the rest of you little gossipers. Got it?"
We all gawked at her and didn't answer. Monica ran her finger across the side of Leo's face and said, "Do I make myself clear?"
"Uh-huh." Leo said, nodding. The rest of us nodded with him.
Monica smiled tightly and walked away. Leo watched her leave, then looked back at us.
"She's nice." He said.
Alice and Chris gave Leo a look of disgust.
Suddenly, a choppy shout came from the hallway; "WOOOOOOOO!!!"
I whirled to look at the double doors leading out of the lunchroom. The person outside continued screaming wildly.
A few students got up and opened the doors.
"You're never gonna catch me!" The person outside screamed in a distorted voice, cackling wildly.
"What on earth is that?" Alice said.
Mouse ran to the doors and Alice, Chris, Leo, and I followed her. We elbowed our way through the crowd of kids that was heading outside, where the voice had gone.
Chris and I shoved open the doors going out to the playground and stopped short.
A guy ran across the playground at top speed, screaming and whooping. He was wearing a Darth Vader helmet and he was naked; butt naked.
The clump of students laughed and some cheered on the naked guy. Teachers chased him furiously around the playground.
Mouse crossed her arms and snickered, "What do you think they'll do if they actually catch him?"
Alice gave Mouse a scowl and Chris shook his head, "That guy is insane."
He turned away and chuckled to himself.
I stared at him, confused, and asked, "Why are you laughing?"
Chris looked at me and said, shrugging, "I dunno, I guess it's just kind of... He's a guy running naked with a Darth Vader helmet on, Angie."
"No, no, what were you gonna say?" I asked.
Alice, Mouse, and Leo gave Chris their attention.
Shrugging again, Chris laughed, "Well, it takes a lot of guts to run around your high school butt naked, don't you think?"
Alice snorted, "Uhg, I just think it's stupid."
"Yeah, really." Leo said, "And if he's so brave, then why is he wearing that mask?"
"Well, think about it, Leo." I said, "Would you streak in your school and be able to walk the halls the next day and be cool with everyone knowing that it was you?"
Leo thought, then didn't say anything.
Mouse added, "They're right, Chris. Streakers aren't brave, they're just stupid."
"Say what you want, you guys, but I think whoever that guy is has guts. Maybe he's got an immature way of showing it, but he's got guts." Chris said.
Then, one of the teachers (our social studies teacher, Mr. Jacoby) finally got a hold of the streaker's shoulders. He yelled at him and pulled of his mask, revealing a mess of fluffy blonde hair.
My jaw dropped and kids around me started whispering.
"Geoffry?!" Alice said in disbelief, "It was Geoffry?"
Lester came up to us and put his hand on Chris' shoulder.
"Wow, that was pretty coo' of him, don't you think?" Lester said.
Chris didn't say anything; he was completely speechless.
Mouse gave Lester a 'what?' look and Lester added, "Um, I mean, that's totally nasty, broseph."
She continued her stare of disapproval and Lester fled back into the crowd of students.
"Dude, I can't believe it's Geoffry." Leo said.
I looked back at him, "Yeah, we know."
"Oh my God." Chris said, his face flushing. Embarrassed, he turned and ran back into the school.
Mr. Jacoby shoved the Darth Vader mask at the school coordinator, Ms. Chao. Scowling, he lead Geoffry through the crowd of students.
Geoffry beamed at everyone who's eye he caught. Most students cringed as he and Mr. Jacoby passed, but some of the girls looked... Down. You get the picture.
The principle, Ms. Nelson, came with a megaphone and said through it, "Alright, kids, go back to the cafeteria. Nothing to see here and your lunch hour isn't over. Back to the cafeteria, please."
"She's not pregnant, Leo." I said, "That's just a stupid rumor."
Mouse said, "Wait, Monica's pregnant?"
I shook my head, "No! She's not pregnant."
Just then, Monica walked by and put her hand on Leo's shoulder, "Oh, hey, guys. Wha'cha talking about?"
