X-Kid

Typical

Our group was sitting in our regular morning spot, talking about whatever. The game of Truth or Dare from the previous weekend had luckily not ruined anything, not like Jack and I had bothered talking about it. I still couldn’t shake the feeling of Jack’s lips pressed to mine, but I tried my best not to think about it.

We were soon interrupted by someone getting my attention. “Hey, Nora. What did I miss in AP yesterday?”

I snapped my head immediately to the boy who spoke, who just so happened to be one of the most popular and smart guys in the school. “Um, not much. We just went over notes and all that.”

The boy breathed a sigh of relief. “Oh thank goodness. Did anything like the David incident happen?”

I laughed. “No. It was really boring without having to look at the back of your head.”

“How do you think I feel when you’re gone? I haven’t got anyone to turn around to,” he grinned. “Anyway, I better head off. See you in first hour.”

“Later,” I said.

I turned back to my friends to find them all looking at me curiously. “Who was that?” asked Luna.

“Just this really smart kid in my history class. Y’know, that really cute dude I told you about?” I explained.

A look of recognition crossed her face. “Oh! Yeah, I remember him now.”

“Whoa, whoa, whoa,” Jack cut in. “How come I’ve never heard about this guy?”

I shrugged. “It never came up , I guess. He’s really not that important.”

Luna rolled her eyes playfully. “Oh, please. You had your eye on that boy even when you were with Drake.”

“He’s really cute, okay? Just...too smart for me,” I commented.

“No wonder you were flirting with him,” Jack said. I thought I could see anger cross his face, but did I really?

“I wasn’t flirting with him,” I replied.

“Oh yeah? Then why were you all giggly and bubbly?” he mentioned.

“What, I’m not allowed to be nice to him? I was just having a conversation, so chill,” I defended.

“Chill? How can I chill when you’re flirting with random guys all the time? I mean, don’t you think you should pay attention to your friends?” he argued.

I gaped at him. “Okay, I don’t know what the fuck your problem is, but you need to get your facts straight. I do not flirt with random guys all the time, and I especially don’t ignore you guys!”

“It sure seems like you do,” he shouted.

“Why are you being such a dick?” I questioned.

“I’m just trying to keep all of us together. I don’t want to ruin the friendship we all have, and I don’t want you abandoning us for someone,” he retorted.

“Your logic is so flawed. The only thing that’s ruining friendship is the fact you decided to start yelling at me,” I pointed out.

“Don’t start blaming this on me!” he replied.

“You’re the one who started it,” I said. I shook my head, grabbing my binder and standing up. “Whatever. When you decide to stop being a fucking dickhead, come find me, but until then? Fuck off.”

I stormed away, steaming practically shooting out of my ears and headed to my first hour. Where the hell had his little tantrum come from? Was he mad about the Truth or Dare game, or was it something else? I then tried to focus on school, but wanted nothing more than to punch Jack Barakat in the face at that moment. How dare he suddenly act like a prick.