CHEMISTRY [MICHAEL JACKSON]

02.

"Can you talk?" A guy in my chemistry class named Aaron asked me as he took his seat next to mine.

Aaron and I never interacted with each other at all. One, he never really showed up to class. Two, I didn't associate with most people at school for one unchangeable reason: they were crazy.

Therefore, I didn't understand why he was talking to me.

"Of course she can talk." Sahara chuckled before rolling her eyes. "Everyone can talk."

That wasn't true, but I didn't bother to correct her.

Hell, I didn't bother to correct any of them.

"Not her." Connor retorted from the corner of the room, causing Sahara and Aaron to snicker.

I finally spoke up, but softly.

"I-I do talk."

"I'm sorry. Did ya say something?" Aaron snickered before letting out a hearty laugh with the rest of his friends.

"Guys, leave her alone." Michael told them as they began to knock it off. I noticed that he wasn't with his friend, Eric, on this day.

I could only wonder where he was, but knowing Michael was in class kept me satisfied.

Class had finally begun. Most people probably didn't like the way their grades were looking, so they participated way more on this particular day.

Ms. Irving started a new unit in our books and she taught us about electron configuration.

I found it hard to fathom. It was a difficult concept to begin with, but Ms. Irving wasn't the best teacher.

Oh, who am I kidding?

Michael had my full attention the entire class period. He was interested and attentive to Ms. Irving's lesson, so he didn't notice me looking at him.

Michael left me in awe.

"Practice those five problems at the bottom of page 74 for homework!" Ms. Irving assigned verbally as the dismissal bell rang. "There may or may not be a quiz next week, so you all need to study."

The rest of my classmates rushed out, paying Ms. Irving no mind at all.

"Hi." Michael came over to me as I was gathering my books.

"Hi." I gave him a small smile.

"I could get those for you if you want." He offered, motioning to the two textbooks that I carried.

"Oh, really?" I was shocked he'd want to carry my books. Of all people, mine. Michael nodded with a reassuring smile and I handed him my books. "Thanks."

"No problem." He nodded and smiled, tightening his hold on my textbooks as well as on his own. "Did you understand the lesson today? You looked confused."

"Not at all." I blushed lightly knowing he was the reason why I didn't understand anything in this class. "It seems like a difficult concept. Did you?"

"Oh, yeah. I find it easy." Michael nonchalantly told me. "If you know the elements on the periodic table and all that information, it should be fairly easy."

I didn't memorize the periodic table back when it was taught at the beginning of the year. I didn't even study it.

I studied Michael though.

"We could study together, you and I."

"That's a nice idea." I said, walking out of the classroom with him as I imagined Michael and I studying together.

Alone.

That was a terrible idea.

"I could come to your house." Michael suggested. "You wouldn't want to come to mine. I have lots of people living over there. You wouldn't find a sense of peace ever."

I nodded, knowing deep inside that Michael coming over to my house would be an even more horrible idea. My father was home and he was always drinking. Many times, he would be passed out in our living room. He really neglected me, but I took care of myself.

"Yes, yes, you could." I smiled, shaking those thoughts off. "That would be lovely."

"That's tomorrow after school?" Michael asked as his eyes filled with hope.

"Perfect." I smiled and he handed me my books before he suddenly pressed a soft kiss to my cheek.

Oblivious to the fact that I was crazy about him, a tiny smirk appeared on Michael's face.

It was the cutest thing.

"See you, Mia." Michael waved and walked down the hallway.

"My name is Leah." I whispered to myself, extremely inaudible to him.

I touched the part of my skin that Michael's lips were once in contact with and internally squealed.

I could care less if Michael thought my name was Mia.

He was perfect and things were happening between the two of us. I wasn't going to make things awkward by telling him my name was really Leah.

I was just going to go with the flow.

I mean, that's what everyone else did.

Right?