I got out of the locker room after showering. Today's football practice was pretty tough.
I walked through the almost-empty hallway leading to the school entrance, scrolling through my phone. I looked up when I heard footsteps and saw Josie. I quickly turned around and kept my head low, hoping she wouldn't notice. I had been dodging her for days, avoiding our little biology group project in which she schemed to be paired up with me.
Please don't see me, I crossed my fingers.
"Reggie!" she called.
"Ah, shit" I whispered as I turned to look at her.
"We will still be working on Mr. Beaker's project this weekend, right?"
"Uh" I mumbled while scratching the back of my head. "Listen, I'll send you the e-mail tonight. You'll just have to revise it later. Is that alright?"
"What, you have other plans or something?" she asked curiously, stepping closer.
"Josie, sorry. I'm in a bit of a hurry" I lied. "Just wait for my email tonight"
Josie gave a wry smile, but I couldn't care less. I spun around and walked away.
"Reggie, don't forget!" Josie yelled.
I gave her a thumbs up without looking back and I kept on walking. When I made a turn, I saw a familiar figure walking out of a classroom.
She had earphones on and was looking around, making sure no one was there. I grinned and hid behind a locker, ready to startle her.
When she was sure no one was there, Eve smiled and did her silly, little dance while listening to the music.
What a nerd, I thought.
Her smile grew wider when she pressed the earphone closer to her ears.
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Eve walked past where I was hiding without noticing I was there.
"Boo!" I jumped from beside the lockers to scare her but she just kept on walking and dancing.
I watched her back in annoyance. "Eve!" I called while trying to catch up with her.
Suddenly, Eve stopped and looked at her phone. She was choosing another song when the door right next to her burst open and Chuck Clayton walked out of it, goofing around with the other Bulldogs.
I reached out my hand to pull Eve back but I was too late. Chuck bumped into Eve and she lost her balance and fell down.
"Hey" I said, helping her stand up. "Are you okay?"
"Oh, my God" she said as she pulled her earphone off. "Well, this is embarrassing" she mumbled. Even though she's my best friend, Eve had never been very social like I was. She liked to be alone in her own little bubble if not with me.
"What the hell?" Chuck growled. "Standing in front of a door, are you stupid or something? Or were you just waiting for someone to bump you?"
Eve glared at Chuck. She may be a quiet person, but even I wouldn't recommend talking to her the way Chuck did.
"Bro" I stepped in front of Eve before she could explode. "That's a little bit rough, don't you th-"
"Don't you have eyes?!" Eve yelled, shoving me away.
"Me?" Chuck scoffed. "What about you, loner?"
"Hey, take it easy, Clayton" Moose stepped in.
"You're lucky you're a girl" he said through clenched jaws before looking at me. "But if your man wants a piece of me, I'm all in"
"So what if I'm a girl?!" Eve yelled.
Chuck and everyone else looked back at her in surprise.
"And he's not my man! You can fight me right here, you know. Fair and square" Eve continued while rolling up her sleeves.
"Bro, come on" Moose said as he and the other boys pulled Chuck away.
"Watch her, Mantle" Chuck pointed his finger at me.
"Oy! Don't run away, you prick!" Eve called him out as she stepped forward to catch up on them.
My eyes widened. "Hey, hey" I said as I tugged on her sleeve. "He's not worth it".
Eve shook my hand away and stared at the Bulldogs. "Damn it" she hissed.
