perfect storm

Chapter Three | Former Fling

February 3rd, 2022, 7:45 AM

the class ended with most people probably bullshitting the quiz. half of it was things we haven't learned yet. Eddie and i glanced at each other with the widest eyes possible after every damn question, telepathically asking each other what the fuck was on this paper. the bell rung, and everyone started to get up to leave. 

i went into the hall, in my head once again, wondering how this would be affecting my grade, when Eddie's voice broke through. he was standing behind me and i didn't even notice. i turned around. "hey, i gotta go this way, but don't we have chemistry together at 1?" he asked, pointing with his thumb towards the opposite way. "oh, yeah, i think we do! if i can find you before class starts, we can walk together." i said, smiling, and surprisingly excited. i have never once been excited to go to chemistry. "alright, sounds good. i'll look for you too. bye!" he waved and started to walk away. for some reason, i lingered, watching him walk away and disappear into the crowd.

 i had bio next, but i had to stop at my locker first to drop off some things, because my bag was killing me. i made my way there and fiddled with my combination lock. "five... twelve.. fourteen, eight." it clicked open and i swung open the locker door. i started taking things out of my backpack and putting them on one of the shelves. i was going to be late if i didn't start walking now, so i zipped my bag and shut the door. as soon as i closed the lock, there was a face right next to me where the door once was. i jumped.

 "hey, Rue." Jason. Jason Carver, the star of the school, the most popular jock in this place. and, unfortunately, my ex fling. i sighed. "don't call me that." i said, as i started to walk away. he put his hand in front of me and stopped me. "woah, relax. i just want to talk for a sec." he said, with the most conniving smile i've ever seen. "i don't want to talk to you, Jason. doesn't Patrick need you somewhere, or, what's his name, Chance?" i said in the most obnoxious voice i could make. he chuckled dryly. "angry, today, aren't we? i just wanted to talk to you about that Munson freak." my heart dropped.

 he and Eddie hate each other. Jason was the one Eddie was making fun of in the lunchroom scene that i was talking about earlier. "what about him?" "i saw you talking to him. why him? out of all people? you know he runs that satanic club." he sneered. i took a deep breath, trying not to lose any more brain cells from talking to him. he's one of the most close-minded people you'd ever meet. "Jason, it's just a board game club. you'd know that if you weren't such an idiot." i tried walking away again, but this time his arm stopped in front of my chest. more forcefully than i would like.

 "you didn't think i was an idiot two summers ago at Lover's Lake." i shuddered. i tried to pretend it never happened, i tried to block it out. regret is an understatement. i was getting annoyed now. "Jason," i started, "let me fucking go to bio before i'm late. also, that will never happen again." he looked at me, most likely not believing me, and threw his hands up in the air like i had him at gunpoint. "alright, alright. damn. i won't keep you any longer from coddling the freak." he said, with the most condescending smile you could ever imagine. i just ignored him and went to class. hours went by. uneventful hours.

February 3rd, 2022, 12:55 PM

i made my way to the south wing, desperately trying to look over people's heads in the stampede we call the 'in-between class crowd'. i'm only 5'5", so i was on my toes trying to spot Eddie's hair out of everyone else's. his eyes met mine, seemingly miles away in the crowd. i raised my arm and waved. he waved back and motioned for me to hurry up. i finally got to him. "hey." i said, almost out of breath. "these crowds are crazy. why is everyone going to the south wing at the same exact time?" he shrugged. "whatever. let's go." i stayed close to him as we got out of the crowd and started walking to our chemistry class. i was able to make more space between us as we got farther away from the crowd so i didn't seem too close, even though something inside me kind of wanted to be closer to him.

 why was i thinking this way? i've known him for years, never talked to him, and now after our first interaction i want to be closer to him. i've never felt this way, not even about Jason. thankfully. the one thing i don't want to do is have Eddie catch on to what i was thinking. so i kept my distance physically, even though i really didn't want to. the silver chain that rested against his thigh was swinging quickly as we rushed to class. i couldn't help but watch his hair repeatedly bounce and fall against his leather jacket. he turned to me, snapping me out of my trance-like state.

 "fuck, did we have homework last night?" he asked, panicking. my eyes widened as i searched my memories, also forgetting if we had an assignment. "no, i don't think so. we did all of our work in class yesterday." i said, sighing out of relief. "okay, good. i need this grade to graduate." i laughed, while also realizing something. "that's right! aren't you like a second time senior?" he rolled his eyes and sighed. "yeah. i'm really not good about homework and the teachers here include it in final grades. i also can't be bothered to do projects." my mouth dropped. "dude, projects are a huge percent of our grade. why don't you do them?" "i don't know, i guess they're too complicated sometimes." i paused and thought for a second. "well, if you want, i can help you with homework AND projects so you can get ahead."

 his eyes widened. "are you serious? you'd be saving my life!" he hesitated and then looked down at the floor. ".....but you don't need to do that for me. you probably don't have the time." i stopped him when we were right outside the classroom door. "hey. don't worry about me. i have the time and i want to help. you should be able to graduate this year." i said, reassuringly. a look of disbelief mixed with gratitude washed over his face. "i really don't deserve that, but thank you." i was confused. why doesn't he think he deserves help? i'm getting sad thinking about what he's probably been through to feel like he doesn't deserve help. especially in school, where almost everyone needs help.

 why am i thinking about him this extensively? i can't have these feelings and thoughts about someone i barely know. he's just a guy. some guy that i apparently have a lot in common with. some guy with hair just like mine, some guy with eyes like I've never seen before, who has a really strong sense of eye contact that makes me shift in my seat. a guy i've never paid attention to or had more than a passing thought about. 

until now.