Lessons || MJ

Lessons || Chapter 3

Author's Note: This one needed an update. Enjoy!

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DARRYL

By the end of that first week, Leslie and Yvonne acted reclusive. Sadly, the Dean and others in power hadn't answered any of my questions. I didn't know what to think until these ladies finally showed up to lunch again. The fellas and I were shocked to be honest. Even Max cooled his flirtation with Leslie and acted like a decent human being.

"What happened?" I asked Leslie over the usual cafeteria noise

"I don't wanna talk about it." she wouldn't even face my eyes. "I'm tried and this is honestly the last place I wanna be right now."

"Why? Grades not too good?" I lowered my voice.

"Not that." she whispered. "Personal shit."

"Oh. Sorry." I pouted. Fredrick and Yvonne already left the table for something. I didn't even care.

"Thanks, but I gotta go." Leslie picked up her dirty tray and rose from the table. Max and just glared at me before long.

"What was that?" Turk squinted beside me.

"She doesn't wanna talk." I mumbled. "Let's respect it."

"You spent this whole damn week talking to the dean after school and it's okay that girlfriend won't talk?" Max clenched his teeth. "What the hell, D?"

"I told you to leave her alone. Stop it." I defended Leslie and myself. Turk looked on with nosey eyes. Pastrami squirreled his mouth by now. As soon as Max and I glared at him, our buddy zipped away to another table.

"See? Look at you what you did, dumbass!" Max huffed.

"I didn't do anything." I tossed up my hands. "You started arguing first."

"You've gotten soft." Max tried to fib during this argument. He'd never win.

"You've gotten soft." I rolled my eyes. "If I didn't know any better, you wanted to hold her hand on the way in here, Maxwell."

"Don't blame me for wanting to change the frown on her face." Max scoffed back. "You know I've liked her, man. Stop ganging up on me for once." Not once did voices around stopped their conversations. If everyone focused on us, I didn't care. Max continued eating and I looked over to find Turk coming right back for whatever reason.

At the same time, my heart never stopped pounding. Fredrick returned with Yvonne beside him. I couldn't help wanting to scream even louder. But I stopped myself to avoid looking like a fool. Again, I lived in college now. Not fifth grade anymore. My gloved fingers drummed nervously on the table and I itched to log my inner on a tape recorder again.

But I could do nothing at this moment in pubic.

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LESLIE

Outside a coffee shop, brisk air flowed around me. I couldn't help thinking back to the interrogation and wondered if The Kid hid openly again. I could already feel his warm hand clutching mine underneath that stupid table once more.

Ma called and I explained everything since that day. Yvonne and I distanced to avoid whispers from our classmates. By the time we left that station with the Kid, our persistent cop dropped his jaw. Ignorance never succeeded in my mind.

If only The Kid and I escaped again. The Monte Carlo Chevrolet. The CM400. I didn't care. I just longed for his embrace of nothing else. I took a window seat and gazed out, staring at the view of autumn in full swing. Taste buds already savored my coffee to the limit.

Chime of the opening door threw off guard. Within seconds, I noticed a familiar person. Still bundled, Max removed his leather cap and inched toward before I even thinking moving somewhere else. I honestly blushed, but held my keys if I longed to escape again.

I didn't even realize that he already clutched a hot drink before approaching me. I faked the best grin possible.

"Mind I sit with you?" he asked.

"Not at all." I lied. He scooted into the chair across from me and set down his cup. Rough and dark hands clasped over each other before he cleared his throat to speak.

"How are you?" he plunged right in even while discreet about subject manner.

"Fine." I lied again. "Look, you're sweet. All of you are hilarious, but I'd rather be alone right now."

"Leslie, come on. Darryl's worried about you. For real." Even with his slight begging, I wouldn't budge. I took another sip of coffee in hope of resting my nerves. Nothing changed at this moment. I rolled my eyes trying to keep myself from exploding.

"He needs to butt out." I hissed back. The voices of customers echoed all around us. I decided to remain calm at the same time. I'd already taken off these stupid glasses on my face to rub both exhaustion. Max could only watch right now.

"What do you honestly want to do right now?" Max questioned out of nowhere. Had he read my mind at this moment?

I didn't know what to think, but intrigue levels just hiked within my brain. Another bright smile crept onto Max and its perfectly dark face. Maybe he blushed. I titled my head like a German Sheppard, which made him chuckle.

"To be honest. Anywhere but here. I'm a late-night drive kind of person, but Friday's not here yet." I smiled honestly for the first time in this place. Max took my every word.

"Would you mind I tagged along someday." he blushed again.

"How about tomorrow?" I lied with a convincing grin.