Mouse, Alice, Chris, and I fell silent and she said sweetly, "Because if it's me, Angela, then I'm gonna rip your arms off, tape it, and send the video to the rest of you little gossipers. Got it?"
We all gawked at her and didn't answer. Monica ran her finger across the side of Leo's face and said, "Do I make myself clear?"
"Uh-huh." Leo said, nodding. The rest of us nodded with him.
Monica smiled tightly and walked away. Leo watched her leave, then looked back at us.
"She's nice." He said.
Alice and Chris gave Leo a look of disgust.
Suddenly, a choppy shout came from the hallway; "WOOOOOOOO!!!"
I whirled to look at the double doors leading out of the lunchroom. The person outside continued screaming wildly.
A few students got up and opened the doors.
"You're never gonna catch me!" The person outside screamed in a distorted voice, cackling wildly.
"What on earth is that?" Alice said.
Mouse ran to the doors and Alice, Chris, Leo, and I followed her. We elbowed our way through the crowd of kids that was heading outside, where the voice had gone.
Chris and I shoved open the doors going out to the playground and stopped short.
A guy ran across the playground at top speed, screaming and whooping. He was wearing a Darth Vader helmet and he was naked; butt naked.
The clump of students laughed and some cheered on the naked guy. Teachers chased him furiously around the playground.
Mouse crossed her arms and snickered, "What do you think they'll do if they actually catch him?"
Alice gave Mouse a scowl and Chris shook his head, "That guy is insane."
He turned away and chuckled to himself.
I stared at him, confused, and asked, "Why are you laughing?"
Chris looked at me and said, shrugging, "I dunno, I guess it's just kind of... He's a guy running naked with a Darth Vader helmet on, Angie."
"No, no, what were you gonna say?" I asked.
Alice, Mouse, and Leo gave Chris their attention.
Shrugging again, Chris laughed, "Well, it takes a lot of guts to run around your high school butt naked, don't you think?"
Alice snorted, "Uhg, I just think it's stupid."
"Yeah, really." Leo said, "And if he's so brave, then why is he wearing that mask?"
"Well, think about it, Leo." I said, "Would you streak in your school and be able to walk the halls the next day and be cool with everyone knowing that it was you?"
Leo thought, then didn't say anything.
Mouse added, "They're right, Chris. Streakers aren't brave, they're just stupid."
"Say what you want, you guys, but I think whoever that guy is has guts. Maybe he's got an immature way of showing it, but he's got guts." Chris said.
Then, one of the teachers (our social studies teacher, Mr. Jacoby) finally got a hold of the streaker's shoulders. He yelled at him and pulled of his mask, revealing a mess of fluffy blonde hair.
My jaw dropped and kids around me started whispering.
"Geoffry?!" Alice said in disbelief, "It was Geoffry?"
Lester came up to us and put his hand on Chris' shoulder.
"Wow, that was pretty coo' of him, don't you think?" Lester said.
Chris didn't say anything; he was completely speechless.
Mouse gave Lester a 'what?' look and Lester added, "Um, I mean, that's totally nasty, broseph."
She continued her stare of disapproval and Lester fled back into the crowd of students.
"Dude, I can't believe it's Geoffry." Leo said.
I looked back at him, "Yeah, we know."
"Oh my God." Chris said, his face flushing. Embarrassed, he turned and ran back into the school.
Mr. Jacoby shoved the Darth Vader mask at the school coordinator, Ms. Chao. Scowling, he lead Geoffry through the crowd of students.
Geoffry beamed at everyone who's eye he caught. Most students cringed as he and Mr. Jacoby passed, but some of the girls looked... Down. You get the picture.
The principle, Ms. Nelson, came with a megaphone and said through it, "Alright, kids, go back to the cafeteria. Nothing to see here and your lunch hour isn't over. Back to the cafeteria, please."
Saturday, October 15, 2011
Cool With A "K" PART 30 - CHAPTER 8
I sat in homeroom the next morning, talking to Chris and Alice.
Monica Monroe stormed into the room, looking furious, and a few boys hooted at her.
