Marcus woke up in the morning with Alina on his mind. He had been successfully avoiding her, and it bothered him. How could she be in his dreams when she wasn't even his type?
He hissed as he got off his bed, grumpy and tired. Marcus frowned at himself as he looked in the mirror. "Wake up, boy," he said. "She is not the one," he told himself, trying to shake off the lingering thoughts of Alina.
Convincing himself that she was not worth thinking about, he went ahead to take his bath and prepare for school.
Determined to avoid her more effectively this time, Marcus got to school early. He decided he wouldn't talk to her at all today, no matter what. The only issue was he still had to give her the other half of her scrapbook as he had planned.
"Well, he won't do it by himself," he concluded. He decided he would send one of his friends to do it for him.
While he carefully made his way down the hallway, trying to avoid her, someone tapped him on the shoulder.
He turned to see Joe, Kenny and Zack standing beside him.
He let out a sigh of relief. "Thank God it's you three. I thought it was Alina."
"Alina! What about her?" asked Zack.
"Nothing important. But have you guys seen her around?"
They turned around. "Oh, here she is," said Joe. "She is with her friend beside the vending machine near the science lab. Should I call her for you?"
Before Marcus could respond, Zack started yelling her name. "Alina, Alina!" he shouted at the top of his lungs.
Marcus quickly covered his mouth. "Shut the fuck up," he hissed. "Are you crazy? Did I ask you to call her?"
Zack removed his hands. "What the heck? I thought you were looking for her."
"Yes, I am, but did I ask you to call her?" Marcus retorted, still speaking in a whisper.
"Well, I think she heard her name," Joe said, staring towards the vending machine. "She is coming towards this place. What are you going to do?"
Turning back to look at Marcus, Joe and Kenny was surprised to see Marcus and Zack running like scared chickens to the janitor's room. They stared after them in absolute confusion.
Inside the janitor's room, Zack, nearly out of breath, turned to look at Marcus. "But why did you say we should run?" Zack questioned. "Did you do something bad?"
Marcus sighed and smacked him on the head. "Ouch! Why did you hit me?" Zack screamed, eyeing Marcus.
"Well, you deserve it. It's because of you that we're in this position."
"What exactly did I do? Is it because I called Alina's name? What the fuck did you do to her?"
"Shut up! I did nothing to her. I just want a break from her. The chick has been suffocating me, following me around like a fly. I just want a break from her, is that so bad?"
Zack stared at him suspiciously. "If you say so," he said finally.
"What do you mean by that?"
"What did I do now?" Zack replied, surprised.
"What do you mean, 'if you say so'? Do you think I don't see the way you are looking at me? You definitely don't sound as if you believe me. You think I'm lying, right?"
"Did I say anything?"
"Yes, you did with your eyes."
Zack started to laugh. "Well, I think you are just afraid."
"Afraid of what?" Marcus retorted.
"Afraid that one will find out that you've started to like Alina," he said, laughing. "And the funny thing is that she doesn't even rate you."
"Shut up," Marcus said, smacking him once again on the head. "You're spitting rubbish."
"Ouch," Zack screamed again, rubbing his head. "Stop hitting me; you're gonna give me a headache."
"Well, you're giving me a headache, so you deserve it. Now shh, I'm hearing footsteps approaching us. Peep to see if anyone is coming," Marcus instructed.
Zack opened the door a little and peeped, then immediately shut it back. "OMG, it's Alina and her friend Liz, with Kenn and Joe. They are heading here."
"What the heck? What are they thinking, leading them here? Take this," he gave Zack half of the scrapbook.
"What do you want me to do with it?" Zack questioned, whispering.
"Go and give it to Alina. Tell her I fulfilled my promise. And if she asks you about me, tell her I'm not in school anymore."
Before Zack could get the chance to ask any further questions, Marcus pushed him out of the room and locked it from the inside.
Zack tried to open the door but couldn't. He decided to obey Marcus and approached Alina, Liz, Kenny and Joe, who were nearing the janitor's room.
