Lost

Chapter 3

Chapter 3 

"I've got detention today." I told Mom through the office phone. 

She sighed, "What for?" 

"I disrespected a teacher. Honest, I didn't mean to say it out loud." 

"Be nicer, Jake. Call me when it's over." Mom said. 

"Will do. Love ya." I said before hanging up. I grabbed my detention slip off of the office desk and went back Mrs. Lopez's class. 

When I walked in, Bailey was beaming at me. That girl needs to take a hint. 

'Sorry, Mrs. Lopez, for being disrespectful." I told her as I sat back in my seat.

"Apology accepted. Now, Jacob, when you're ready, I'll tell you about the project that worth 60% of your final grade." She smiled. 

Why do teachers expect kids not to be smartasses when they speak to us like that? 

I sat up straight and situated my things before answering her. 

"I'm ready now, Mrs. Lopez." I smiled at her. 

I couldn't stand this class. 

"You and your partner, Bailey, will need to build a replica of a Mexican landmark." She said. 

"Alright." I said, then put my head down. I heard her sigh but she didn't say anything. 

A Mexican landmark? I've got to work with Bailey? This is almost enough to make me drop out completely. 

When class was over, Bailey waited for me at the door. 

"What landmark should we do?" She said, hugging her books to her chest. 

"You pick." I said, walking past her. 

"Alright. I was thinking we could do the Ghost Town Of El Fantasma. Oh, or the El Ángel de la Independencia. No I have it!" She grabbed my arm to stop me, "We'll do the Temple Of Kukulcan in the Mayan city of Chichen Itza! That place is so beautiful." She smiled up at me. 

Bailey was kind of cute, big brown eyes, wavy hair and freckles. She was more like the annoying little sister type, though. The kind of sister who hasn't figured out her big brother doesn't want to hang out with her. 

"Sure, whatever." I said and walked towards where my next class was. 

"Um, I'll call you, okay?" I heard her say. 

How does she have my number? 

I didn't answer, just kept walking. Has she been to Mexico or did she make all that stuff up just to impress me? It was sort of weird. 

I walked into Art and sat down at my table. Stacie was already there, sitting at a different table with two girls I never cared to remember the names of. 

Stacie glanced at me and I was sure she smiled a little, but it was too quick to be sure before she looked away again. 

I guess you could say I'm Stacie's Bailey. She just don't know it yet. Or she does but doesn't care. Or she cares and that's why she doesn't want our friendship acknowledged in publuc. Seems a bit shallow. 

I still liked her though. More than I should probably. 

Timmy walked in and sat in his seat. 

"I hear you got detention today. Nice job." He said. 

"Word spreads fast." 

"Sure does. So you never answered about that party tomorrow." he said a little loud, possibly for Stacie to hear. 

"Come on, man. Don't do that stuff. We're not in middle school anymore." I whispered. 

"So you're not going then?" He said loud. 

I glanced at Stacie. She wasn't looking at us but her face seemed a little disappointed. 

"That sucks man. I was really hoping you'd be there. Guess you got better stuff to do." He said. 

"Shut up." I told him. "You're being immature. You know I'm going." 

"It won't be any fun without you, man." Timmy laughed. 

Stacie looked up at me but I looked down and didn't know why. 

"It's best that she thinks you're not going. So when you show up, she'll be all 'Oh my gosh, Jake! I love you so much!'" he whispered and made kissy faces. 

I punched him in the arm. "Just chill, alright?" 

Class started and I couldn't help but keep glancing at Stacie. The whole class she seemed down. 

It sort of made me feel good, that maybe she did care. Maybe she felt the same way but just didn't know how to say it. 

Don't get ahead of yourself, Jake. I thought. 

There's no way she likes me the way I like her. It's just not the way the universe works. She was a beautiful blonde with a perfect smile. 

I was a boney hick with hat hair.