The Math of Love

Chapter 2 - Questioning

Maya

We are only a few weeks away before what the seniors call the "Big Bang trip". Apparently it is a trip to New York right before the holidays, where everything is paid for (perks of going to a really expensive school). Big luxurious hotels, a whole week away from school, from home, from troubles. At least that's what Jennice and Clarissa had said, obviously because they want me to go. 

I am a house cat. In short, I prefer to stay home, cozy in bed and not have to interact with people if I can avoid it. I already have enough of that at school and at work, so I definitely do not want to go on that trip, mostly because of motion sickness. As soon as I sit down in a vehicle, my head starts hurting and everything starts spinning.

As always, I get out of bed to be able to start my morning routine that no matter how hard I try, always ends up taking a long time. I simply shower and get ready, yet as expected, I end up taking longer than wanted. I do not even wear makeup, to supposedly save time and because I think that it is an unnecessary task (though I could use it to make myself look more alive), and yet I end up rushing out of the apartment as usual.

As I am leaving for school my mom calls out asking if I had already eaten and I tell her I did. Right now I am in the period of binge eating. Unfortunately, from time to time, I either eat a lot or simply don't eat at all. Not a thing I am proud of. When my mom is satisfied with my answer, she goes back to the kitchen, which is pretty much both her sanctuary and prison. One day I need to make mom stop working so much. She has been my best friend since I was born and I thank God for trusting her the way that I do.

From my house to the school it is a 20 minute walk, which surprisingly enough, considering the fact I hate exercising, I enjoy. Maybe because it gives me time to relax before going into school. I opted for commuting since it would save a couple thousand dollars and because I was close to home. The main reason though I could admit to myself: I am scared of change, and for that reason I preferred to stay home.

Sometimes I do wonder what could have been my life had I chosen to live on campus instead. I love my family, but sometimes I long for privacy and my own space. Especially since we are only able to afford a very small apartment.

I get to class 20 minutes early as usual and I decide to settle down, get my materials ready and take out the book we were supposed to be reading. Honestly I hate the books they give out at school. I am a hopeless romantic and I love reading about fantasy, so having to read about real life and real world problems always seems like a torturous task. 

English was both my favorite and least favorite class in high school. I loved talking, but I hated writing essays. Or well, I liked writing them, but I hated the fact that I always did bad on them. I tend to go around in circles and write too much unnecessary stuff, maybe because my thoughts are the same, so much unnecessary information that should not be there.

After the class finishes, I decide to talk to the professor about the assigned questions he left us to respond via the homework portal.

After this class I have psychology class, which is almost to the other side of campus, so I have to basically run to get to class on time, which leaves me with 0 bathroom breaks. I take my seat as soon as I step into the classroom.

As I'm writing down notes, Edward, my annoying cousin, who I'm sure chose this class to make my life miserable, decides to start bothering me as usual.

"Hey, what's up with Gregory, you like him or something?"  he asks in a mocking tone.

"Who are you talking about?"  I look up at him.

He continues to look at me.

"You know who. Gregory Perez."

"What are you talking about? I don't even know the guy," I reply, just as confused as I felt.

"Well, he certainly knows you, because I heard him and Trevor talking and it sounded like you were throwing yourself at him trying to let him borrow your notes and everything. Just letting you know cousi (a nickname he gave me when we were little that he has come to love, and I have come to detest) that strategy many have tried and it has not worked, just for your information," he points out. 

I look at him puzzled and try to inquire further about this little "incident." He ends up bringing up the conversation, if you could even call it that since it was a few exchanges of words that I had with Gregory at the end of Ms. Marion's class. I tell Edward what really happened and that it was not my idea to let him borrow my notes to begin with. He does a head tilt that lets me know he doesn't believe me.

"Whatever you say cousi," he says and turns around in  search of his next victim to pester. I could swear he looked back at me with a curious expression on his face. 

I was starting to think that maybe he actually thought something was going with me and Gregory. *How could he think something was going on between us? *

Edward ends up talking the whole time, while I try my best to ignore him and take notes. He has a sort of luck or gift that allows him to slack off and yet always pass his classes. I sometimes ask him for his secret and he only says that if he told me it would stop being a secret.

At the end of class he asks me if I want to go with him and his friends to drink something, to which I agree, because if I did not, he wouldn't stop calling me Maya Home (his way of mocking my liking of being home).

Note from author:

I will post 2 chapters this week. If you are reading this, know that I appreciate you a whole lot for taking the time for checking out my story and for giving me a chance. I hope you can stick around until this journey comes to an end.

Thank you! <3