don't call me that

3: Learning

Needless to say, Jade was feeling the pressure at school. She was constantly checking over her shoulder for Cassie, or Evan, or anyone who sided with them. She was preoccupied with negative thoughts, and her schoolwork suffered. And when she suffered, I suffered.

Even a week and a half later, I couldn't quite get my focus back.

Creative writing was the worst. Evan no longer sat next to me, but his loud, aggressive presence was bothering me from across the room. Instead, I sat beside Louis, who nudged me as our teacher approached us.

Smith dropped a paper on my desk, leaned on his hand, and studied me. I glanced down at it to see a big red B. Not that it was a bad grade, but it was unusual to get it in Smith's class.

"What's going on, Indigo?" he asked softly, so my neighbors wouldn't listen in. "This isn't like you."

I squirmed in my chair. "Kind of some friend drama going on," I replied, reserved. "I'm sorry Smith, I've been so distracted."

He pressed his lips together in a smile. "It's not your fault," he said. "Just don't let other people's problems get you down, okay?"

I nodded quickly, putting the paper away. "Thanks."

As he walked away, I put my head in my hands. I knew he was right, I knew it was time for this huge black cloud to blow over our apartment. I'd have to talk to Jade after school that day, find some kind of closure.

I was lost in thought when Louis nudged me with his elbow.

"Hey. Anyone there?"

I blinked a few times. "Sorry Lou. Yeah?"

"You're not dating anyone, are you?"

Suddenly wide awake, I turned to Lou with raised eyebrows. "Are you asking me out?!" I demanded, horrified by the idea. Louis' eyes went wide and began to laugh.

"No no no! Are you crazy? No."

I rolled my eyes and teased him. "Please, be more sure about that. My self esteem didn't suffer enough that time."

Louis put his face in his hands. "Oh my god. Help."

I giggled. "Sorry. And just so you know, no. Why do you ask, though?"

Louis shrugged. "I have a friend. He's...interested."

I found myself thinking, suddenly, that I wasn't available. Harry popped up in my mind like I owed him my thought at that moment. Wait. What?

"Um," I said, still uncomfortable at what was going on in my head. "No thanks."

"Whyyyy?" Louis prodded, leaning his messy head on the desk. "I've never seen him so infatuated."

"Who is it?" I asked, the tiniest bit curious.

"Agh," Lou grumbled. "I shouldn't say. Not if you're not interested."

I scrunched up my nose in annoyance. What he was saying was completely fair, but I wouldn't be able to stop wondering for the rest of the day.

"Fine," I said, letting a smile take over my face.

Louis was studying me. "How come you're such a hermit?" he asked suddenly. I turned to him, half amused and half offended.

"I'm not a hermit," I defended weakly.

"I know for a fact that you have no shortage of guys interested in you," Louis replied sassily, still narrowing his eyes at me. "Who are you holding out for??"