"Shut up!" She barked at them. She sat in her chair and put her feet up on her desk.
Monica is one of the "popular girls" at our school. People always say that she's totally fearless and "tries everything". She, along with Rosa Martinez, is known for apparently having slept with a third of the boys in our grade, but I was convinced that that was a rumor.
"So, who's is it?" One boy called.
Monica stuck up her middle finger at him and Mrs. Green said, "Now, kids, that is not appropriate school behavior."
"Can it, blondie." Monica spat.
I looked at Alice, "What's wrong with Monica?"
Alice shrugged and Chris said, his eyes shining, "Haven't you heard? All morning people have been saying that Monica's..."
He lowered his voice, "Pregnant."
Alice looked surprised, "Really?"
"That's complete crap." I said.
Chris looked nervous, "What makes you say that?"
I crossed my arms, "Okay, people make stuff up about each other all the time at this school. Why should we believe that Monica's pregnant?"
"Hey!" Monica snapped, getting to her feet, "That's bulls--t! You think that just because someone said it means it's true?"
I raised my hands defensively, "No, I'm saying that it's probably not true."
Monica glowered at me and said, "Watch yourself, Harper."
I rolled my eyes and Monica huffed, falling back into her chair.
"Geez, she's in a bad mood." Alice mumbled.
"I wonder who's it is." Chris said, staring at Monica curiously with his arms crossed.
"Okay, seriously, Chris?" I said, "Did you hear what I just said? It's not true."
I heard a dull tapping sound come from behind me. I turned to look at the door.
Geoffry stood behind the window next to the door, tapping the glass. Chris' eyes narrowed and Geoffry rubbed his hands on his own chest, pretending to lick the window.
"Uch!" Chris scoffed in disgust, "He is so immature."
Alice shook her head, "Wow, he really has no shame, does he?"
Geoffry pointed through the window and did a pelvic thrust in Monica's direction.
I snorted and my friends looked at me. I wiped the grin off my face.
"That's not funny at all." I said.
Alice and Chris looked displeased and Geoffry kept making gestures through the window. Chris' jaw tightened.
I looked at Mrs. Green to see that she was busy talking to Monica, probably scolding her for being loud and flipping off another student.
"Don't let him get a rise out of you, Chris." Alice warned, "It'll just give him what he wants."
Chris shook his head, arms crossed, and sat down silently. He probably would've flipped Geoffry the bird, too, if he wasn't afraid of getting in trouble.
Monica yelled, "Screw off, Mrs. Green!", kicked over a chair, and stormed out of the classroom.
The whole class turned to look at Mrs. Green. Her pinched face was scrunched up even more than usual. She sighed and smiled tightly, looking to the door.
Geoffry stopped making gestures at Chris through the window. Made a kissing face at Mrs. Green and when she gave him a look, he stuck out his tongue, laughing, and walked away.
Mrs. Green's face turned pink and the bell rang.
"Okay, class, time for first period." Mrs. Green said, and everyone left the classroom.
Later that day, Chris and I walked to our next class. We saw Geoffry standing in the hallway, kissing some girl.
Chris looked pissed and he didn't say anything as we walked by.
Then, Tina ran up to Geoffry, grabbed his collar, and jerked him away from the girl he was kissing.
"Geoffry! How dare you cheat on me?!" Tina cried.
Chris and I looked at each other, both equally surprised.
"What?" Geoffry said.
"Oh, don't you give me that look." Tina snapped, "Why didn't you call me last night?"
"I'm sorry, who's she?" The girl Geoffry had been kissing said.
Geoffry looked at her and said, "Uh, she's no one."
"I'm no one?" Tina cried, "I'm your girlfriend!"
The girl held up her hands and said, "I didn't know Geoffry had a girlfriend."
"I don't!" Geoffry exclaimed.
Tina crossed her arms, "You don't? You don't? What the heck does that make me, then?! Is there something you wanna talk about, Geoffry?"
"I think I should go." The girl said.
Geoffry looked at her, "Wait, no!"
