You're My Favourite Subject

Eight

·Lin-Manuel·

I'd sat down beside Anthony, a spare seat next to me. I didn't want to admit I was saving it for Jonathan, but to be perfectly honest, I was.

Anthony talked to me about what he was working on in his music class. He was an extremely talented musician and constantly created good material. He wondered why I hadn't taken up music because apparently, I was, how did he put it... 'talented in that department'.
I'd decided against it and went with what I thought I was good at. Which in this case are Art and Theatre.

Anthony and I talked a bit more, I glanced at the door often between sentences. Right before a familiar figure stepped through the doorway.

I waved over at him, "Jonathan! Sit here!" I pat the seat next to me.
He moves hesitantly towards Anthony and I and sits down. He doesn't look at us. He doesn't look at us. He doesn't look at me.

I frown at him, watching as he turns his head further away. I look over at Anthony, tilting my head slightly. He just shrugs in response. I watch Jonathan. Then it hits me. Not realisation. But the smell.

"Is that... smoke..." I mutter under my breath. I put my hand on his bicep to get his attention. His head snaps in my direction. "Jon.. why do you smell like smoke?"
I look over to Anthony and tilt my head, he just shrugs in response before laughing a bit.

"Sure it ain't burnt toast your smellin' Lin? Having a stroke or something?" He giggles a bit.
He was further away from Jonathan than I was and probably couldn't smell it.

"Yeah sure man, call the ambulance!" I laughed along with him, not forgetting that Jon smelled of smoke though.

Class went by surprisingly fast. Jonathan avoided talking for the majority of it, so most of my conversations were between Anthony and me.

I hope he didn't notice I was worried about him. I'd steal glances at him all through class. God, I hoped he hadn't hung out with the wrong people during lunch. I'd heard that some of the 'bad boys' sneak off campus during the breaks and raid places. I have no idea if it's true or not but I don't want Jonathan with them at all. He's a good kid and shouldn't get stuck with those types of people.

I stand from my seat instantly when the bell sounds. Schools over. Finally. Today has dragged out so long. Like eight chapters long. Already having my stuff back in my bag, I slung the pink atrocity over my shoulder and walked from the room. I was flanked by Anthony and was making my way to my locker, conveniently close to Ant's. I shove my books and to the locker- keeping the ones I need for homework -and turn to find Jonathan standing across the hall. His locker was close to mine and I instantly felt bad for leaving class without him.

Walking over to him again I asked. "Are you... are you okay man? You seem a bit distant."

He had his back to me when I talked so he jumped a bit. "Uh.. yeah... I'm okay.. j-just missing home.." he scratched the back of his neck.

I noticed the heat rise to his cheeks and knew it was something else; I didn't ask. "I understand what you mean," I clap him on the shoulder, "If you wanna talk to anyone, I'm here."

I smile comfortingly at him and he returns with a half-assed, sad smile. "Alright dude, I'll see you tomorrow!" I start moving away and wave at him.

He waves back and Anthony follows me out of the school. He slings his arm around my shoulders playfully. I return the gesture by wrapping my arm around just above his waist. I don't care what people think.

"There's something up with him.." I think aloud.

"Like what?" Antony counters, "He seems pretty normal for someone who just changed schools." He tilts his head at me and I shake mine.

"I don't know Ant, something just seems off"

When we get to the gate, Vanessa is waiting for us. I smile at her, pulling her into a kiss with my free arm. Taking a leaf out of Antony's book I slung my arm around her shoulders.

We walk towards my car, Anthony drops off as his father comes and picks him up. It's just Vanessa and me.

"Is there something worrying you?" Her ability to judge my mood has always astounded me.

"It's just the new kid, Jonathan Groff.. he seemed like something was up just before." I begin to stare. Past her. Past the buildings. Past the cars and the trees. Past everything. Just into the unimaginable distance where my mind often wanders.

She taps my cheek, "Lin? Helloooo.. earth to Lin?"

I shake my head. "Uh sorry, just thinking."

She smiled lovingly at me. "I know you were, Spaceman."

I smile back, she knows me too well. We arrive at the car and I unlock it, opening the passenger door for her.

"Thank you my kind, sir." She smirks.

"Anything for you m'lady." I laugh slightly.

I move around the car and slide into the driver's seat. Starting the car, I slide my hand into hers, intertwining out fingers. I smile over at her before looking over my shoulder and pulling out of the car park. We drive for a while until we reach my house. She's been staying at my house more often and had been spending the night a lot.

We arrived home and my mother and father greeted me, my sister, Luz, was sitting on the couch reading a magazine. We make our way upstairs; into my room. I instantly drop my bag at the door and collapse on my bed.

"School's too long." I grumble in protest as Vanessa takes a seat in my desk chair, spinning to look out my window, "They should just knock off a couple hours, it'd be so much better."

"I know what you mean." She sighs.

Both of us are done with school and its basically just started. We are all silently dreading our senior years.