MJ
Today has been a complete disaster. How can Martha be in love with me? Maybe I’m just hallucinating. But seriously—how did I miss this? I retraced my steps, taking a trip down memory lane, trying to figure out where I went wrong.
Her asking me about love.
Her constant disdain for Sonia.
The way she practically begged me to move in.
How she does everything I ask, no matter how shitty it is.
Yep. I missed the signs. All of them.
Why can’t she just take it all back? I don’t want any more complications. This will ruin our already fragile, shitty excuse for a friendship.
“Did you get the calculations?” Eric’s voice snapped me out of my spiraling thoughts. He was peeking over my shoulder at my completely blank notebook.
I hadn’t written anything. I hadn’t even been listening.
I shook my head, and he moved on to ask someone else. My chest felt tight. The frustration was unbearable. Through the glass window, I let my gaze wander to the field where Sonia’s class was gathered. Being on the top floor of the science building offered a perfect view of the school grounds.
There she was, sitting cross-legged on the grass, her posture too stiff for someone in a “relaxation” session. Her eyes were closed, but I knew Sonia—her brows were probably furrowed, taking whatever the counselor was saying far too seriously. Sonia couldn’t loosen up to save her life. Even this pointless guidance lesson had her looking like she was solving world hunger.
“Here,” Eric said, dropping a paper on my desk.
It was last week’s test. The one I did hurriedly so I could check on Sonia.
I got a bloody C.
I’ve never gotten a C in my life. This was sure to make Coach stick his oversized nose in my business. I crumpled the paper in my fist and threw it into the bin behind the class without a second glance.
“What did you get?” I asked Eric, more out of habit than curiosity.
“A-minus,” he muttered, frowning at his paper as if it were a personal betrayal.
“Then why do you look like someone ran over your dog?”
“I’m trying to figure out where I went wrong,” he replied, his voice barely above a whisper.
“Don’t beat yourself up. It’s just a stupid test.”
“A test my mother will kill me for,” he said, his tone sharper now.
“You passed!”
“I almost passed,” he corrected, his lips tightening.
I rolled my eyes. “Okay, perfectionist.”
It wasn’t even finals. Why would his mother lose her mind over some random quiz? Parents were weird like that.
My eyes wandered back to the field, but Sonia was gone. When had the class ended?
“Let me catch the professor,” Eric said, hastily gathering his things. “Maybe I can do a makeup test.”
He dashed off, his thin frame awkwardly squeezing between desks. Kid needed a break from all that studying.
I left the class, bored out of my mind. The heavy clouds overhead hinted at an impending downpour, and the air carried that unmistakable pre-storm chill.
When I reached the dorm, the door to our room was slightly ajar. Inside, Sonia’s bed was a chaotic mess of papers, her pen flying over her notebook as if her life depended on it. She didn’t even notice me walk in.
“Hey,” I said, leaning against the doorframe.
“Hey,” she replied, her eyes glued to her work.
Was she mad about this morning? I hadn’t meant to brush her off. I just needed time to think—and when Sonia’s around, I can’t think clearly.
“What are you doing?” I asked.
“Research,” she muttered.
“About?”
“Market trends.”
“Oh.” Brilliant response, MJ. Truly insightful.
“Can we talk later?” she said, still not looking at me. “I have a discussion I’m completely unprepared for, and the professor will tear my head off if I go in like this.”
She wasn’t mad. Just busy.
Fuck. I’d almost forgotten about her group discussions because of Martha.
“So, you won’t be back until ten?”
“Yeah.”
She was already gathering her things, dressed in her usual oversized sweatshirt and grey sweatpants. The halls got unbearably cold at night, and with rain on the way, she’d freeze out there. I hated the thought of her leaving.
“Can’t you skip it?” I asked, knowing her answer before the words left my mouth.
“Of course not. I’m the team leader,” she said, slipping on her sneakers.
Her determination to stay on top of everything was infuriating sometimes. The weather was perfect for staying in, not trudging out into the freezing night. Maybe I should just lock the door and force her to stay.
“I’ll see you later,” she said, heading for the door.
Wait. Was she seriously leaving without kissing me?
I grabbed her wrist, pulling her back to me. “No kiss?” I teased, giving her my best pout.
She sighed and leaned in, pressing a quick, soft kiss to my lips. Too quick. I wanted more.
“Let me go,” she said, wiggling her hand free.
“I don’t want to.”
“Well, you should. I don’t want to get kicked out of class because of you,” she said, her voice void of any playfulness.
The stupid professor. He was the one stealing her away from me.
“Good thing I got rid of him,” I muttered under my breath.
Each day felt like it came with a new set of problems, and I had no idea how to fix any of them. But through all the chaos, Sonia was my anchor. The one person who kept me afloat.
And yet, she was also the one causing the chaos in the first place.
My bitchy subconscious loved to remind me of that inconvenient truth.
I shoved the thought away. Sonia wasn’t the problem. She was the solution.
I couldn’t imagine these past few months without her by my side.
YOU ARE READING
The Sweetest Fruit ( Tomboy 🏳️🌈Love Story )
Romance[18+] Sports College Romance. Cover art by@emilycatewrites