"Bye, Geoffry." The girl said. She nodded at Tina and walked away.
After a pause, Tina took out her little notepad and said, "Well, Geoffry, I'm afraid I have to write you up again."
Geoffry let out a slow, long sigh and turned to face her.
"Why do you keep doing this to me?" He snapped.
Tina raised one eyebrow at him, "How many times do I have to tell you that you just need to get to class? I'm just doing my job."
Geoffry scoffed, "Your job? You call prancing around the hallway messing up my fun a job?"
"Well, I wouldn't phrase it that way-" Tina said.
"Whatever." Geoffry snapped, "It's not cool, and I'm pretty sure you're not my girlfriend!"
Tina gave him a look and he added, "... And if you are, I'm sorry."
"No, I'm not your girlfriend, Geoffry." Tina sighed, "I said that I was to get Jessica to go back to class."
Geoffry knit his eyebrows and chuckled, "Who's Jessica?"
Tina looked really disappointed now.
"The girl you were just kissing." Tina said.
Geoffry bit his lip awkwardly, "Oh..."
Tina shook her head and said, "Go to class, Geoffry. Please don't let me catch you out here again."
Geoffry scowled as he watched Tina walk down the hallway. He studied her bright purple hair and her brown sweater with a giraffe on the back.
Geoffry shook his head and mumbled to himself, "What makes her so special?"
Monica Monroe stormed into the room, looking furious, and a few boys hooted at her.
"Shut up!" She barked at them. She sat in her chair and put her feet up on her desk.
Monica is one of the "popular girls" at our school. People always say that she's totally fearless and "tries everything". She, along with Rosa Martinez, is known for apparently having slept with a third of the boys in our grade, but I was convinced that that was a rumor.
"So, who's is it?" One boy called.
Monica stuck up her middle finger at him and Mrs. Green said, "Now, kids, that is not appropriate school behavior."
"Can it, blondie." Monica spat.
I looked at Alice, "What's wrong with Monica?"
Alice shrugged and Chris said, his eyes shining, "Haven't you heard? All morning people have been saying that Monica's..."
He lowered his voice, "Pregnant."
Alice looked surprised, "Really?"
"That's complete crap." I said.
Chris looked nervous, "What makes you say that?"
I crossed my arms, "Okay, people make stuff up about each other all the time at this school. Why should we believe that Monica's pregnant?"
"Hey!" Monica snapped, getting to her feet, "That's bulls--t! You think that just because someone said it means it's true?"
I raised my hands defensively, "No, I'm saying that it's probably not true."
Monica glowered at me and said, "Watch yourself, Harper."
I rolled my eyes and Monica huffed, falling back into her chair.
"Geez, she's in a bad mood." Alice mumbled.
"I wonder who's it is." Chris said, staring at Monica curiously with his arms crossed.
"Okay, seriously, Chris?" I said, "Did you hear what I just said? It's not true."
I heard a dull tapping sound come from behind me. I turned to look at the door.
Geoffry stood behind the window next to the door, tapping the glass. Chris' eyes narrowed and Geoffry rubbed his hands on his own chest, pretending to lick the window.
"Uch!" Chris scoffed in disgust, "He is so immature."
Alice shook her head, "Wow, he really has no shame, does he?"
Geoffry pointed through the window and did a pelvic thrust in Monica's direction.
I snorted and my friends looked at me. I wiped the grin off my face.
"That's not funny at all." I said.
Alice and Chris looked displeased and Geoffry kept making gestures through the window. Chris' jaw tightened.
I looked at Mrs. Green to see that she was busy talking to Monica, probably scolding her for being loud and flipping off another student.
"Don't let him get a rise out of you, Chris." Alice warned, "It'll just give him what he wants."
Chris shook his head, arms crossed, and sat down silently. He probably would've flipped Geoffry the bird, too, if he wasn't afraid of getting in trouble.
Monica yelled, "Screw off, Mrs. Green!", kicked over a chair, and stormed out of the classroom.
