Perspective

Joey Quinto

I sat in front of Ella again in College Algebra. She gave me a brief smile as she got out her notebook.

"Hey, how's your day going?" I asked her.

"Fine." She answered. "And yours?"

"It's going okay. I almost fell asleep in Physics though," I replied. She laughed a little.

"Yeah, I've been there. Mrs. Farbor gets pissed off a lot though, I suggest you stay awake." She told me.

"Noted. I've got to start drinking coffee in the morning, I guess." I said. Things with Ella felt less awkward and less intense. I think things were looking up between us.

"It might do you some good." Before I could get another word out in response, there was a boy who walked into the class room. I hadn't seen him before, especially not in my College Algebra class. He must have been new.

His hair was dark brown and pushed to the back. It was just the perfect length. Not too short, but not growing passed his neck either. His olive skin was spotless and his eyes were small and dark brown. There looked as if there were dark marks under his eyes like eyeliner but I wasn't for sure if that was just the look of his eyes. He had a cute small, sharp nose. Very handsome, like the kind of guy you see in a GQ magazine. He was wearing a dark red and blue plad shirt and a white t-shirt underneath with dark faded jeans with chains hanging from his jeans. Something unusual about him was that he was wearing rings. Two on his right hand, the middle finger and the index finger. They were giant silver rings with ruby jewels in them.

He walked up to the Miss Greenwood, clutching a small black back pack behind him.

"Who is he?" I asked Ella.

"He's new. He was in my World Cultures class today. His name is Joey Quinto." She replied. "He seems nice, doesn't talk much though."

"Ah, okay. Joey. Nice to meet you, I'm Miss Greenwood. Your College Algebra teacher. You can take a seat wherever you want." She told him. He nodded and gazed around the class. He walked over to the empty seat next to me and looked down at it.

"This seat taken?" He asked me. I grappled eyes with him. They were so dark and I couldn't place my finger on his expression.

"Well," I started, clearing my throat. "I think there was a boy who sat there last week but I don't think these seats are assigned." He nodded and took a spot in the seat. He glanced over at me again and held his gaze, staring at me.

"What happened to your eye?" He questioned suddenly. I looked at him, surprised.

"Um, I got elbowed in the face." I said once again and I was tired of saying it.

"Ouch. I hope you put some ice on it," He exclaimed.

"I did." I told him. "I'm Charly, by the way."

"Joey." He muttered, pulling his eyes away and looking back to the front. I glanced back at Ella and she rolled her eyes.

"Shiny new toy, of course you're going to get involved." Ella whispered, suddenly angry.

"I never said that," I whispered back. She shook her head and started to copy down problems from the board. "Oh, Ella. Come on." But before I could get another word out, Miss Greenwood began to speak and class had started. The intensity between Ella and me was back. Great...

After class, Ella walked passed me to leave for the day. I stopped her.

"Ella, come on. I wasn't trying to start anything with Joey." I told her quietly.

"Yeah, I know. Whatever, Charly. I'll see you later, okay?" She tore her eyes from me and darted out of the room in the crowd of all of the other kids, shoving their way to get home.

I thought about calling my mother to come and pick me up from school. But, I decided that I didn't want to go to home yet. I texted my mother.

Staying after school, can you pick me up later? She texted back about a minute later.

No problem. See you later <3

I wasn't sure where I wanted to go as I roamed around the hallways after hours. Okay, yes I did. I was going to Mr. Collins' class room. I wanted to thank him for the advice he had given me.

As I headed towards the English class rooms, I spotted Joey Quinto in the hallway. By himself and trying to open his locker. He looked at me and we locked eyes again as I was walking passed him.

"Hey, Charly right?" He said. I nodded.

"That's me. And you're Joey?" I asked him, even though I knew exactly who he was.

"Yep. Hey, do you think you could help me open this? I left my History book in there and I've got homework tonight. I got it earlier today but now it just, won't budge." He said trying to yank it open.

"Sure," I said, walking over to him. I looked down at the pad lock. "What's your combo?" He raised an eyebrow.

"You're not going to break into my locker right?" He questioned. I laughed.

"Yeah, I steal people's history books. Maybe I forgot to tell you," I said jokingly. He laughed too.

"Funny. 42, 12, 23." He said. I played around with the lock, spinning it in different directions and finding the numbers. When I reached the final number, I yanked up the lock but the door wouldn't budge. I pulled as hard as I could and it busted open, sending me flying back into Joey. I could feel my back against his chest when I knocked into him.

"Oh my god, I'm sorry." I told him.

"No problem. Thanks." He said.

"You're welcome." I stepped away from him awkwardly. "Good luck with your History homework."

"Thanks. See you around, Charly." He said my name after pausing from 'see you around'. I don't know why but butterflies took off in my stomach and I smiled once my back was to him and I headed towards Mr. Collins' class room. My name sounded ten times better coming from him. But then again, I had the same feeling that I felt for him that I had when I first saw Keith. And well, look how that turned out.