“Excuse me? What did you just say to me?” Fiona snaps her neck in our direction and glares at Jasmine.
Ms. Monica stomps her heels and walks towards our desks.
“Hey! Quiet down! I’m still in class. Where are your manners when the teacher is still present?”
Fiona gulps but her rich brown eyes are still fixed on Jasmine.
“Sorry... it won’t happen again.” Jasmine adjusts herself in her chair and straightens her back.
“Better stick to your words. I will not accept this type of tone again. Refrain from useless fights, you two.” Ms. Monica says to Fiona and Jaz but it feels like she’s lecturing everyone.
“Yes Ma’am.” Jasmine and Fiona say in unison.
The teacher gives them both a serious look before collecting her things. The bell rings indicating that the class has finished.
I’m kind of upset that we didn’t see more drama between them but it’s for the best because they might have ended up in the principal’s office if it got any worse. Highly doubt it would’ve gone that far because I know Jaz would never lift a finger no matter how much the other person tries to test her. She will always stick to her sarcastic jokes which some girls take way too seriously or pay no mind to them.
There’s no in between.
“Hold on guys I gotta pick up Max.” I say to my friends as we’re done for the day. We head downstairs and I walk towards my brother’s section.
“Sure, take your time.” Alyssa responds.
Max is my little brother. He’s only eight but loves to talk big about how he’s one of the best soccer players in his team and even his sports teacher loves his never-ending love for his favorite game. He can be annoying but I cannot imagine my life without him. Being his only older sibling, all the responsibility falls upon me to take care of this tiny devil.
“Sup.” Max says as he comes out of his classroom. His unzipped backpack dangles from his back.
“You should at least zip up your bag properly. No wonder you lose your things almost every day.” I say to him and zip his bag pockets. He scoffs.
“How was school?” “It was boring. The only entertaining thing that happened was when Bonnie broke her front tooth as she bit into an apple. She had to go to the nurse’s office!” He giggles and I shake my head.
“It was funnier in person.” He adds.
“You shouldn’t laugh when someone gets hurt, Max.” I tell him furrowing my brows.
“You’re a buzz kill.” He mumbles.
“I am not! Don’t go pretending I didn’t hear that, you brat.” I bonk him on his head lightly.
“Hey! You’ll mess up my hair. Whatever, I’m going to play some football with Ron for a while. Can you spare me ten minutes please!” He begs sweetly.
Sigh, how can I say no to that face?
Although I want to interject, I too want to spend some more time with my friends and see Nathan. I didn’t see him at school all day. Maybe he didn’t come? No way, he’s a Prefect and rarely off duty. I’ll definitely be able to see him by the exit.
“Fine. You only get ten minutes though.” I tell Max and he gives me a sideways hug.
“You’re the best Maddie!” He says and runs off where a couple more kids are standing, with his bag flopping behind him.
“I’ll head home.” Alyssa says, looking at her watch.
“But I just got here!”
“Sorry but my mom wanted me to help her with a few things. You know how it is.” She says. Alyssa has strict parents and she is quite pressured into becoming the top student by her peers. I think she’s already excellent considering how she gets straight A’s in all classes and let’s just say, she’s smarter than the three of us.
“Yeah we get it. My bus is leaving in a few minutes too so...” Jaz says and rocks her heels back and forth.
“Really? I already gave Max ten minutes more so I can hang out with you guys and ya’ll are planning to run off.” I click my tongue in frustration.
“Guess we’ll leave too!” I tell them and grab Meghan’s hand and almost go out the gate but Jaz stops us. “Alright I’m sorry! I’ll stay.”
We start chatting about the project we’ll be making for our physics class and then there is also the presentation for science. Jaz brings up Fiona again and asks me why I have to be friendly with her and braid her “stupid” hair. I laugh when she says that and explain I might never forget what she did to me and Meghan but I’m mature enough to talk to her as a classmate.
Meghan and I were made fun of when we were in middle school by Fiona and her group. We were also a part of it back then. The jokes that were supposed to be funny didn’t seem funny at all. It all felt like we were mocked for the smallest things that were hidden by their fake “friendly” persona.
I decided to confront Fiona and tell her that I never liked how they made us look silly but she always brushed it off and called me a pessimist. It wasn’t until Meghan also felt the same way and we both decided that it had gotten too much and we should leave the group and how mentally draining it had become overtime. That didn’t seem like the end of the world but it definitely left a sour taste in everyone’s mouth.
