Ignition

Chapter 2

Recommended songs: Obsessed by Mariah Carey, Me & U by Cassie (witchcraft remix)

*Azaria's perspective*

‘Just my luck.’ I think to myself. My next two classes, of course, Ash had to be in them. He made sure to find a seat near me and stare at me. I can practically feel the heat of his gaze drilling holes in the back of my head.

All I did was give him back his headphones, not step on his god damn puppy. Maybe he was mad that I picked them up. But that would be stupid because either someone could have stepped on them or worse, someone could have tried to steal them.

He should be grateful instead of shooting imaginary lazer beams at the back of my head. It’s getting on my nerves. Nikki teases me the whole time, saying he fell in love with me at first sight. I deny her statements, saying that she is over-exaggerating the whole situation.

I love Nikki but she loves to push my buttons, which is not something I always like. But I love her dramatic flair to everything because it brings joy to our whole friend group.

Nikki was my first friend here at Northridge and while I was timid and shy, she was confident. She introduced me to Nadia and Mia. It didn't take long for all of us to get along and we quickly became friends.

I feel the closest to her because we have a lot of similar experiences because we are both black. She has had struggles with liking her skin in the past because she is a darker complexion than me.

I’m nowhere near what people in the black community would consider a “light skin” and was made fun of for not being a lighter skin tone. I can’t imagine what it was like for her growing up with foreign parents from Haiti and how people made fun of her and her family.

I remind Nikki that she is so beautiful all the time. I tell her how boys at this school stare at her often and she never believes me. I guess we are also alike in that aspect.

My fourth class bell finally rings, interrupting my thoughts. I can’t wait to get to lunch. “That little white boy couldn’t stop staring at you the whole time, babes.”  Nikki says in a playful tone.

“What are you talking about? He was practically glaring at me the whole time like I pissed in his cereal this morning.” I say in an annoyed tone. “For someone who reads all those smutty romance books, you really are dense sometimes.” Nikki says as we head into the “cafe”.

Yeah, we don’t call the cafeteria “cafeteria,” it’s the cafe, apparently. Really, it's just a way fancier cafeteria than normal public schools. They just want a fancier sounding name for something mundane.

Nadia and Mia are already sitting at our usual table and Mia seems to be blabbing to Nadia about something while Nadia rolls her eyes.

“Isn’t he even hotter this year? He totally noticed my new hair and did you see him stare at me the whole time in physics?” Mia says, waving her hands around excitedly.

I might be the hopeless romantic of the group but Mia takes the cake for being the most boy-crazy. She has been obsessed with one of the most popular boys in school, Nick, since sophomore year.

He is East Asian and in my books, he is attractive physically but he's too obnoxious for my liking. He is like a stereotypical jock who is obsessed with himself and brags about his accomplishments all the time. I don’t know what she sees in him but to each to their own I guess.

“She has been talking about him non-stop since second period. I’m glad you guys are here. Let's talk about something else, please.” Nadia says in an exasperated tone.

“Azz, got the attention of Ash Knight with her new glow up.” Nikki says like she is spilling tea on a celebrity. Mia’s mouth drops wide open in shock.