The Math of Love

Chapter 12 - Sugar Cookies

Maya

I am taken aback a bit by Gregory's question.

"What do you mean?" I ask him. 

"I mean. I have only known you for a little bit, but for some reason it feels as though, just like this rose, you have created layers that make you seem unreachable."

*How has he figured me out so quickly?*

"Funny of you to say that," I reply. "You are the one that seems so out of reach. I mean I thought you hated me, or that you hated people in general really."

"Why would you think that?" he asks, a puzzled look on his face.

"Well, when I first met you, you did not seem like the nicest person in the world. You barely even spoke to me when Ms. Marion introduced me to you."

"Yeah, well, I was new and to be honest with you, I was going through something at the moment."

"Sorry. What were you going through?"

He just looks at me, and with that look I understand that it is not my place to question him like that.

"Sorry, you don't have to tell me if you don't want to," I tell him. 

"To be honest, I would rather not talk about it right now," he sighs.

I muster a simple "okay."

"By the way," he says, "I did not know that Clarissa and Jennice were so protective of you."

"Yeah, don't mind them. They think that everyone who gets close to me likes me."

"Hmmm, I can see why" is all he says and I opt for not inquiring further.

We continue our journey and find two more artifacts. Gregory likes one that is a pen shaped like a sword, which symbolizes the saying that education is the strongest weapon, while I choose a collage of pictures of women from World War II. 

Our last artifact is of a statue of a dog and a cat, both which are pulling a man. Representing the division between cat and dog lovers. We did not really try on the last one since we just wanted to finish the assignment. After the museum we were told we could look around the city since the following morning we returned back to campus.

Gregory and I spend the day laughing, talking and I come to realize that he really makes me want to open up to him, which doesn't usually happen, unless I know the person really well. *Once again kind of cliche if you ask me, but what can I do?*

Clarissa and Jennice both intersect Gregory and I at the exit of the museum and they put their hands out to signal us to stop. My friends are so childish sometimes for college students, but I love them for it.

"Now it is our turn to steal May May away and have a girls night," declares Jennice.

"Alright alright," Gregory agrees.

"Bye May May," Gregory teases as he is leaving.

"Bye Gregggyyy," I reply back, to which he just rolls his eyes and smiles.

We all exit the museum at the same time. Gregory goes back to meet up with his friends. We all leave since the professors had already let us know earlier that by 3:00pm we could all leave the museum and go eat lunch or walk around the city, but to meet back at the hotel no later than 9:00pm and turn our sheets in. That was our curfew and final assignment for the trip.

Jennice and Clarissa say that to have a perfect girls night we need to go get ice cream, snacks, and buy overpriced matching pijama sets so that we can binge watch our favorite shows, but this time, we will first start by going out and then finishing off with the above mentioned. 

Someone they met at the museum had recommended a place called 'Sugar Cookies' and it was basically a bar for underage drinking based on what Clarissa had said. 

The girl that recommended the bar was called Kristal, and she was waiting for us outside the bar with her two friends and her boyfriend.

"What's up guys? Is this Maya?" The girl asks.

Kristal is blonde, tall, and very skinny. Her boyfriend, in comparison, is dark skinned and kind of chubby. Her two friends are wearing a smile from eye to eye and both have short brown hair. They almost look like twins. Kristal says their names were Louise and Brandall. The guy's name is Braxton.

"You guys going in?" Braxton asks.

"Ummm... I'm not sure I want to go in there guys," I finally say.

"Come on, give it a try at least," says Jennice.

I do as she says and when we step into the bar I am surprised by what my eyes catch. The bar is divided into 2 sections. One has blank canvases and some apple cider on cups; it looks like the perfect date spot for gossiping. The other side is isolated and it looks like that is where the real party is.

Note from author:

It looks like I am not getting that many new reads, but it's ok. Know I appreciate those who have taken the time to read so far. I hope you stay with me until the end.

See you guys next time! <3