My Love Letter

Chapter 5

The next day at school, Mr. Long cleared his throat to get the class's attention. Then he folded his arms and motioned for a tall boy with jet-black hair to step up to the front of the room.

"Class, we have a new student, Josh Starr. He will be with us for the rest of the year. Josh, you may take a seat at Kimberly's left." He pointed at me, and I fidgeted, heart racing. Josh was- to put it bluntly- hot. Vanessa had been right, after all!

Josh, my Josh, was back! My best guy friend with whom I hadn't spoken in three years was standing at the front of the classroom beside Mr. Long. Gone was the Josh of the past, the glasses-wearing, nerdy little guy whom I distinctly remembered being short and cute. Now he looked as handsome as- dare I say- Adam. He had the same grayish-blue eyes and even had new, cute dimples! Goodness, he'd gotten so tall- last time we'd spoken, I'd been taller than him. He even dressed as if he'd stepped out of some male-clothing magazine!

Josh walked to his desk, sat down, and turned to face me, but I was too nervous to look at him. A faint, deep aroma, cologne- how ironic; Josh used to say he'd never wear the stuff- tickled my nose, and my heart went on overdrive. I needed to play it cool- he was- is- my best guy friend! 

I finally managed to peek at him and crack a smile. He returned the favor, a white-toothed grin that was as genuine as ever.

“Hey Kim-possible! Long time no see," he said eagerly.

I opened my mouth to say something, when Adam sauntered into the classroom, late again, but with a paper pass this time. I mentally cursed my thoughts for landing on him.

“Yeah," I said quietly. "How are you, Josh?”

Josh studied me for a second. "I’m fine...I miss talking to Kim."

“Mr. Starr, Miss Morris! Pay attention to the board. You may talk after class," Mr. Long announced. I sighed and sank into my desk, wanting so badly to talk to Josh. I glanced at him; he was busily jotting down notes and focusing on the lesson.

Adam's voice crawled into my ear from behind. "Why do you keep looking at him like that?” 

I turned around in my seat and glared at him. I wish I hadn't. He still looked so attractive, too attractive. I bit my lip and adjusted my glasses.

I turned back around, but he wouldn't let it drop. 

"Wow, you moved on fast! You’re a little freak! I guess since I didn’t give you what you wanted, you had to move on quickly." Adam and the class burst out laughing, among Mr. Long's exasperated warnings. I closed my eyes, feeling my heart break all over again.

There was a scuffling noise beside me, and I opened my eyes to see Josh scramble out of his seat and slam his hands on Adam's desk.

I gasped. "Josh! What are you-"

Flames sparked in his eyes. “Don’t you dare call her that again or you're going to wish you were never born!”

Adam raised his eyebrows. "Wow...someone can’t take a joke. Are you threatening me?"

Josh shook his head. “No, it's a promise. So think again when you make fun of someone special to me and call her stupid names and make up lies!” He brushed himself off, as if Adam was nothing but an irritating fly, and sat back down, picking up his pencil and writing down notes like before. Adam snorted and rolled his eyes, and Mr. Long looked as if he was about to strangle somebody.

“Well, then, can we get back to the lesson?” He waited for the class to calm down and started his lecture again. But the altercation between Adam and Josh had taken up a few minutes, and before we knew it, the bell rang.