SETTLE DOWN, matty healy

Chapter 6: Girls

Song Selection: Young Dumb & Broke by Khalid

I bit my nails out of habit, looking down at the exam in front of me. Looking up for a moment I could catch a few others taking glances at their phones, trying to look up the math problems online and get an answer before our teacher could catch them. Most seemed to be successful it seemed, but others could not get the answer before Mr. Campbell began to stand up from his desk and check to see how we were doing.

Me, an intellectual, simply accepted the fact that math is absolute nonsense and continued on disregarding if my answers were right and only hoped that the grade would maintain my barely passing grade in the class; which, for the most part, was usually the case. For the most part I was then at ease, until my sudden remembrance of the previous day in which I actually was able to coherently speak to Mr. Healy only to rush out in embarrassment caused me to dread having to go Literature today.

I began tugging on my long sleeve out of habit in situations like this, causing Anna to look particularly surprised to me once we walked to class. "What's the worst he's going to do? Actually call on you and make you talk in front of the class? Doubt it," She said, the idea alone only making my heart race.

"You weren't there. I don't think I was ever more relaxed with someone for a moment when I was talking to him about the damn book. It was- it was different and nice and I embarrassed myself by rushing out of the room as soon as he complimented me," I explained to her and noticed Anna shifting me a small smile, "I don't have a crush on him, you've got to stop with that."

She raised her hands innocently and shook her head. "You said it, not me." I rolled my eyes and opened the door to be greeted with a substitute instead, making my heart sink. "That look of sadness in your eyes does say otherwise." I huffed in annoyance and took a seat, doing my assignment, shifting a glance to see the sub sitting so casually in his desk.

His desk. God I sound crazy about him at this point.

Others seemed to be ignoring the very things I couldn't help to focus my attention to as I heard everyone else either gossiping or sending each other messages to play against each other on an iPhone messenger game. As tedious as the work was, the bell didn't take too long to ring and sent all the students inside running out the doors as quickly as they could. Ryder walked over to us, tilting her head enough for the freckles across her cheeks being as noticeable as the concern on her face. "Em, what's with the frown?"

Anna gently tapped on her shoulder, covering her mouth but still speaking loud enough for me to heat. "She's bummed her little love wasn't here at school today," She explained to her, causing me to groan and almost begin to pull my hair out of its ends, "Plus the work he left was pretty pointless; that was probably the main reason for her pouting."

My tantrum only made the two of them chuckle and drape their arms across their shoulders. "Why don't we drown out your sorrows and head to the mall again? That always seems to help," Anna suggested. Ryder raised a brow to her and I couldn't help to laugh along with them. "Okay, maybe that always helps me, but still it's practically the same thing."

"I'm pretty sure Emerson here would much rather sip a cup of herbal tea, perch herself on her window seat with a view of nature, and write some well needed poetry on her oh, so tragic heartache," Ryder said.

I shrugged, thinking over the options. "I don't particularly enjoy writing any poems about love, there isn't any fun with it. Plus, I do need to get out of the house more often, even Thoreau left the cabin he wrote about in Walden to head off and get some things in the city." This then caused a nice pat on the back from the both of them, followed by an over enthusiastic Ana on the very thought of her being able to have an excuse to go shopping.

***

I don't understand teenagers and their need for festival esque, Coachella clothing. None of us can actually wear it to school because of the stupid dress code and fear of shoulders, so why even buy a crop top or tube top?

I, of course, thinking this thought as I buy a daisy midriff top and high waisted laced shorts at Forever 21. Bags were in everyone hands, arms were locked, and laughs were being throw around ever so casually.

Ah, finally, typical high school things.

"Barnes and Noble," I muttered under my breath as soon as the bookstore came in sight and I smiled, following in the direction and leaving Ryder and Anna behind.

The two weren't far off behind me as I felt them shaking their heads, not surprised by my actions at all. "You know, I'm pretty sure you have plenty of books you haven't even opened yet so why buy more?" Ryder asked.

I turned around, raising a brow and pointed to Anna. "Same reason she loves buying clothes that she probably won't even wear more than twice, if that," I mentioned, causing Anna to gasp frantically on queue.

"We're giving you 20 minutes then and we'll just meet you in the food court. Deal?"

I nodded in agreement and walked into the door, feeling at home with the smell of books and coffee greeting me. The escalator led me to the poetry section, which caused me to sit myself in a bench and start reading a compendium of Edgar Allen Poe's collection. Skipping through the other short stories and poem, I found myself falling in love again with one of my favorite poems of his: Annabel Lee.

The words and the true emotion left me engrossed with his writing, not even noticing that someone had taken a seat beside me. "All the best people come to enjoy a good book here I think," The man said next to me suddenly. Confused, I looked past the book to see a pair of shined loafers and was soon met with dark, brown eyes and a caring smile. "Fancy seeing you here, Emma."

My tongue seemed to have left me and I wasn't able to manage any words. I shut the book suddenly and clutched it to my chest and gulped down saliva to try and rid myself of the ball that was forming in my throat. "It's- it's- fancy seeing you here too, Mr. Healy," I told him and raised my book to him awkwardly, "I was definitely going to buy this book by the way and not just sit here and read all of it instead."

He chuckled and raised up a copy of Dr. Heckell and Mr. Hyde. "I do the same, don't worry. I just save my space in my notes so I can read an excerpt or two the next time I come," Mr. Healy explained and I laughed, surprised, along with him, "Saw you up here alone and I couldn't help but to join you. I hope you don't mind?"

I shook my head and he urged me to continue reading so I did, turning my head to see him engrossed in his own novel.

Fuck, I'm falling for my teacher get me the fuck out of-

My phone started ringing loudly, causing heads to turn in my direction and I looked to see Anna calling me frantically. I started going off and saw Mr. Healy barely look up from his book. "See you in class tomorrow Emma." I nodded in return and ran off to meet her and Ryder at the food court, not mentioning anything that happened at Barnes and Noble.

A/N Okay so the picture for this chapter is of Ryder (top), Emma (middle), and Anna (bottom) just so everyone knows their face claim and stuff and yaaaaa I updated so YAY. Until next time
~Jane Smith 💋