Shamelessy Bad

2. Catcalls

It's been a few days since we've moved in across from the whistling boy. I try to go outside when he isn't outside. But every time I do, he ends up whistling at me from one of the windows or coming outside and doing it. I don't know what his deal is or why he feels the need to keep harassing me.

I've enrolled myself into the school close by and gathered the needed materials to take with me this morning. As I prepare my hair and outfit, I take slow deep breaths. I don't wear any makeup, but I keep my blonde hair in loose spiral curls. I wear a floral dress that ends under my knees along with some of my favorite boots. One of the things Momma always told me is that no outfit is ever complete without the right pair of boots.I grab my bag and head out the door for school.

"Why don't you see if that boy from across the street will walk you to school?" Daddy jokes.

"That's really funny. Really. You should be a comedian!" I snark.

I give him a hug and start on my way. I don't need some hood boy showing me to school especially when Daddy already made sure I knew where to go. Unfortunately, I have to walk on the other side of the street to get there. I cautiously cross the road trying to go unseen by my newfound admirer. I think I've made it unnoticed and begin to walk with a little more purpose. I ignore the sound of a closing door but almost jump out of my skin when someone calls after me.

"Hey, new girl! Do those legs look as good coming towards me as they do walking away?" The voice calls. I don't have to turn around to see who it is, but I do anyway. It's the boy from the house across the street that always whistles at me.

"Excuse me?" I whip myself around causing my curls to fling around myself. He stops in his tracks, his eyes widened and that smile still on his face. I'm beginning to wonder if it ever leaves his face at all.

"I said you got great legs." He simplifies."No. You catcalled me. I am a young woman, not a piece of meat nor am I a dog. If you have any kind of manners or decency, then you will learn to treat me as such or you can get bent. I've politely ignored your dog whistles every day hoping that you'll get the message. That isn't the way to get a young lady's attention, but clearly, you're thicker than I gave you credit for." I reprimand him.

He completely ignores my speech and steps closer to me. He's so close I can smell the mint on his breath from his gum. The scent of his spicy sweet cologne infiltrates my nasal cavity. I can feel the blood rush to my cheeks and I stumble back. He reaches his hand out to catch me, grabbing me around the waist and pulling me closer to him. I put my hands on his chest to keep him at a distance.

"Why don't you let me take you out and show you what I'm really about?" 

His low voice dances a sultry number to my ears. It gives me butterflies in my stomach, though I try my best to fight them. I struggle to get out of his grasp to distance myself before I do something stupid.

"As tempting as that offer is, I must kindly decline." I try to turn and walk away, but he softly grabs me by the hand, his swallowing mine. He spins me towards him like some ballroom dancer.

"Wait, why?" His smile has disappeared, now a confused look takes its place. I take a deep slow breath.

"I don't know your name, you don't seem to have any idea on how to treat a lady. And no offense, but I'm just not into bad boys." I tell him shrugging my shoulders. He drops my hand.

"What's wrong with bad boys? Being bad's fun. You should try it sometime. Let me show you the way." He tries to take a step towards me to close the gap between us, but I stop him with my hand.

"And you're still missing the part where I don't know your name. You know, where I come from, it's common decency to introduce yourself before hitting on someone." I cross my arms and prop a knee out. He nods his head.

"I'm Carl Gallagher. And you are?" He sticks his hand out for me to shake. I roll my eyes but decide to wait until a later time to pick this battle.

"I'm Cassandra Johnson, but you can call me Cassie or Cass," I say taking his hand and shaking it. We turn and begin walking towards the school.

"I'll call you Cassandra." He asserts I stop and look him dead in the eye.

"Not unless you plan to be castrated like cattle," I tell him not breaking face. He thinks I'm joking at first but realizes I'm not. The grin on his face fades to a frightened expression as he swallows hard.

"Yes, ma'am. Message received." He says. I continue walking with an accomplished smirk on my face.

"That's better." He raises an eyebrow. "You can walk beside me."

 I can feel his eyes on me as I walk in front of him. I turn my head around and see his eyes raise up. "Oh, heck no. You better keep your eyes up unless you want 'em fed to you on a silver platter. I done told you that I'm not a piece of meat. If you wish to continue to accompany me, then you will stop this behavior. Otherwise, you will walk alone." He lowers his head with another smirk on his face. He speeds up to my side and matches my pace until we get to the school.

When we reach the school, the door appears to be locked.

"Well, looks like we're too late. Oh well. Wanna go hang out somewhere?" Carl asks me. I search his face for a sign that he's joking, but he appears to be completely serious.