The Baleivian Scrolls-The Hidden Realm

Joe...Joe Mama

"Are you kidding? I'm an addict! Where do you want to go?" Lindsay replied, her eyes sparkling with excitement.

"I think there's a place nearby. Can't remember the name, but maybe we could try it out?" I suggested, feeling my stomach rumble at the thought of food.

"Sure!" she beamed, her enthusiasm contagious.

We chatted animatedly as we headed back to the classroom. To my demise, a tall, mixed-race guy caught my eye. He had a confident stance and an easy smile that made him stand out in the crowded hallway. There was something about him that felt familiar, a hint of recognition that made my stomach twist.

"Crud... Joe," Lindsay whispered, her voice barely above a whisper.

My stomach sank further. It was the name that tied our histories together. I had a mixed-race ex, and of course, his name was Joe.

"Clover!" A deep voice called out, echoing across the hallway.

I winced.

Definitely Joe.

"Hey..." I forced a smile, feeling like I was trying to lift a boulder.

"So, you're the new teacher! I knew there couldn't possibly be another girl named Clover!" Joe laughed, his voice booming.

"Wow!" I chuckled, though it came out more strained than genuine. "You always know just what to say!" I delivered a soft punch to his arm, trying to keep things light.

"Well, we've got to go!" Lindsay said, grabbing my arm and practically dragging me away.

We zoomed into the classroom, and Lindsay shut the door behind us, relief washing over me.

"That was weird," she commented, glancing back at the closed door.

I groaned and rubbed my face in frustration, the encounter still flooding through my mind. "Thanks for getting us out of there. Seriously, I thought I might die just standing there."

"No problem," Lindsay replied with a light laugh, clearly relieved to be away from Joe. "I could tell you needed to get as far away from him as possible. You looked like a deer caught in headlights."

I managed a small smile, but I could see the curiosity gnawing at her.

Eventually, she broke the silence. "Now I'm dying to know how you even know him in the first place. Please tell me you didn't date him or something."

"Oh, well..." My voice trailed off as a playful smirk spread across her face. "We dated. For like, a hot minute."

She stared at me, her jaw dropping in exaggerated disbelief. "Wait, what? You dated Joe? The guy with the charming smile and the—uh, questionable life choices?"

I burst into laughter, shaking my head. "Yeah, exactly! We were like two clueless kids in high school. I thought it'd be cute to date the 'bad boy,' you know? But it turns out he was more like a slightly irritating puppy with a penchant for rapping in public places."

"Wow, how romantic," Lindsay teased, raising an eyebrow. "Did he serenade you with his original songs during your dates?"

"Pretty much," I said, still chuckling. "I can't tell you how many times he rapped about his love for burritos while I tried to eat my lunch in peace. I mean, who raps about burritos? But hey, I guess I'm a sucker for a guy with a talent for improvisation."

"Clearly! And here I thought my dating history was a comedy show. Yours sounds like a whole sitcom." She shook her head, trying to suppress her laughter. "How did it end?"

"Oh, you know, the usual high school drama. He started hanging out with a new crowd that didn't quite appreciate my genius, and I got tired of waiting for him to realize that I was, in fact, the star of the show," I said, rolling my eyes theatrically. "So I dumped him. Like, don't let the door hit you on the way out, Joe."