The whole class turned to look at Mrs. Green. Her pinched face was scrunched up even more than usual. She sighed and smiled tightly, looking to the door.
Geoffry stopped making gestures at Chris through the window. Made a kissing face at Mrs. Green and when she gave him a look, he stuck out his tongue, laughing, and walked away.
Mrs. Green's face turned pink and the bell rang.
"Okay, class, time for first period." Mrs. Green said, and everyone left the classroom.
Later that day, Chris and I walked to our next class. We saw Geoffry standing in the hallway, kissing some girl.
Chris looked pissed and he didn't say anything as we walked by.
Then, Tina ran up to Geoffry, grabbed his collar, and jerked him away from the girl he was kissing.
"Geoffry! How dare you cheat on me?!" Tina cried.
Chris and I looked at each other, both equally surprised.
"What?" Geoffry said.
"Oh, don't you give me that look." Tina snapped, "Why didn't you call me last night?"
"I'm sorry, who's she?" The girl Geoffry had been kissing said.
Geoffry looked at her and said, "Uh, she's no one."
"I'm no one?" Tina cried, "I'm your girlfriend!"
The girl held up her hands and said, "I didn't know Geoffry had a girlfriend."
"I don't!" Geoffry exclaimed.
Tina crossed her arms, "You don't? You don't? What the heck does that make me, then?! Is there something you wanna talk about, Geoffry?"
"I think I should go." The girl said.
Geoffry looked at her, "Wait, no!"
"Bye, Geoffry." The girl said. She nodded at Tina and walked away.
After a pause, Tina took out her little notepad and said, "Well, Geoffry, I'm afraid I have to write you up again."
Geoffry let out a slow, long sigh and turned to face her.
"Why do you keep doing this to me?" He snapped.
Tina raised one eyebrow at him, "How many times do I have to tell you that you just need to get to class? I'm just doing my job."
Geoffry scoffed, "Your job? You call prancing around the hallway messing up my fun a job?"
"Well, I wouldn't phrase it that way-" Tina said.
"Whatever." Geoffry snapped, "It's not cool, and I'm pretty sure you're not my girlfriend!"
Tina gave him a look and he added, "... And if you are, I'm sorry."
"No, I'm not your girlfriend, Geoffry." Tina sighed, "I said that I was to get Jessica to go back to class."
Geoffry knit his eyebrows and chuckled, "Who's Jessica?"
Tina looked really disappointed now.
"The girl you were just kissing." Tina said.
Geoffry bit his lip awkwardly, "Oh..."
Tina shook her head and said, "Go to class, Geoffry. Please don't let me catch you out here again."
Geoffry scowled as he watched Tina walk down the hallway. He studied her bright purple hair and her brown sweater with a giraffe on the back.
Geoffry shook his head and mumbled to himself, "What makes her so special?"
Thursday, October 6, 2011
Cool With A "K" PART 30 - CHAPTER 7
Mouse walked to the lunchroom, feeling warm. She put her hand on her cheek and stared at the floor. She kept her eyes on the floor while she entered the lunchroom, while she got her lunch, and while she sat down at our lunch table.
"Hey, Mousey." Leo said, "What's up?"
"Nothing." Mouse grumbled.
Chris studied her and asked, "Are you sure, Hon? You seem a little down."
Mouse scowled at him. Chris took a drink of milk and Mouse punched him in the stomach, making him spew milk all over himself.
Alice and I exchanged a glance and tried not to laugh.
"So, um," I said, snickering, "Are you a little mad about something, Mousey?"
"Shut up, Angela." Mouse said, scowling and crossing her arms.
Chris picked up a napkin from his lunch tray and wiped his face. He cried, "Mouse, that was not nice!"
Oh, really?
Mouse sneered at him, "Well, I'm not feeling very nice today."
"She's never nice..." Leo said quietly.
Mouse sighed and said sarcastically, "Congratulations, Leo. You've figured me out."
Leo scowled at her, but then he grinned praisingly to himself. I shook my head.
