Could It Be Something More?

10

When I arrived at the school the Tuesday after the fair I found "slut" written across my locker door in black whiteboard marker. This had Stephanie written all over it. I took a tissue out my bag and sighed as I wiped off the graffiti.
"Oh hi Mia!" Stephanie exclaimed smiling sweetly as she opened her locker. I rolled my eyes and refused to answer her. She stopped applying lipstick and said, "It wasn't me who wrote that on your locker in case you were wondering." I rolled my eyes again and walked down the hall to Joseph's locker. "Boo!" I said sneaking up on him. He jumped dropping a box. I laughed and bent down to pick it up but he stopped me. "No! I can do it!" He did swooping down and picking it up like a vulture.

"What's in it?" I asked.

"Nothing!"

"So why are so nervous about an empty box?"

"I'm not nervous, why would I be nervous?! Let's go to the canteen!" He exclaimed speed walking down the hallway to the canteen.

What the heck was wrong with him? He was acting like he had someone's heart in that box. We sat in the canteen eating granola bars and having orange juice but the whole time he wouldn't look at me. What was he hiding? What had he done? I grabbed his hand and for the first time in what felt like decades he look at me. Straight in the eyes. "What's in the box Joseph?" I asked concerned. "It's a gift I have for someone," he said. My heart sank. Was it another girl. Was he over me? Is that why he couldn't look at me? "A relative?" I asked hopefully. "No. But it is for someone I care about." My heart shattered. If it wasn't a relative then it was for a girl. "Tyler? Michael? Matt?" I asked. "No. It's not for a guy," he said now staring out the window (perhaps looking for his crush). Maybe it was for Chelsea Reynolds. I let go of his hand annoyed at the way he had played with my emotions. I got up, slung my bag over my shoulder and took a bite of my granola bar but it tasted like sawdust.
"Where are you going?" He asked grabbing his bag also. "To the bench to see Tyler," I said. Annoyance washed over his face as I mentioned wanting to see Tyler. Good.
"Hey guys," I said. Tyler and Karen were missing. Dang it! "Where is Tyler and Karen?" I asked. "Somewhere having couple time," Matt said. "I take it you both are gonna find somewhere to make out now?" Michael said. "No thanks! We aren't together!" I retorted loudly and pointedly. I sat next to Jessica and Joseph looked at me confusedly. "Soon to be couple quarrel?" Jessica asked. "No. We aren't a soon to be couple and no everything is fine between us," I said between gritted teeth. "If you say so.." Jessica replied patting my shoulder. The whole time I shot glares at him while he gave me questioning looks. The bell rang and I practically sprinted to homeroom. Leaving Joseph behind. Karen and Tyler were at the back talking quietly so I decided not to interrupt. I sat by the window and Jessica came and sat next to me. "See the lovebirds at the back?" She asked and I nodded laughing quietly. Joseph walked in with a Matt and Michael smiling. His smile made my insides turn and I wanted to call him over but I turned my head and stared at the window. They joined anyway sitting behind us. Ugh!

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At lunch I saw Stephanie by Joseph's locker with him talking. Maybe the necklace was for her! I hid behind a pillar and watching him as he locked back the locker with his code. 6437. Nice. After they walked off in different directions I bolted to the locker turning the dial. 6437. The door flew open and I saw the box. I opened it and inside was the most beautiful gold necklace with a sapphire stone. Wow. That girl he cares about is really lucky.
After school on my way to the library for debating club I walked past the field. There was a soccer match and Karen and Jessica with another girl stood talking in their cheerleading outfits. Joseph, Tyler and a guy named Chris were sitting put on the bench talking when Jessica and Karen sauntered over to the guys. I hid behind a wall and peeked out taking it all in. Karen sat on Tyler while Jessica began flirting and giggling with Chris. Whoa. The other girl sat next to Joseph and they began talking. She started laughing at everything he said and I could tell she liked him. My blood boiled then I thought of the necklace. Perhaps the girl was Chelsea and the necklace was for her. I couldn't watch anymore so I continued walking to debating as my eyes burnt with tears. The one guy I had really truly liked was interested in another girl.