That afternoon during break, I saw Orson again. He came to sit on the bench opposite ours. Clearly, he did it on purpose. I pretended not to notice, and played with my phone. But when I finally raised my head, I caught him staring at me. He looked away, a bit embarrassed, then brought out a book from his bag, and started reading it with a serious expression on his face.
I smiled, then concentrated on Cindy, Lady and Kenneth's conversation. However, I was aware that from time to time Orson looked my way. At least until two guys came to sit next to him and chat, he had already made some friends. One of them looked at me with a shy smile, then whispered something to Orson. The latter nodded in agreement, I wondered what they were saying. I remember it kind of ticked me off, when his two new friends took him away from the bench. He was at the perfect angle to see my best profile. I kept staring at the bench even after he was gone, wondering what his voice sounded like.
"Heyy my little Sha!" Tiffany wrapped her arms around my shoulders from behind as she joined us after buttering up the Principal because she wanted a last minute change in her classes. "What's so interesting about the bench hmm?"
"Nothing," I answered, tapping Kenneth to get up, and gesturing for her to sit next to me. Yes it is normal for the guy to stand while we girls relax on the bench. "So, how did it go with the Principal? Did you handle it well?"
"How could I fail master?" she replied covering her right fist with her left hand, "You trained me well."
"True."
We giggled playfully bumping our shoulders together.
"How do you guys do it?" Cindy shook her head.
"Yeah," Kenneth also wondered. "I tried kissing up to my Spanish teacher, and somehow I ended up with detention."
We looked at him and sighed with pity, subtlety is not his forte.
"Honey," Lady compassionately held his hand, "you know you're sometimes too direct for your own good. But then again it's part of your charm."
She gained herself a kiss on the cheek for that statement.
As they all kept on talking and joking, I had made up my mind to follow the example of the two guys and talk to Orson. I decided to do it the very next day, already knowing what I was going to wear. When I got home, I rushed to my room to put my outfit together. A long straight black skirt with a slit that stopped above the right knee, and a pretty lace red top.
As for the shoes, I chose one of my best black heels. I also set aside two of my favorite fantasy gold rings. I hesitated about my makeup, but decided not to wear my red lipstick, it would have been too much, I didn't want Orson to pass out.
I was excited waiting for the next day, imagining myself walking up to him in my mind-blowing outfit. I was so thrilled that when I went down to have dinner, not even the silence between mum and dad ruined my mood. Then again I'm actually used to it now.
I normally go to school with Tiffany, but that day she went ahead of me to meet up with her Quincey. I'm not even going to comment on that.
Anyway, during my little journey to school, I tried to figure out a plan to slip away from the group without being questioned, and go directly to Orson.
I came through the gates and saw the others, they were at the usual spot. I stopped walking towards them when I noticed Quincey in the group.
Ugh, why does he have to be here? I thought.
My lips naturally curled up in disgust when I saw him whisper something in Tiffany's ear, something that made her laugh. Then he settled his arm around her shoulder pulling her closer to him as she giggled more.
I had decided to act like I knew nothing, because Tiffany had never officially come to tell me that there was something between them. I always hoped she'd never admit to it, because then I'd be forced to accept the obvious.
She's been into him for ages. She had a radiant smile on her face anytime they were together, and I knew it bothered her that Quincey and I didn't get along. But it's not my fault, I just couldn't, and he certainly didn't make things easy for me.
He was standing there like he owned the whole place, with his white teeth and groomed scruff. He had yet another lollipop in his mouth.
That's the only thing we have in common, sweets. However I don't digest as many sweets as he does, I have to maintain my figure, and I don't box to compensate. If it's a lollipop he only likes the flat ones. He usually plays around with it a bit then settles it on one side of his cheek, the stick of the lollipop staying in the corner of his lips.
Why do I even know this?
Tch, yesterday was such a wonderful day because he wasn't around, I sighed.
Kenneth tapped Quincey's abdomen, to draw his attention away from Tiffany. Kenneth said something and brought his fists up to his face with a little shoulder movement, then started jumping up and down. Tiffany and Quincey looked at each other and chuckled. She came closer to Kenneth, made him to stop his ridiculous jumping, and corrected his stance, it wasn't the first time, yet he still didn't get it.
I couldn't blame him, I wouldn't know how to do it either. I know technically, because Tiffany talks about it, and she shows me, but I never tried. Well, except for that one time... um... moving on.
I am more of a dancer, at least I was, up until six years ago. I love dancing to music that has a beautiful melody and a heartfelt meaning, like Whitney Houston's "I have nothing". I let myself go quite often when I'm at home. But I miss the dance lessons I used to take.
Once Tiffany was done with Kenneth, Quincey naturally put himself into position. He stood in a fully upright stance, legs shoulder-width apart, leading with the left foot and fist, he didn't clench, he chose to have loose fists. Both of his feet were parallel, and his right heel was off the ground. His left fist was held vertically about six inches in front of his face at eye level, while his right fist was held beside his chin.
Then he started doing his thing. The boxer's bounce. It's kind of like a relaxed jump, a nice rotation. Moving both feet at the same time in both directions, forward, and back. I rolled my eyes.
Pff, I mentally booed him. He thinks he's all that.
Just as he started his footwork, Kenneth gave up, raising his arms in defeat, they laughed at him and commended Quincey on his supposed awesomeness.
As I watched Quincey bounce, a memory flashed through my mind, but I immediately shook it off.
Nope, I clenched by teeth. No no. Erase. Erase. Erase.
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