Deleterious

chapter 4

Walking inside the double doors and i instantly felt like hiding. Maybe my outfit wasnt right and i'm over dress or something? I shook my worries away when i say Rue locking up her bike on the bike rack.

"Hey Rue!" I said walking up to her and she looked up at me.
"Oh hey, what happened to you last night?"
"What do you mean? You left with Jules."
"Yea but i texted you, didn't you get my messages?" She questions.
"Shit." I say underneath my breath. My phone was on silence so i didn't hear it. Also, why didn't i think about texting her in the first place and relaying on Nate?

"My phone was on silent so...my fault." I said and let out an awkward chuckle.
"All good. So, how did you get home?"
"I didn't go until the morning after."
"Why?"
"I ummm...I stayed in the same room and shared a bed with Nate." I said and Rue stopped in her tracks.
"Nate? As in Nate Jacobs? The guy i told you to stay away from that night?"
"Yes."
"What the fuck-" I cut her off.
"Let me explain."

The bell rings and we both look at at the school building.
"Tell me during lunch." She says as she walks away.
"What if we don't have the same lunch?" i yell.
"Then tell me during P.E or something." She yells back.

Classes go quicker than i thought and i finally make it to lunch. I text Rue to tell her i have D lunch and if she has to the same lunch to meet me by the stage. A short time passes before Rue and Jules starts heading my way.

"Hey!" Rue says.
"Hey."
"I'm Jules." She says handing out her hand.
"Indigo, like the color." I said shaking her hand.
"How's classes so far?" Rue ask.
"Good, pretty easy."
"What class do you have next?" Jules ask.
"AP English with Mr.DuBois."
"Same." Rue says.
"Me too!" Jules says happily.

We get lunch and barley eat it as we mostly talk about random topics that bump into our heads. I found out a lot about Jules and Rue and i find their relationship somewhat...tiring. I know on Jules end that dating a drug addict isn't easy but i won't judge to hard. The bell rings and we gather our things and head to the next class. I walked in and that's when i saw him.

Nate Fucking Jacobs.

He wore a long sleeve dark blue shirt that hang off his body with some black pants. How could he be wearing something some casual but look so...intimidatingly hot. He leaned up against table, talking to who i assume was a guy on the football team by him wearing the jersey. Jules pushed my shoulder lightly, causing me to stay out of my thoughts.

"Don't mess with him." Jules says.
"I tried to warn her, but she ended up cuddling with him after Mckay's party Saturday." Rues says in a tone that i didn't very much like. Jules gasps and looks at me.
"You know his dating Maddy, right?" She says and we all turn to look at Nate just to see Maddy snaking her arm around him and pulling him down into a kiss and i cringe.

"It's not like i want to date him." I scoff and take the table behind Nate. He doesn't notice me, thank god his too busy sucking face with Maddy. The bell rings and the teacher walks in.

"Alright, settle down class." the teachers voice boom. I look over and of course Maddy and Nate are sitting together, holding hands in his lap.
"Before we get started today, we have a new student. Please welcome Indigo West."

People turn to look at me and i give a small wave to a few before making eye contact with Nate. His eyes are piercing mine and i feel lost in his. His gaze is suffocating. I want to look away, but looking away is impossible to do. His eyes turn away and i'm finally let of his hold and my eyes wonder to Maddy. She's already staring at me with so much aggression in her eyes. People say this a lot but if looks could kill, i'd be on the next true crime documentary.

"Alright now that that's  over, this week we're going to be working on a two person project. I'm going to pick group's consisting of two people and you two will have to pick a novel to write about and compare it to real world situations."
"God, why does he have to pick partners?" Jules whispers and Rue shrugs.
"His absolutely the worst at picking them." Jules groans.

He calls the name of a few groups and the room fills with groans and distasteful sounds as people hate who they got grouped with. Obviously, Rue and Jules got grouped together but i don't know why. If they'd just be honest and admit feelings for each other, they wouldn't need to write a romance novel in to real life. Their love was as pure even if the actions weren't.
"And the last pair is Indigo West and Nate Jacobs." Mr.DuBois says and takes a sit at his desk.

I looked at Nate who was already looking at me.
"Good luck." Jules says crossing her arms.
"You're going to need it." Rue chimes in.
"Okay relax, his not a monster." I say. I grab my bag as i stand up and make my way over to Nates table. Maddy is sitting across from Nate with her partner so i take my sit next to him. I give a small smile to Maddy and a nod to her partner as i settle in.

"So Nate...." I say trying to break the uncomfortable silence.
"Read any romance novels?" I joke.
"Why would he read any romance novels?" Maddy says.
"I don't know..I mean, i don't know what his into..so.."
"Are you saying his not into me?" She say loudly.
"No! Of course not! I was talking about the novels Nate is into!"
"For fuck sakes Maddy relax. For the hundredth time i did not fuck Indigo."
"Yet youre her partner."
"Take it up with Mr.DuBois." He says

She looks at me with her stone cold bitch eyes before sucking her teeth.
"We're moving tables." Maddy says and gets up quickly. Nate tries to grab her but she snatches her hand away quickly.
"I'm sorry about her." He says.
"Don't be. I wouldn't like it if i found my boyfriend cuddling with some girl."
"Yea but we didn't fuck." He says looking at me with aggression in his tone.

"Anyway..." I say clearing my throat. "Romance novel?"
"The great gasby?" Nate suggest.
"Too cliché."
"Romeo and Juliet?"
"Also too cliché."
"Pride and Prejudice?"
"God, what is with you and these cliché ass books?" I ask and he chuckles.
"Sorry, i'm not ideal to the romance novel section." He laughs to himself.

"How about Lolita?" I suggest.
"I know i'm no good with romance novels, but i know for a fact Lolita isn't even a romance. A grown man was obsessed with a child."
"But he did love her."
"If you love somebody, you don't hurt them."
"We're humans. Hurting things is what we're bound to do. Regardless of if we want to or not."
"How can we even turn Lolita into a real world romance?" Nate asks.
"Humbert constantly manipulates Dolores. People in relationships tend to manipulate their person without even knowing it. I mean, there's a reason that the story is from his point of view only."

The bell rings as we're in the middle of discussing and he turns to me.
"Meet me in the school parking lot, we'll discuss this after school." He says as he takes Maddys hand in his and walks over.

(as the author, i do not agree that Lolita is a love story and i do not agree that Humbert loving Dolores is right. If you haven't seen Lolita (1997) you can watch it on youtube for free or on Tubi. Please do not watch or read this book if you're sensitive to the pedophilic theme behind it.)