Chapter 2: Physically Attracted
Three days later, I find myself still contemplating the relevance of Algebra I in my life as a future professional bum. Yep, ever since my revelation with the enigma of Algebra I, I've decided that if I can’t pass this course I’m going to continue living under my parents’ roof, performing old love songs on my mom’s guitar and paddling for money while discouraging the youth from wasting their time not listening to Ms. Klein in Algebra I and how Algebra I had failed me so I failed life.
Okay, okay. I was trekking down a dark and scary path just now. I’ll go somewhere happier now. Mm, I don’t really know what I’m freaking about though, I haven’t gotten my assignment back yet so I should be positive. Yeah. There's no way I flunked that assignment, a third time. Maybe I should just get my sister Audrey to tutor me. Yeah, Audrey the junior class president, vice president of the debate team, and president of the math club. I should ask her. I don't know why I didn't think of this in the first place.
After all, just as Helen Keller had said "Optimism is the faith that leads to achievement. Nothing can be done without hope and confidence."
"Hey, Ryker! Or whatever your name is." A deep voice says breaking me out of my reverie.
"Hey! Jane's sister! You-hoo!" I whip my head sideways with my hands raised in the air which made me look like a criminal caught red-handed.
"Wha-? Who? Me?" I replied wary. Putting my hands down, that had been raised because of my latest realization. I patted my pants down flattening the invisible creases, while glancing sideways wondering who could have seen me. My body tended to function on its own without me knowing. It happens, not really sure why though. I know our heart functions involuntarily, but I'm pretty sure, my brain is supposed to be controlling the rest of my body no? Oh well, something to ask my biology teacher later.
"HEY! What is wrong with you!" Someone clamps their hand on my bare shoulder and leads me down the school hallway where I somehow managed to walk myself down through my heavy contemplation earlier.
My brain finally caught on that I was being dragged down the hall. My immediate reaction was to freeze in my spot and the person dragging me jerked to a stop as well bumping into my shoulder. The person's heat transferred from their hand that was still clamped onto my bare shoulder. A strange feeling enveloped my stomach and I had the sudden urge to vomit. I angrily push the hand away and say, "What do you mean what's wrong with me? You're not the one who's being grabbed by a stranger!"
"What? What do you mean stranger? Do I look like a strange man? And what do you expect me to do? You weren't paying attention to me when I called out to you twice." Handsy stranger, says frustration dripping from his words and threads his fingers through his now sloppy wavy raven hair.
It dawns on me that I still do not know who I've been arguing with or what my parents like to call discussing loudly. Sure, ma and pa, this is a discussion.
"Who are you anyway and what do you want?" I say still not amused at being pushed out of my deep thoughts about life. I straighten my leather satchel and tank top that had gone askew from the walk and proceeded to sway my body back and forth on my boot clad feet.
The broody, handsy stranger finally looks up from his dark muttering and cursing of the West Bank High School floors which now that I'm mentioning it looks like it needs to be mopped and waxed religiously. The floors are a dark shade of brown and black I don't want to think what that might actually be but I'm pretty sure the school floors were once a light shade of blue. Hmm, anyway I first see his fierce green eyes with a hint of annoyance and tinge of reproach. Just a little reproach. I haven't been that annoying. Yet. The bridge of his nose was slightly crooked like it had seen in a good fist fight in its day, his cheekbones were prominent and his jawline was gorgeous. It was angular and just plain awesomeness, I always liked a person's jawline. It shows their character. His unfortunately had rude tendencies written all over his jaw. Yeah, I'm not lying.
