The Dragon Looks at Me

You're Definitely Kidding Me

   Claire walked out of the bathroom stall with a T-shirt with ‘I am a Cookie’ written across and the kale smoothie soaked shirt in her hand. Olivia stood at an end of the series of wash hand basins leaning against the wall with her head, shoulder and left leg leaning against the wall while Claire packed her hair into a ponytail and dressed it. Claire looked at the T-shirt the she wore through the mirror with disgust and Olivia could clearly read Claire’s facial expression which had ‘yuck’ written all over it.

“Don’t you like the shirt?” Olivia reacted to Claire’s expression.

“I mean, don’t get me wrong, I do appreciate the fact that you had an extra shirt and thank you very much,” Claire started thinking of a way to express her disgust in the most polite way possible, “But let’s face it, do you think demi-jeans and black baseball shoes go together with a pink shirt?” Claire asked.

“Yeah, actually it does,” Olivia replied. “At least you look brighter today, on regular days, you look like a funeral attendee attending your very own funeral and don’t get me started on your shadow makeup,” Olivia replied.

“Don’t discriminate my fashion choices and my makeup. For starters, I already get enough insensitive comments from people concerning the color of my hair comments like, ‘why isn’t your hair blonde like most Claires? Why is your hair brunette?’ I’m sick and tired of all that. I know how I look and I like the way I am.” Claire said.

“I’m sorry,” Olivia apologized.

“It’s okay; there is no need for you to feel bad. I just meant that according to my taste, this shirt isn’t my kind of fashion choice,” Claire said.

“Don’t worry, you can still show your style. You know?” Olivia tried to be cool and winked.

“You are so funny when you try so hard to be cool,” Claire said laughing hard.

“What? I was just trying to cheer you up. Besides, I’m already cool,” Olivia said then flipped he hair backwards.

“Sure,” Claire said in sarcasm still laughing.

Olivia and Claire finally exited the bathroom after Claire finished changing. On their way out, they met Leo leaning against the locker beside the girls’ bathroom entrance.

 “Oh stop it,” Olivia started trying to make a fuss.

 “Ugh! Leo, you scared us. How could you be this weird, why would you wait for us right here beside the girls bathroom like a strange man,” Claire acted trying to get on Leo’s nerves.

“I mean how weird can you be Leo?” Olivia added playing along snickering beneath her voice.

“I…” Leo started.

“Oh, we are so disappointed in you; I can’t believe you could do such a thing. How could you invade our privacy?” Olivia interrupted still acting.

“You guys should stop! You were the ones who told me to wait here till you were done changing. So why are you turning on me,” Leo said getting a bit emotional.

Claire and Olivia both burst into laughter.

“Olivia, did you see his eyes getting all watery?”  Claire said though her hard laugh. 

“Yes,” Olivia replied as if she was short of breath as they both were laughing.

“Ha, ha, ha… very funny,” Leo said sarcastically as he rolled his eyes.

***

Nyre sat down at the very last row of the large room where math classes were usually taken at. The room had about five rows tables and chairs that seemed to get higher at each row due to the class room’s elevated structure.

“My stomach hurts, I didn’t get to eat anything during lunch time because I kept trying to avoid those humans that kept on following me everywhere,” Nyre thought to himself as he sat down at one of these back seats slightly slouching, as he wore his hood over his hair and folded his arms as he crossed his feet on the desk.

“Hello, excuse me, you’re on my seat,” Claire said as she tapped Nyre interrupting his thought.

“What?” Nyre said aggressively.

“Excuse me, I said you’re on my seat,” Claire said as she adjusted her tone to a serious one.

“Sorry but I don’t see your name on this seat maybe you made a mistake, maybe you’re in the wrong class because I can’t see anyone’s name on any of the chairs in the class,” Nyre said.

“Please would you please get off my seat?” Claire said as she began to slowly flare up.

“Miss Claire, would you please take another seat the class is about to begin,” The teacher said as she walked into the class room and everyone had settled down.

“But he’s on my seat,” Claire said.

“That’s none of my business; I don’t recall hearing you telling me that you bought any of these chairs when you were enrolled into this school so stop behaving like an obnoxious little child,” the teacher said as she shrugged.

“Wait,” Nyre stopped Claire as she stormed off to another seat in anger.

“What!” Claire asserted.

“Nice shirt by the way,” Nyre smirked in mischief.

Claire ignored the compliment and continued to storm off.

“Now, let’s begin today’s lesson…” the teacher continued after Claire took her seat.

***

Claire looked at the math teacher in complete shock, she was completely lost in the news that she had just delivered to her. Claire thought of this news as a complete set up, she thought of this as a punishment for severally refusing to join the Mathletes team for the semester. Therefore, she refused to believe what she had just heard.

“What!” Claire exclaimed, “No Miss Jade, this can’t be true,” Claire doubted.

“You have to. It’s the least that you can do since you declined the Mathletes team’s invite’’ Miss Jade replied.

“I can’t believe you want me to tutor him,” Claire said to Miss Jade but looked at Nyre with disgust and abhor.

“You have to do this so you can get a few extra credit scores,” Miss Jade replied.

“Fine,” Claire surrendered after she rolled her eyes.  

“Good.” Miss Jade smiled.

Claire looked at Nyre with resent resisting the strong urge to kick his head before she walked out on him slightly pushing his shoulders with hers so he’d move away.

“Wait,” Nyre called as she walked out of the classroom.

Claire ignored his call and continued walking as Nyre tried to catch up.

“Nyre!” a girl shouted the moment she caught view of him.

“Oh no, there she is again.” Nyre muttered to himself trying to find a way to avoid the girl.