Why does he keep staring at me?
July 'JJ' Lopez is in my Geography class, and pretty much sits beside me. He was being a mere show-off at the beginning, but it seems ever since he found out my name, he's been in a trance.
What would the punishment be if I launched my six-hundred-seventy page textbook at him? Detention?
Whatever it was, it'd be worth the satisfaction.
The bell rang, and the stampede began. Thousands of loud, obnoxious teenagers stormed through the halls to chatter and stand in the way.
I stayed back to discuss my schedule with my teacher, once everyone had left.
Or so I thought; because there stood none but the notorious JJ, glancing around awkwardly.
Mrs. Moore looked up from her laptop and smiled.
"The two brightest students in all of Meadow Lake. To what do I owe this honor?"
She's so irritating.
"I'd like to switch to Advanced Placement Geography," I smiled to refrain from rolling my eyes.
She clacked away at her keyboard, grinning to herself. "And your reason? For the request."
I sighed, "You know Standard is far too easy for me, Miss."
Mrs. Moore nodded smugly. "As for you?"
July turned around timidly. "I'd like to switch to AP, too, if that's okay."
"Alright, and would either of you like to sign up for the Geography Bee in April?"
"Yes," we said in unison.
Mrs. Moore smiled yet again, enjoying this way too much. "This is nice," she typed at her keyboard.
"What is?" I inquired.
"Oh, nothing. It's just been a while since I've seen an ardent student besides you, June. I'm excited for you all to work together, and make this school a much better environment for your peers," she recited.
I scoffed, a little too loud. "I don't plan on working alongside anyone. I am independent, and capable of being an influence on my own. However, I hope you have a great day, Mrs. M." I gathered my pass for AP.
Walking out of the classroom, I stopped to eavesdrop on my teacher and the new kid.
July. What a coincidence.
My second favorite month. For one, it was the marking of school coming up. Stores filled with back-to-school sales, marker shopping, and new backpacks in elementary school. It also meant holidays were wrapping up, beaches were open, and the 4th of July celebration.
"I have no plans of changing any of the traditions around here," his voice boomed through the door. "I understand June is the smartest kid in this school, and I just don't like competition. It'll cause her to hate me or something ridiculous; I'm just here for a good time."
Yeah, right.
"Nonsense, JJ. June doesn't hate anyone. She may seem a little grumpy at first, but she's a very sweet girl," Mrs. M gushed.
They wrapped up the conversation, followed by the sound of footsteps. I scurried along the hall, casually disguising myself in a sea of students as I walked to my locker. The next period began, and Maisy was by my side in a matter of minutes.
"Girl, he is gorgeous," she swooned. I hate that I instantly knew who she was referring to.
"All yours," I mumbled, but she was right.
JJ's presence demanded attention. He was really tall, with broad shoulders and a lean frame. His curls sat in a messy heap on top of his head, yet they looked perfect — as if he spent all day styling them. His olive skin was glowing so much, it wasn't fair. But most of all, it was his eyes: a deep, dark hue of green, like emerald pools of light, drawing others into their depths. All of a sudden, I hated my brown ones.
"I don't want him," Mai laughed, breaking me out of my trance.
"Well, neither do I, so let's just change the topic. I've had to hear about him all day, anyway," I complained. "'July this, JJ that.' God, you'd think he's a celebrity."
Mai stared at me with an indecipherable look in her eyes, tilting her head to the side.
"What?"
"Nothing," she smiled, as we walked into the next class.
*
While I may do exceptionally well in most subjects, there's nothing like a good Physics assignment to humble a girl. When it came to this course, I was sure Tayler Douglas understood more than I did.
Maisy and I lay on our stomachs over science homework and a pint of cookie dough ice cream, while my brain was attempting to shift dusty gears.
Finally, we put our pencils down and took our fifth 'mind-break' of the hour.
Mai flipped over onto her back, her purple hair laying out across the bed. "I'm so bored. We need some spice in our lives," she giggled.
"Babes, your version of 'spice' is men," I rolled my eyes.
"Exactly! And yours should be too."
"No," I laughed, shaking my head at her ridicule. "My focus is on school, the last thing I need is a distraction. But maybe after I graduate… from college."
"From college?!?" she was sitting up straight now, hovering over me, "are you insane?"
Yes.
"No, I just value school over silly relationships." I wasn't technically lying. School mattered to me more than a lot of things, and a man was top of the list.
"You're gonna change your mind soon," Mai smirked, "just wait."