Taboo

9

"I called it. I fucking called it." Maia chirped.

Maia, Valentina and I had been sitting at a corner of the lunch, where I had told them about what happened the previous day. Maia had proceeded to broadcast my predicament to the whole table, making me instantly regret while telling her in a room full of people.

"Hey Mike! You owe me twenty bucks." She yelled at Mike, an afrocentric guy with a Fresh Prince haircut. He rolled his eyes at Maia and shook his head in disappointment.

"Davina, sister, I thought you would have known better than to seek solace in the arms of the oppressor." He said while looking at me as if he were a parent chastising their child. I couldn't help but roll my eyes.

"Mike, he is not the oppressor." I replied, pulling a face while I picked at my food. "And even if he was, it's none of your business." It came out sharper than intended.

Mike raised his hands in surrender. "Alright, alright. But if you guys break up, know that I will be here. We black people have to stick together."

I wrinkled my nose. "What do you mean 'break up'? He's not my boyfriend."

"Well what are y'all cause you're not fooling us with that 'just a friend' bullshit. Especially not after this." Maia responded with a raised eyebrow.

"We -. Well -. How the hell am I supposed to tell you if I don't know myself?" I finally mustered the words in frustration. "Ugh." I began to massage my forehead with my fingers, as if the action would give me the solution to all of my problems.

"Uh oh, the subject of interest is now entering the vicinity. I repeat, the subject of interest is now entering the vicinity. And he's looking hella cute." Maia announced as she pressed onto an imaginary earpiece.

Crap.

I subconsciously shifted myself so that I was blocked from Ethan's view.

"What are you doing?" Maia inquired, a smug smile playing on her lips.

"Nothing." I tried to sound nonchalant, putting on my best poker face.

"You're so full of shit." She laughed.

I watched him discretely as he strolled, hands in black hoodie, over to an empty table.

I always wondered why he isolated himself. Everybody loved him. Well the girls did anyway. What does this hoe want? I didn't realise that I was shooting daggers at the girl that had walked over to the table that Ethan was sat at. She was gorgeous which made me even more bitter. Her cascading auburn waves reached mid back. She wore the school's cheerleader outfit, which consisted of a top that firm fitting top that ended just above the belly button and a dangerously short pleated skirt.

I continued to watch the interaction, trying hard to keep my expression passive.

To my surprise and dismay, Ethan seemed to be engaging in conversation with this girl.

"Davina babe, jealousy does not look good on you." Valentina said, temporarily gaining my attention, only for it to be lost again when I heard loud obnoxious laughter, causing me to whip my head at the table's direction.

The girl had her hand rested on Ethan's thigh, very obviously flirting with him. Ethan made no move to remove her hand, in fact, a small smile played on his lips.

"Uh uh, this bitch better not. You better go over there and mark your territory before that hoe Alison gets any ideas." Valentina warned, making me again, roll my eyes in an attempt to play the situation off when, in truth, I was affected by this situation more than I liked.