The Religious & The Damaged (UNDER EDITING)

7

Elias

  I walk into the school building, Kelsey on my left, and Nick on my right.

  "I hate Mondays." Nick says, his voice groggy.

  "Said everyone ever." I reply as we stop at my locker.

  "Fuck. I need a smoke." Nick groans.

  "We can't. We're already late." Kelsey argues.

  "Fuck that. If we're already late, why can't we be more late? It's basic logic, man."

  I let out a short laugh. "Your logic is flawed." I say, and I turn after closing my locker.

  "Your face is flawed." Nick teases, and he reaches out and pokes my face. I laugh and slap his hand away. He grins and swings an arm around my shoulder.

  "So," Kelsey starts, and she locks her arm with mine. "Operation Joseph?" She refers to. I huff out a laugh. "What's your next course of action?" She asks.

  I shrug lightly. "I don't have one. I'm just gonna keep talking to him little bit by little bit. Obviously, my course of action before didn't quite work out that well, so I'm taking things slow this time around."

  Nick snorts out a laugh. "I still don't understand why you care that much." He says.

  I offer a soft smile his way. "I have my reasons. I just don't want to get into them just yet. Sorry."

  "No sweat." Nick replies with an half-hearted shrug.

  We stop at my class and I wave at them before I go in. Luckily, Mrs. Harrison doesn't notice me, and I can slip in and take my seat.

  I take out my notebook and textbook, and I look over at Joseph as he stares down into his textbook—his brows furrowed as he seemingly struggles to understand the material.

  I glance around the classroom to realize that everyone is divided into groups of two or three. I look past Joseph to the other side of him and see that he doesn't have a partner. I decide to seize the opportunity, and I lean toward him.

  "Do you need a partner?" I speak in a whisper.

  He flinches at my voice, and he looks at me. "Buzz off." He retorts.

  I glance down at his empty page and say, "Seriously. I can help."

  I look up at the sound of his huff, and he looks down at his desk. I take it as an invitation, and I scoot my desk towards his.

  I notice his body goes stiff in the presence of myself—was I too close for comfort? I think maybe, so I scoot my desk back to the left slightly. I examine his body language and it seems he's still tense, but it's less.

  "Do you want me to move back?" I ask, wanting to make him as comfortable as possible.

  "It's fine." He grumbles.

  "Are you sure?"

  "Yes." He snaps, and I don't ask again.