Burn My Paranoia One Last Time

8. Of Gods and Gum

"Good morning, Mr. Dacus."

"Good morning, Ms. Wilson," the middle aged brunette teacher beams back.

I take my seat in the third row and wait for the Greek god himself to enter. It is still a bit early, so I shouldn't get too excited just yet.

"So impatient huh Wilson?" Joel bites on a pencil and bounces his knee. He's not wearing eyeliner today of course, but his big brown doe eyes under heavy arched eyebrows continue to give him the same mischievous appeal. He's styled his hair the usual way he does for school, his undercut visible with wild curls on top.

"By the way your knee is bouncing I can tell you're anxious too," I lift an eyebrow and smirk.

He bites down harder and feigns a grimace. "Nah you're trippin'."

"Whatever you say, Larson. Don't forget the pact!" I wink and give a subtle nod to his own goddess as she enters the room with her friends.

He drops the pencil down and straightens up, trying to resist from looking but failing. He stares at her with such adoration, you would think he'd worship her then and there if she gave him the chance.

Holly laughs at something one of her friends says, her giggles chirping out soft and airy. She flips her wispy cloud-like brown hair back and I can almost swear for a second that she looked right back at him.

"Good morning Mr. Dacus," she flashes a bright smile as she passes by his podium.

"Good morning Ms. Jones. Ladies please take your seats."

I nudge Joel encouragingly as Holly makes her way to our aisle.

With manner she carries herself, it'd be more accurate to say she makes the aisle her personal runway. Her polished pink heels click on the shiny grid floor; starch white socks, with a matching glossy pink miniskirt and white short sleeved turtleneck standing as an emblem of high fashion and her everlasting status as the it girl of Willowburg High.

"Uh, hey Holly, you're lookin' super bad today," Joel grins confidently and finger guns her.

"Ahum, excuse me?!" Holly Jones gasps, her bright fuschia lips open in pouty disbelief. She cocks her hip and swings her purse on one hand, the other menacingly clutching her hip.

"Ah what I MEANT was— you look super bad, as in really good! Like way cool, cooler than cool, that's why it's bad, it doesn't actually mean bad,"  he laughs and brushes a hand through his curls nervously.

Holly Jones blows a curl away from her face and rolls her eyes. "You could have just said that, but thanks. I guess." She whirls around and takes her seat two chairs in front of me. One of her nearby gal friends grins super obviously while glancing at Joel and leans in to whisper something, which results in more giggling.

"Oh god, she totally hates me," Joel groans in shame as he buries his face in his hands.

"Not at all! It was just a misunderstanding," I comfort him. "Look, I have an idea. There's a fair going on two weeks from now, you should invite her!"

"Rain, how is she gonna want to go with me after what happened?"

"Joel." I look into his warm eyes intently. "You're a great guy, and sooner or later she's going to see that. We have two weeks until then, every little effort counts. It's not over yet."

Joel chuckles softly and smiles at me. "You're a great gal, you know that?"

"Yeah, but it doesn't hurt to get reminded," I grin.

"Let's see if someone else can remind you," he looks up past me. I follow his gaze to the doorway to see none other than Darren Banks himself.

He strides in, a thumb hinged on the pocket of his faded denim pants. His books press against his formed torso under a baggy meadow green sweater. How do I know his form? Well, let's just say I caught an accidental peek that time he unintentionally pulled his shirt up while taking off his sweater in PE freshman year.