"So..." Chris said, putting his elbows on the table, "What happened?"
Mouse ignored him and he repeated, "Mouse, what happened?"
"Huh?" Mouse said.
"Answer me." Chris said.
"Why?"
"I just asked you a question." Chris said again, "Why are you so mad?"
Mouse replied, "Oh, I'm not mad."
Chris frowned. He was not going to get an answer. None of us were and that was that.
Then, Geoffry wormed around the table and brushed his hand across Chris' shoulders.
"Hey, what's up, guys?" He said conversationally.
Chris glared at him and he set his hands on Chris' shoulders.
Mouse shot Geoffry a look and no one said a word.
"'Sup, Geoffry?" Leo broke the silence.
Geoffry smiled at him, "Hi, Leo."
He looked at Alice, "Good afternoon, Alice. You're looking very nice today."
Alice scowled down at the table and Geoffry looked at me, "You, too, Angela."
I smiled tightly and Chris elbowed Geoffry. Geoffry let go of his shoulders and said sarcastically, "Well, geez, I'm glad you guys are in such a good mood."
He looked at Leo and patted his cheek with one hand, "Keep lookin' sexy, my friend."
Leo waved hesitantly as Geoffry walked away.
Chris shook his head, picking at his food, "He is such a d-ckhead."
"He's a moron." Mouse said.
Leo shrugged, "He's not that bad."
We all stopped eating and looked at Leo. He glanced uneasily from person to person and said, "Well, when Julien was here"- uhg -"And Geoffry and I were trying to get Chris and Tae-Hyun back..."
Leo bit his lip like he thought he shouldn't have said that. He hesitantly continued, "Geoffry and I just... Kinda became friends. He's a pretty cool guy."
Chris groaned loudly and Mouse glared at Leo. Alice and I looked at each other.
"Well, come on! Everyone messes up every now and then!" Leo protested.
"Yeah, but not everyone molests their significant other and their best friend within the same school year!" Chris snapped.
I rolled my eyes, "Okay, come on, Chris. He did not molest you."- I looked at Alice -"Okay, so maybe he kind of molested Alice, but what he did to you wasn't that big of a deal."
Chris' blue eyes glared fiercely at me.
Mouse said, "What's your point? Why are you defending Geoffry?"
"I'm not, I just think Chris is wrong." I said. I turned to Alice and added, "Sorry, Alice."
Alice nodded and Mouse said to me, "Well, that's stupid. Geoffry's a jerk and everybody knows it."
Leo piped up, "Then, why do people keep getting together with him? Like you and Chris?"
Chris and Mouse both looked taken aback.
"Leo!" Chris cried, "I do not keep getting together with him!"
Mouse saw her opportunity to focus the attention on Chris. So, she struck, "Yeah, you do. You've broken up with him, like, ten times."
"I have not!" Chris argued.
"Yeah, you have." Leo said, "And all for stupid reasons."
He paused and added, "Well, except for the latest one, I guess. Sorry, Alice."
"It's okay." Alice said flatly.
I said, "It's true. Remember that time that he asked Alana to be his study partner?"
Chris scoffed, "Okay, that was after I had already asked him to pair up with me!"
"You were just jealous because Alana is prettier than you." Mouse said, smirking.
"Be quiet, Mouse." Chris said through clenched teeth.
"Ooh," She said, "Sounds like Barbie's getting mad."
Chris' face turned red and he realized that he wasn't going to win. So, he glared at each of us, then turned to his lunch tray.
Alice stifled laughter and Chris gave her an offended look.
The bell rang out we left the lunchroom to go to recess.
"Hey, Mousey." Leo said, "What's up?"
"Nothing." Mouse grumbled.
Chris studied her and asked, "Are you sure, Hon? You seem a little down."
Mouse scowled at him. Chris took a drink of milk and Mouse punched him in the stomach, making him spew milk all over himself.
Alice and I exchanged a glance and tried not to laugh.
"So, um," I said, snickering, "Are you a little mad about something, Mousey?"
"Shut up, Angela." Mouse said, scowling and crossing her arms.