I look at my watch and it’s been seven minutes already and still no sign of Nathan coming from his class. I tap my feet on the ground and wait some more. Just as another thought could escape my mind, there he was walking down from the front entrance. His short, dark brown hair looked lighter in the sunlight, his tall and lean figure made him stand out from the rest of the crowd, his glasses perched on his slender nose.
He walks right past me and I look away so he doesn’t think I was gawking at him like an idiot. We never made eye contact for all these months yet I always got jittery when he was around.
He probably has no idea I exist. After all, I wasn’t the only girl in my class that had a crush on him.
•••
Meghan, Max and I head home.
After my brother came running to me sweating profusely, he apologized for being late. I wasn't mad at him because technically those last few minutes were kind of exciting considering I had a huge grin on my face.
He doesn't know that I have a crush on the guy he kicked with his football back in May. Nate was telling the kids to go back to their classes because P.E was over, but Max being the stubborn one didn't listen and intentionally kicked a ball to his back missing his head which he added “was the original goal.”
We drop Meghan off and cross the road. I ring the door bell and wait for mom to open it.
“Are you sure you're not mad at me?” “Yes, don't worry. It’s all good.” I smile and ruffle his hair playfully which is soaked in sweat. Ew.
“You need to shower straightaway.” Max sticks out his tongue in response.
My mom unlocks the door, and we step inside, slipping off our shoes and placing them neatly on the rack. I make my way to the bathroom, where I wash my hands and face before changing into a fresh pair of pajamas. With my hair pulled up into a bun, I head to the kitchen counter.
Our apartment has a modern, cozy feel, with a color scheme of gray and navy blue. The front yard features a small lawn, and my mom has carefully planted a few flowers along the windowsill, adding a touch of warmth to the space. The backyard has a mini basketball area and a hoop where I like to practice sometimes and it’s usually occupied by my brother and his football fanatics.
“What are you making?” I ask, lifting the lid of the cooking pot slightly to peek inside.
“Chicken and rice! Almost done—just giving the rice a little more time,” Mom replies as she hurries to the refrigerator for a bottle of water. I set the table, and soon we all sit down to eat.
“Max, you didn’t knock anyone out this time, did you?” Mom asks, raising an eyebrow.
Max swallows his bite before responding, his face scrunching up in frustration. “No, Mom! I didn’t. I’m learning to be more careful.”
Mom chuckles softly. “That’s good, honey. I just worry the Khans might complain again. Ever since the incident with their son—though he wasn’t seriously hurt—they still managed to turn everything upside down.”
I glance at her, picking up on the concern in her voice. “What did they say? Was it Anita again?”
She exhales and nods. “Yes, but its okay. I don’t want to worry you both.”
“You can tell me.” I place a reassuring hand over hers.
My mom is a single mother. Our father passed away from a heart condition when I was six, and Max was only two. She never remarried, always firm in her decision.
“If I raised both of you just fine on my own, I think I can live the rest of my life without needing another man.” That’s her answer anytime someone questions her love life.
But I think she just can't get over our father. She misses him. I do too... I remember when he brought me my favorite dollhouse on my fifth birthday just a year before he passed away. Every time I think about it, my heart aches so I can only imagine how painful it must have been for my mother. But she’s been so strong and I'm proud of her for never letting her guard down.
My mom smiles and she cups my cheek. “You look tired honey; make sure to rest well after you finish your lunch, okay?” She tells me changing the topic of our conversation. She looks at me with her beautiful caramel eyes. Her face framed with a few strands that made their way out of her usual bun. Everyone says I look like my mother but I know she's prettier.
Max and I clear the table and I do the few dishes that were left in the sink. I toss my school uniform into the washer, set it to run, and move on to tidying my room. After making my bed, I sink into the pillows, pulling the curtains closed before allowing myself to drift into a nap.
A sharp ring from the doorbell jolts me awake around 5 p.m. I groggily rub my eyes.
“I'll get it,” Mom says, rising from the couch and heading to the door. “Good evening!” Our neighbor, Anita, greets my mother.
Oh great.
It had to be this troublesome woman.
ns216.73.216.38da2
and then Add to home screen.