TLWM: The Hate Experience

\XII/ Wizzo

     For a minute, she just stood there smiling at the boys playing "who can jump the highest". But then there was a moment of disconnect, where I could see she was no longer paying attention to what was in front of her but talking in her head, probably calling me every foul name in the book.

God, why did you bring this woman back in my face? He knew I wasn't good at apologies. And I don't know how to explain it but she was out of teacher mode now. Off the clock. She didn't look like the young and fun whimsical Miss Wizzo from the school library. Today, she felt like intimidation.

While she conversed with herself, I went to my table to step back into my boots, thinking what I was gonna say to her. Sorry for being an asshole last time we met? It was months ago but embarrassment doesn't know time.

I sighed through my nose and started walking over to her, my heart still running in circles. "Hey."

She inhaled deep and let out a noisy breath before tilting her attention towards me. "Hi." A grin was barely there.

"Nice to see you."

That lifted her smile a bit more, but it also creased her forehead. Her internal "really!?" was so loud. I'm sure she remembered every word I said, but sad part is that I didn't.

Did I scream at her? Curse? I just know I was seeing red that night. I remember feeling hot and walking into the school with a storm cloud over my head. But at some point in the exchange, my mind was cleared. It was like waking up from a bad dream. My pride didn't want her to see the layers that had shed, but then I offered her a ride to her car. When she said "no", I felt stupid, kind of how she had me feeling all over again.

"I think I missed the memo," I said pushing through my nerves. "Is Jax your son?"

"No, he's my nephew. Where's Raven? My brother said she'd be here which is why he sent me."

"Ah, funny. She told me your brother would be here which is why she sent me."

"Tuh." She passed behind me and started walking towards the booths against the wall. Choosing the one behind mine, she set her purse down on the table and Jax's coat next to it.

I really didn't want to invade her space but God was in my ear. My legs brought me to her again. "Look." I said leaning on her table as she dug in her purse. "I apologize about our last encounter."

"Uh-huh." She uncapped her ChapStick.

"It was a crazy time for me."

Dismissively, she gave me another "uh-huh" as the cherry stick smoothed over her lips.

My jaw clenched.

"Do you mind if I step out for two minutes?"

Moving my head left to right, I quietly told her it was fine. She grabbed her purse and left.

Pushing out a deep breath, I went back to my spot at the table. Honestly, I was hoping she'd dip and come back an hour later with an elaborate lie. I didn't want to be around her. Didn't want to be bothered. Something about her presence made me feel uncomfortably uncomfortable.

Wishful thinking was a waste of time though. She came back sipping on a bottle of water with her coat finally off and draped on her arm. She wore jeans and a white/black plaid button up tucked in her waist. Even with the small heel on her boots, she looked shorter than I recalled. And I didn't recall much but I knew this was a serious dress-down from when I first saw her. I think her stockings were yellow and she had planets dangling from her lobes. Now she had box braids tucked behind her ears to show off gold hoops.