Chris picked up a napkin from his lunch tray and wiped his face. He cried, "Mouse, that was not nice!"
Oh, really?
Mouse sneered at him, "Well, I'm not feeling very nice today."
"She's never nice..." Leo said quietly.
Mouse sighed and said sarcastically, "Congratulations, Leo. You've figured me out."
Leo scowled at her, but then he grinned praisingly to himself. I shook my head.
"So..." Chris said, putting his elbows on the table, "What happened?"
Mouse ignored him and he repeated, "Mouse, what happened?"
"Huh?" Mouse said.
"Answer me." Chris said.
"Why?"
"I just asked you a question." Chris said again, "Why are you so mad?"
Mouse replied, "Oh, I'm not mad."
Chris frowned. He was not going to get an answer. None of us were and that was that.
Then, Geoffry wormed around the table and brushed his hand across Chris' shoulders.
"Hey, what's up, guys?" He said conversationally.
Chris glared at him and he set his hands on Chris' shoulders.
Mouse shot Geoffry a look and no one said a word.
"'Sup, Geoffry?" Leo broke the silence.
Geoffry smiled at him, "Hi, Leo."
He looked at Alice, "Good afternoon, Alice. You're looking very nice today."
Alice scowled down at the table and Geoffry looked at me, "You, too, Angela."
I smiled tightly and Chris elbowed Geoffry. Geoffry let go of his shoulders and said sarcastically, "Well, geez, I'm glad you guys are in such a good mood."
He looked at Leo and patted his cheek with one hand, "Keep lookin' sexy, my friend."
Leo waved hesitantly as Geoffry walked away.
Chris shook his head, picking at his food, "He is such a d-ckhead."
"He's a moron." Mouse said.
Leo shrugged, "He's not that bad."
We all stopped eating and looked at Leo. He glanced uneasily from person to person and said, "Well, when Julien was here"- uhg -"And Geoffry and I were trying to get Chris and Tae-Hyun back..."
Leo bit his lip like he thought he shouldn't have said that. He hesitantly continued, "Geoffry and I just... Kinda became friends. He's a pretty cool guy."
Chris groaned loudly and Mouse glared at Leo. Alice and I looked at each other.
"Well, come on! Everyone messes up every now and then!" Leo protested.
"Yeah, but not everyone molests their significant other and their best friend within the same school year!" Chris snapped.
I rolled my eyes, "Okay, come on, Chris. He did not molest you."- I looked at Alice -"Okay, so maybe he kind of molested Alice, but what he did to you wasn't that big of a deal."
Chris' blue eyes glared fiercely at me.
Mouse said, "What's your point? Why are you defending Geoffry?"
"I'm not, I just think Chris is wrong." I said. I turned to Alice and added, "Sorry, Alice."
Alice nodded and Mouse said to me, "Well, that's stupid. Geoffry's a jerk and everybody knows it."
Leo piped up, "Then, why do people keep getting together with him? Like you and Chris?"
Chris and Mouse both looked taken aback.
"Leo!" Chris cried, "I do not keep getting together with him!"
Mouse saw her opportunity to focus the attention on Chris. So, she struck, "Yeah, you do. You've broken up with him, like, ten times."
"I have not!" Chris argued.
"Yeah, you have." Leo said, "And all for stupid reasons."
He paused and added, "Well, except for the latest one, I guess. Sorry, Alice."
"It's okay." Alice said flatly.
I said, "It's true. Remember that time that he asked Alana to be his study partner?"
Chris scoffed, "Okay, that was after I had already asked him to pair up with me!"
"You were just jealous because Alana is prettier than you." Mouse said, smirking.
"Be quiet, Mouse." Chris said through clenched teeth.
"Ooh," She said, "Sounds like Barbie's getting mad."
Chris' face turned red and he realized that he wasn't going to win. So, he glared at each of us, then turned to his lunch tray.
Alice stifled laughter and Chris gave her an offended look.
The bell rang out we left the lunchroom to go to recess.
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