"Hi, guys," he said nervously, stopping them.
"Hi to you too," Liz replied as they all looked at him suspiciously.
"Take this," he said, giving the scrapbook to Alina. "Marcus asked me to give you this."
Alina took the scrapbook, jumping up excitedly. "So, where is he?" she inquired curiously.
"Not in school," Zack blurted out nervously.
"So, you're telling me Marcus hasn't come to school, but his ghost was the one that gave you the book to give to me? And Joe here is lying because he said that Marcus just left?" Alina replied angrily.
"Well, I'm the one telling you the truth. He did not come to school today, and he is definitely not in that janitor's room, so take your book and go," Zack answered.
"I would, but not until I go to the janitor's room."
"Why would you want to go there?" Zack asked nervously.
"Well, I forgot my curiosity in there," she said, brushing past Zack and heading towards the room.
Immediately, the door flew open, and they saw Marcus running as if his life depended on it. They all looked on in confusion and surprise.
"Is that Marcus?" Kendra asked, as they all turned to see her standing beside them.
Alina rolled her eyes and replied with irritation, "I don't know, why don't you ask Zack?"
Her tone was sharp, clearly not in the mood for more questions.
Zack turned to Alina with a guilty expression. "I'm sorry, Alee," he said.
Before she could respond, Zack turned and sprinted off, not wanting to get caught in the drama.
Lizzy glared at Joe and Kenny. "So, are you both also going to run and follow him?"
Joe and Kenny exchanged nervous glances. "Sorry." Without another word, they both turned to run. But Lizzy, quick and determined, grabbed Joe's arm, preventing his escape. Kenny, however, managed to slip away, disappearing into the crowd.
"What is going on?" Kendra asked again, confused.
"Why don't you mind your business?" Lizzy responded. "It's got nothing to do with you."
Kendra rolled her eyes, ignoring Lizzy. "Is Marcus bothering you?" Kendra asked Alina. "You know I'm quite close to him, and I can help you talk to him."
"No, it's not like that," Alina replied dryly, still very much upset.
Kendra put her hands on Alina's shoulders, but—
"But nothing," Joe cut her off. "Leave the girl alone and stop pestering her," he said to Kendra. "And you, baby cakes, won't you release me, or are you looking for something else?" he said to Lizzy in a seductive tone.
Lizzy blushed. "What do you mean?" she said, releasing her hold on him. He smiled and gave her a sly look as he left the girls alone.
"What is wrong with that boy? Does he think I like him or something?" she said, blushing hard. "It's kinda hot," she said, fanning herself with her hands. "I need some cold drink. Do you want one?" she asked Alina.
"No, I don't," Alina answered.
"Alright, I will see you in class. If she bothers you, tell me," Lizzy said, glaring at Kendra, who chuckled and looked away.
"So, now that everyone is gone, won't you tell me the truth?" Kendra said, her tone serious.
"What truth?" Alina retorted.
"About you and Marcus. Are you both seeing each other?"
"No, we ain't," Alina replied sharply.
"So why are you always near him?"
"I don't get it, Kendra. What your obsession with me and Marcus? I don't understand all this interrogation."
Kendra smiled. "Calm down, Alina. I'm just doing this for your sake. I just don't want Marcus to hurt my friend," she said, faking a smile.
"Thank you, but I'm fine," Alina said, quickly spotting Evan. "I think your boyfriend is looking for you." Kendra turned back and saw Evan approaching them. When she turned back, Alina had already left.
Alina wanted to be by herself so badly. She went to a quiet corner where no one could see her and cried. She was devastated.
Just yesterday, he wanted to protect her with his life, and now he was avoiding her again. The image of him running away from the janitor's room made her even sadder.
Well, she wouldn't talk to him again. Fuck the remainder of the scrapbook. He could do whatever he liked with it. She wouldn't care about him again. She would concentrate on her studies. The final exam was around the corner, and she did not need any boy trouble now. "I'm over him," she said firmly.