"So, let me get this straight. I ate weed laced gummies. Like 10 of them and got high as fuck." I say, staring off in space as the taller girl beside me nods.
"Yup. That about sums it up." I turn to look at her, studying her side profile as she looks around the classroom. We have made it to our first class of the day. World History. We had it together and she invited me to sit with her. I am going to admit it. I am attracted to her. A lot. We have spent the last hour together and she has been such a gentlewoman. She told me about last night and I am still super embarrassed about it all but it feels like it was really fun. Also, it was really kind of her for taking care of me. She doesn't seem like the typical popular girl but it's also very clear that she's interested in me. So, it can be an act too.
"Why did you have weed laced gummies at your place?" I question. It has been bothering me since she told me, "Do you smoke?" She shrugs,
"No. I don't smoke weed. I smoke normal cigarettes sometimes. But that too is very very rare. Not very good for basketball." She explains, "Someone must have brought them. I am going to find out who. That was very very reckless and I have a strict no drugs policy."
"If you find out, let me know. I would love to break some faces." I growl as a sharp pain shoots through my head. I grab my head and close my eyes.
"Did you take Advil? I think you should go to the nurse and rest." I look at her with squinty eyes. She looks worried. Her eyebrows are all furrowed and her forehead pinched. It's so cute.
"I did. I'm fine. Don't worry. It will stop after I have food." I mumble, "Well.. we have talked a lot about me. Let's talk about you." I say, placing my head on my steepled fingers. She chuckles, looking down. Her straight, light brown hair falls over her face. She runs a hand through it and looks up.
"What do you want to know?" She asks, "I'm an open book."
"Do you believe in astrology?"
"Like I told you yesterday, yes. I do. My sun sign is Leo and yours is Cancer. And according to you, we would be a great match."
"Did I seriously say that?!" I whisper-yell, leaning closer to her. I have no idea why I am doing this. The class is still empty but I am so embarrassed of myself that I think the walls are laughing at me too.
"Yup. You were really hitting on me. At one point, you started using the lines of Slumber Party as pick up lines. It was extremely amusing." My mouth falls open in a silent scream of frustration.
"This is so embarrassing. I am so lame." I whisper, my eyes wide in shock. I just want the earth to open up and swallow me whole.
"Hey… it was cute." I look up at Elliot to see her smiling gently at me and I sigh, "Besides, I pinky promised you that I will be your friend. Hence, why I have been bugging you all morning. Or got you coffee." My heart aches a little when I realize that she's only doing this because I am her friend and she doesn't actually like me. I mean of course she doesn't. How am I kidding? She also probably has a girlfriend.
"Well… What is one random fact that you find the most fascinating?" I ask, wanting to forget about us or even the thought of us.
"Hmm… Good question…" She trails off, looking into space. I take this time to check her out. I can see why everyone adores her so much. She is really really beautiful and hot. It feels like her features have been carved by a sculptor. All sharp curves and lines. It's pretty clear that she works out. But she isn't the bulky kind of muscular either. More like a dancer or a martial artist. Made for speed rather than brute force. She's wearing a maroon-ish button down with khakis today and the way her arms fill out the sleeves is just so hot.
I understand why Teagan said that she sounded like the type of girls I am attracted to. She's everything I look for in a girl. Fit, strong, confident and a perfect balance of handsome and beautiful. And most likely a heartbreaker.
"Okay… So, this is not exactly a weird fact but something that I always find amusing. There are three sides of a story. Yours, mine and the truth. And we can never know the truth. So, who does? Or are we all just living lies and half baked truths?" She says, looking really serious.
"I think God knows the truth." I shrug at which she scoffs. I raise an eyebrow at her, "You don't believe in God?"
"Religion's definition of God? No. A superpower that governs us? Yup." I smile at her and nod in agreement.
"I think it's Nature, you know? Nature is the superpower that governs us."
"Then why did you say God?" She asks, leaning forward, her hands folded on top of her desk. She looks at me with rapt attention. Her eyes even twinkle a little.
"I don't know… Trying to make sense of it, I guess." I shrug, "I mean we all construct these stories to make sense of things, right? I think if you take both, your and my version of the story, remove the subjective elements from it, you'll have the truth." She looks a little uncertain but nods, probably thinking it over in her head.
"Maybe. What's your favorite weird fact?"
"Owls have really long legs. They are just hidden under all the feathers." I blurt and quickly cover my mouth. My eyes widen at my own stupidity. Elliot stares at me in utter silence for a few seconds because bursting out laughing.
'Good job, Thalia. You just lost one of your only two friends because of no filter.' I scold myself. I am so weird.
"That is actually interesting. I didn't know that." Elliot snorts as she calms down. Her words calm down my heart a little. I sit up straighter as I look at her cautiously, trying to figure out if she is making fun of me.
"You really think that's interesting? I mean you don't find it weird?" I ask. She looks at me as if she cannot comprehend what I just said.
"It was supposed to be weird. I asked you about your favorite weird fact."
"But… yours was so deep and beautiful. Mine was lame and about a freaking bird."
"Hey! I love owls. Don't you dare insult them!" She says with a smile on her face. I chuckle.
"Ah… Thalia Jace, right?" A new voice speaks up. I look up and see a man in his late thirties putting things on the table, "I am Mr. Brandon. But you can call me Jason. All my students do." He smiles gently at me before walking over and taking a seat on the one before me. He looks handsome. Like those teachers that all the girls fawn over, "I see you met our superstar." He looks at Elliot with a smirk. She rolls her eyes at him.
"Ha ha, Jason. So mature of you." She sounds annoyed but has a small smile on her face, " Thalia, this is our History teacher and my annoying cousin."
"Nice to meet you, Jason." I smile at him. It feels weird calling a teacher by their name but he seems so kind and has this very friendly aura.
"Elliot will catch you up on the syllabus and if you still have any problems, my door is always open. Also, you two are partners for our assignment. It marks 70% of your grade and I want a full report of who's done what so there's no slacking." He explains, "I had trouble finding someone to pair with Elliot anyways. She always does all the work herself and thinks I don't understand. You look like someone who doesn't slack."
"It's not my fault you pair me with stupid people. That Devon kid didn't even know what World War 1 was!" Elliot whines, crossing her arms over her chest. I chuckle at her.
"Don't worry, Jason. I'll pull my weight." I assure him. He smiles and gets up, walking to his desk just as other students start entering. The class starts shortly after that and Elliot and I fall silent.
Jason is an amazing teacher. I am not a big fan of any social sciences but he really made everything interesting. I have never paid so much attention in a History class before. I felt almost enchanted. A note falls on my desk, making me look down. I look at Elliot and she nods to it. I open it and read it,
'Let's grab coffee after school? Discuss the assignment and I'd like to know you better. I know the best café in New York.' I can't help but smile at it. I can feel her eyes already focused on me so I just nod. I can see a smile light up on her lips too and I bite my lower lips to suppress the giggle that rises.