The Stayed Series

Chapter 2: Astrid

                  

Astrid was just so close to solving one of her AP math problems, when she heard someone was shouting. At first, she was to concentrated on her math book, that the words that were yelled didn't quite came through in her brain. But then she heard the clear voice of a boy loudly saying: 'You are in love with Astrid the Genuis?'

Astrid was highly annoyed and looked aggressively up. Someone was disturbing her math problem and now all her concentration was gone. She could as well start all over again.

She sighed when she saw it was Quinn Gaither and a that other surfer boy – what was his name again?

'Excuse me, Mrs. Raven, may I go to the bathroom for a minute, please?'

Her teacher smiled at her and said she could go, of course. She stood up and rolled the sleeves of her blouse up.

When she was outside of the classroom and nearby the surfer boys, Astrid said calmly: 'Walk with me until the end of the hallway.'

Quinn and the other surfer – what was his name? Stephen, Tim? God, Astrid was so annoyed that I couldn't remember his name – looked confused at each other, but they obeyed anyway.

Astrid looked at the nameless boy and noticed something distressing, she saw how his hands were sweaty and he was biting his lip. Also, his walking rhythm was irregular and things like that always piss Astrid off. She didn't like the surfer boy.

The two boys compliantly followed her, until Astrid stopped and started talking with a bossy voice.

'Why on earth are you not in a class?'

'Oh well – uh – we were uh –' The annoying boy stammered.

When Astrid heard his voice, the boy's name suddenly appeared in her mind.

'Sam, isn't it?' He nodded. 'Actually, I don't even care why you are skipping school, but the thing is – '

'We are not – ' Sam interrupted her.

'Don't speak when I speak,' Astrid said while she sniffed. 'I don't even care why you are skipping class, but the thing is that you two are disturbing other classes with other pupils and teachers!'

'I am so sorry, Astrid, I didn't mean to – ' Sam said shameful, while Quinn was just standing there, totally flabbergasted.

Then he grabbed Sam's wrist and simply walked away from Astrid.

She sighed deeply. Idiots, she thought. But when The Genius was just about to go away, she heard Quinn talking to Sam around the corner of the hallway: 'How can you be in love with her, bro? She is such an arrogant bitch? How? I don't understand? I mean – how?'

'Who even said I like her, man? Just shut up about this, please.' Sam answered. He definitely felt attacked.

'Pff.' She mumbled. 'In love with me? How can he be in love with me?'

And for the first time in her entirely life, she asked herself a question, she wasn't able to answer.

It was a scary feeling, sneaking into her mind and she didn't quite know how to describe it.

Out of control. Astrid grabbed the wall besides her and closed her eyes. She didn't ask for this. God, please tell me, what am I feeling? She asked.

She took a deep breath and sat on the floor. Then she did what she always used to do when she didn't understand a math problem. She made a list of everything she did know.

I feel: a) confused, b) scared, c) happy – wait. She interrupted her list. And said to herself out loud.

'I don't feel happy because some loser has a schoolboy crush on me. I don't feel happy. I don't feel warm. I don't feel – '

She was quiet for a second, afraid to admit it to herself.

Then she whispered, too softly for anyone to hear: 'I don't feel love.'

After that she stood up, made sure her school uniform was clean and she went back to the classroom.

Nothing happened, Astrid, nothing happened.