8:55, Second Period.
I grabbed my books out of my locker for my second class of the day, chemistry. Oh boy, oh boy I can't wait to see Leo. Can you hear the excitement in my voice?
"Alright class, go to your benches with your lab partner, we will be doing a practical class today."
I stand up quickly and walk over to the bench, completely avoiding eye contact with Leonardo. I stand at the bench, staring out the window. It was a nice day, sunny, no clouds, not too hot but not cold either. Before I knew it Leonardo stood behind me, tapping my shoulder to get my attention. He wasn't smiling, he was neutral.
"Don't be too excited to see me" he breaks the silence. After a good night's rest and a 15-minute shower debating my life choices, my heart and brain were pretty set on what they wanted and didn't want, I knew being associated with him was not something I wanted.
"Sorry, I haven't been feeling myself this morning," I responded coldly.
"Okay well, you don't have to take it out on me."
"I'm not, I'm just not doing great in general. Is there a problem with that?" I snap, he is visibly becoming more frustrated.
"No there isn't."
"Good. I didn't think so" This wasn't normally like me. I consider myself to be a pretty friendly person, but when you have to draw the line one too many times. Leonardo turns away and sighs while rolling his eyes. He whispers to himself,
"If you need me to buy you a tampon you could just ask" I slowly turn to him with anger painted on my face. He looks at me and smiles, what a smart ass. This was it, I wasn't going to take any more of his bullshit.
"That's it!" I scream, he looks at me in shock at how loud I have become, "We had a deal to be civil with each other, I don't know why you are so set on playing this 'mysterious' character but it's boring and unpleasant." Leonardo is walking backward while I am poking him on the chest, he was in complete shock. I kept going, not even realizing that I couldn't take back what I was going to say, "I can't prove it just yet, but I know you said something to Ajck about me. Probably something horrible because you are bored and want something entertaining for the puppeteer. Just because your good looking doesn't mean you can act like a douchebag, especially not me because I'm smarter than you think, it's going to take a lot more than dreamy eyes and luscious hair to manipulate me! And-"
"Miss Cenzo!" I am interrupted by Dr Collins. I stop what I am doing and look around to see everyone staring at me, speechless. Loosening the muscles in my body in embarrassment, I look at Leonardo who is looking at me confused. I felt myself starting to tear up, so I ran out of class before anyone could say another word. I was so embarrassed. It was so unlike me to act out that badly. I stood in the school hallways in complete disappointment.
It was only a minute or so before Leonardo came bursting out of the classroom and ran down to where I was standing.
"Hey! What the hell was that about?" he asks curiously.
"I don't know, I feel weird," I explained.
"Right, so you normally yell at the boys in class when you're feeling weird?."
"No, you've just, confused me"
"You think I'm good-looking?" he smiles, smugly.
"What?" I get thrown off my train of thought, he really had a way of controlling a conversation.
"You said that I have dreamy eyes and luscious hair and I'm sure you would have said a lot more had Dr Collins not interrupted you."
"I...I was just trying to make a point." The smug look on his face somehow strengthened, "You are diverting the conversation!" He shrugs his shoulders and gently slides his hands into the pockets of his cargo pants.
"I think I'm gonna go home early." refusing to look Leonardo in the eyes, I began heading towards my locker to grab my things before heading out of the school grounds.
I walked home in complete silence, feeling sick to my stomach. I couldn't comprehend why Leo bothered me so much. I was failing to acknowledge that some part of me enjoyed having an attractive guy involved in my life. I guess I'm the fool who thought I could have a year to focus on exactly what I intended to.
Almost seconds after I walk into my house, I receive a text from Bella.
Text Conversation:
Bella: Girl where are you?
Me: I decided to take a mental health day. I'm sorry I haven't spoken to you since yesterday.
Bella: Please don't apologize. I just got worried because you didn't call me or answer any of my texts.
Me: it's been a strange one.
Bella: Wanna talk about it?
Me: After I hear about your date with Christian. Go on.
Bella: It was amazing, we got frozen yogurt and he took me to the drive-ins. We watched Jurassic Park.
Me: Random choice of a movie I must say.
Bella: Yeah, kind of was but awesome nonetheless.
Me: I'm sure there's something more you're dying to tell me.
Bella: Of course. The kiss was dreamy. Felt like a fairytale. You know when you just kiss someone and it feels like the world stops spinning for a moment?
Me: yeah, I do.
Bella: He's just different from other guys, I don't know. Maybe something different is what I need right now.
Me: Bella I need to talk to you about something.
Bella: I'm listening.
Me: It's about Leonardo.
*Incoming Call: Bella*
"Pronto?" I nervously answered the phone.
"DID YOU GUYS FUCK?" Bella practically screams into the phone, forcing me to pull the speaker away from my ear.
"I-" My attempts to explain the situation were interrupted by Bella's chaoticness.
"I haven't heard from you for 12 hours and you're doing the babymaking!"
"Bella stop, nothing happened!" I plead.
"Oh...then what?" I tried to get words out, anything. Anything that could start me on a path of conversation.
"I know what's going on.' she gently exclaims, I could almost hear her lean back like a satisfied detective.
"You do?"
"You like him!" she proudly announces.
"No, I don't, I just...Why do I feel nervous around him? I've never felt that type of weakness before."
"It's because you like him."
"I barely know him. There's no way I like him." I pace around the house, tracing my fingers on countertops and bookshelves. In the moment to follow, Bella uttered the most philosophical thing to ever come out of her lipgloss-covered lips,
"You refused to believe that you could let something like this be meaningful, especially with him. Only known him for a week and all. You're scared you're going to eventually fall for him because let's face it, his parents hit the genetic gold mine with those boys. Liking someone attractive is scary. But if he is anything like his brother, I think this could be good for you"
"It's tricky Bella. I barely know him, yet I'm so interested." I stumble over my thoughts as they leave my lips. I fell onto the couch behind me and rubbed my forehead with my hands, hoping to rub the stress away somehow.
The sound of the school bell can be heard through the speaker of the phone, "Hey I gotta go now, third Period is starting but we'll talk later tonight okay?" I agreed and we said our goodbyes before the line went dead.
A mental health day will be served with food, TV, and warm blankets, starting now.
YOU ARE READING
Not What I Expected
RomanceThis story follows a girl in her journey through Senior year. She planned to focus on improving her studies from the year before, but will she be distracted by some new, attractive obstacles? (Rewritting a previously Published story!)
