"Hi," he smiled, probably assuming that it was his 'hi' keeping me from walking away but I had other intentions.
"What do you want?" I asked but heard him clear his throat nervously, and it quickly occured to me what he wanted.
"If this is about the kiss yesterday, forget it." I decided to warn him on time.
"No, it's not. I mean, it is, but not...shit, how do I say this..." He scratched the back of his head.
"Maybe don't?" I cut him short.
"But I like you."
I scoffed in reaction to his words because he had to be kidding me."No, you don't."
"I do." He seemed sure.
"Uh huh? Caused we kissed in a truth or dare game?"
"Why are you being so mean?"
"Touch my hair," I told him when I saw Uche smile back at April while looking at me.
"What?" He was confused.
"Touch my hair," I repeated to him and he poked at my hair using his index finger."Not like that, stupid." I hissed."Here," I shook my head so some of my hair would fall front."Shove my hair behind my ears."
"Oh," he finally understood and started doing like I asked.
I looked over at Uche and noticed how his attention shifted from April to me fully as Nate did what I asked. He had stopped smiling with her, his eyes on me, not liking what he was seeing Nate do.
Nate pushed all of my hair back and started to caress my face. I knew I should push his hands away but I liked the jealousy I could spot on Uche's face as he watched on. And then, suddenly, unexpectedly, he slammed his locker shut and it made a loud banging noise, getting the attention of everyone around.
I was afraid he would come for Nate. Cassie did say he had beaten someone up before. I was afraid he would do just that but he didn't.
He turned around and started towards our classroom, leaving April and the others who stood around him shocked at what he just did to his locker.
I pushed Nate's hands away and started towards the class too. Just after I walked into the class, the bells rang and I knew others would start to come to class too.
I avoided Uche's eyes entirely as I went and took my seat next to Cassie. She was reading a novel. She didn't notice me till I sat next to her.
"Oh hey," She greeted and I just smiled at her to greet back. I then lifted my eyes to look in Uche's direction, he was drumming his fingers on his desk but wasn't a making a sound with it. He was doing that while looking in front of him, and I thought he was looking at our teacher but he was looking at Nate who was talking to the teacher.
I got worried. Maybe I took making him jealous a bit over the line. But he did it first by flirting back with April.
Halfway through the class, Uche stood and went to the teacher in front of the class. Whispering something to the teacher, he started out of the class.
"Five minutes, Uche." Our teacher told him when he was at the door.
I tried to focus while learning but I kept wondering what Uche told the teacher to get permission to leave the class, because I wanted to join him outside.
"Sir!" I raised my hand and got not just the teacher's attention but everybody else's.
"Yes, Julie, do you have a question?"
"Uhm, no sir," I shook my head."I need to use the restroom."
"Can't it wait?"
"No sir, girl issue."
"Oh. You can go then." I got his permission.
Ignoring the many eyes on me, I walked all the way to the front of the class before walking out. The first thing I did was look over at Uche's locker but he wasn't there like I expected, so I thought of the only place likely to find him. I went to the library and I couldn't be happier to be right about his being there.
I greeted the librarian and went in to meet him on the aisle while he was checking out some books. He kept his eyes on the books on the shelf in front of him, trying to act like he didn't see me
"Really?" I had to ask him.
"You're supposed to be in class," he talked to me for the first time since yesterday.
"Well, you too." I foldedd me arms.
"I forgot my textbook at home, came to borrow one from the library to use for the class."
"Why didn't you reply my text?"
"..." He had no words.
"Uche..."
"Sshhh!" The librarian whispered.
"Sorry," I whispered back."Talk to me, Uche." I pestered.
"I am talking to you."
"No, you're not."
"So what are we doing?"
"You know what I mean," I hissed."You're making me madder at you," I couldn't hold it back, I had to let him know.
"Madder? Wait, you're mad at me?" He chuckled and pointed at himself like there was anyone around us.
"Yes, I'm mad at you."
"Oh wow," He scoffed,"Well, I'm sorry if I made you mad, or if I'm making you madder than you already are."
"Okay, that's it." I sighed out loud and decided to leave him alone.
"Julie," he called out in a whisper but I shut my ears to his voice and headed on out but I heard him return the book he had in hand to the shelf.
"Sorry," he apologized to the librarian for keeping the book loudly, before hurrying after me.
I could sense him coming right behind me doi hurried in my footsteps so he could chase after me and he did.
"Julie," he called out but I didn't stop."Julie," this time he grabbed my arm before I could hurry on farther away from him.
"What?" I separated myself from his hold."First, you don't reply my text and then you act like I'm not there this entire morning, you even flirted with her!" I raged out but in a rough whisper. I didn't want other teachers hearing and checking on us.