Daydreaming at Night

Chapter 11 - The boy I sit in front of

Tuesday. Picture day.

To be honest, even though Mr. McKnight reminded me I couldn't care less to look any more different than I do everyday. You can only do so much to revamp a uniform. For me, I wore my Dad's striped tie giving myself the illusion of a well-esteemed professor. 

Talia is always pretty, but today her lips were rocking a glittery look. A minimal effort to combat the no makeup ban at Donovan. But Scout today looks like she's attempting to appear sexy. Emphasis on attempt.

"Scout, I'm saying this as your friend but you're making your uniform look like a raunchy high schooler costume," Talia said on my behalf.

In response to her comment, Scout ever so slightly swerved the car.

"I'm sorry whose life is in my hands again?" Scout taunted.

"Hey! I didn't say anything," reminding Scout of my life.

"Okay then Amari, what do you think of me today?" Scout asks.

"I think it's..." I pause for the right word. "Suggestive."

"Slutty she means," Talia says.

This time Scout accelerates more than needed.

"BOLD!" I yell. "I THINK IT SUGGESTS CONFIDENCE!"

Thankfully my screams made it over Scout's engine as she resumed driving the school zone speed limit.

~~~~~

"Okay class, I have received approval for our laboratory workshop field trip in October," Murphy starts the class out with.

"It'll arrive sooner than you think so get your permission slips signed. I don't care if you're 18 or not, far as I'm concerned none of you guys are orphans," Murphy ends the class out with.

Murphy then proceeds to hand out stacks of paper to each row to pass down to each other. When it gets to me I stop and read the bolded line:

"Students will be grouped into fours as they engage in chemical investigations! ☺"

Well I get how in my group it will obviously be me, Talia, Scout, but then—

"There's still someone left behind you or did you come one short?"

I separate the sheet stuck on mine and place it on Baek-hyun's desk harder than necessary.

I can almost hear him sneering at me. Thankfully though, the PA systems interrupt his invisible teasing expression.

"At this time, students with the last name A through D, please report down to the auditorium for pictures. I repeat, please report down to the auditorium for pictures."

A few something students get up from their seats and exit the classroom. Me included. Grateful to be relieved of having Baek-hyun as a deskmate, I follow the ensemble of kids ahead of me.

Not even a minute later a new announcement is heard.

"At this time, students with the last name E through H, please report down to the assembly hall for pictures. I repeat, please report down to the assembly hall for pictures."

Great. Scout just misses the cut off being a "Johnson" and Talia is way down the alphabet. I mean, I don't think I have any friends who are in the beginning of the alphabet.

"HEY AMARI!"

Duke.

What's his last name?

I offer him a small smile when he reaches me.

"Hey Duke, which area are you assigned?"

"Assembly hall. Hadley."

"Hadley?" I ask.

"My last name," he clarifies.

I'm about to ask Duke the difference between the auditorium and assembly hall, and if it's at all anything like lunch when a voice calling out to Duke can be heard.

"Oh Baek!" Duke does one of those bro handshake thingies. "I was waiting for you man!"

Baek-hyun lets go Duke's hand and narrows his sight on me which I equally respond with.

"Why is it that those big stupid doe eyes of yours always become sirens when you look at me?" Baek-hyun mock pouted at me, fighting the smile that I have yet to see.

I reverted my attention back onto Duke.

"What's the difference between the auditorium and assembly hall?"

Duke doesn't even have the chance to answer before Baek-hyun interrupts.

"The auditorium is where the play performances or band/chorus concerts are held. Pictures typically taken on stage. And the assembly hall is where our pep rallies or assemblies take place. There, pictures get taken on the—"

"I didn't ask you now did I?" I cut Baek-hyun off from his explanation monologue.

Baek-hyun smiles. There it was. 

"You didn't address who you were asking."

Duke nods his head. "Man's a point."

I don't even argue back seeing that the "A - D" kids are entering through double doors with a small silver plaque atop of it labeled Auditorium.

Duke seems to also notice. "See ya next block Barlowe," he reminds me.

It's hard to look up at Duke when Baek-hyun is right next to him, but I manage to pull out a "see ya later" from my mouth.

Baek-hyun says nothing and I return his silence with the sound of open auditorium doors and flashing cameras.