Colin Pov
Poppy didn't show up.
I sat in the library, waiting for almost an hour and she still didn't show up. It was beyond frustrating and I just held out from telling Miss Anthony about it. But I don't want my dad to think I gave up even before I tried.
I waited a few more minutes, then decided to check out a textbook on plant and animal biology for our biology assignment. The least I could do was to be productive since I was here.
At four, the bell rang which signaled the end of the after-school tutoring session. Students started to leave the library, heading for their respective destinations. I tried to tamp down my annoyance at the empty seat across from me. We had each other's numbers but we had never texted even once. I searched my phone for a text from her I might have missed because I was pretty sure Miss Anthony told her to meet me here. My chat with Dan buzzed with notifications and I sighed. Ever since I told him she was my tutor, he had been teasing me nonstop.
Dan: So???? How did it go 🕮 ??? Is #Coppy officially a thing? ☺ ☺
Dan: What is going on? ☹
Me: Get over yourself. She was a no show ⌧
Dan: Maybe she had an emergency???
Me: And she couldn't text at least??
Dan: I guess we should have known but damn. ☹
Dan: It was nice to have hope for some two seconds ☹
Me: I am not saying told you so but…I told you so. ☺
Me: P.S. I AM NOT TRYING TO DATE HER!!! SHE HAS BOYFRIEND AND I DON'T EVEN LIKE HER. SO, CHILL!!!
Dan: Why are you screaming?? And also chilling??? Never heard of that.
Dan: Wanna come over for video games???
Me: One of these days I'm gonna kill you. 🖋
Dan: Bring snacks :-)
I shoved my books inside my bag and headed home. It was raining outside, though it wasn't an hour ago. Another reason to be irritated. Well, at least I had a car now.
If I had a confrontational bone in my body, I probably would have hunted down Poppy and found out why she didn't show. Or at least text. As it was, all I could do was wait for tomorrow.
###
"Everyone be sure to come to the game tonight! Gators, let's go!" A group of cheerleaders yelled as students entered the school. Some girls gave them jealous stares and called them names and the guys basically drooled over them. I rolled my eyes and walked past them, straight to English class.
When I got to my seat, Poppy suddenly appeared in front of me. "Good morning to you Dan and to you Colin."
"Morning," Dan said with a little wave of his hand.
I did nothing but stared at her and I could tell she was becoming uncomfortable. Good. She deserved it after yesterday.
"Well, this is weird," she muttered. She dropped a file she was holding in front of me with a note scribbled at the top. "This is a study guide I spent the whole day making yesterday. It contains an outline of each of our topics with the key points and detailed descriptions of the subjects to be considered. Majority of the stuff that's in there comes from my personal notes. If you are not clear on something, feel free to ask me during free period. Have a nice day then." She turned around and walked to her seat and then she started talking with Lucy and Sarah.
That was it? No form of apology whatsoever. Just take whatever I give to you Colin and be cool with it?
I wasn't going to let her off easy. I knew she was watching, so I got up and walked to the front of the room and threw her study guide in the trashcan. I looked at her and her gaze, which was incredulous at first, quickly turned furious. Dan's mouth is shaped in an 'O' form and his gaze was moving between the study guide in the trashcan and my face, while Sarah and Lucy looked like they were trying hard to stifle their laughter. I knew she would have told me off if Miss Anthony didn't walk into the class right at that moment.
As I walked down to my seat, I could feel her eyes burning holes in my skin but I couldn't quite hide my smile.