the list | jmb & mnz

chapter 3

joey's pov

     math couldn't have come soon enough. it was finally fourth period and i was so ready to win maddie's heart. how hard could it be?

    as the bell rung, i walked out of history with lucas, who was also in my math class. he already knew my plan and said it was pretty good. and if you knew lucas, he's a tough critic. we headed to math class.

   "i really hope this works," i said thinking about it. what if it didn't?

    "are you really going to doubt yourself 5 minutes before it's supposed to happen?" lucas rolled his eyes. he was right, but of course i still was going to question myself.

    "you're right. i can't wait to beat jack's ass," i smiled at the thought of how pissed jack would be when i take the W.

     "that makes two of us. he's so annoying, why are we even friends with him?" lucas asked. i wondered that myself.

     "i have no idea," i laughed.

     we reached our math class. as we walked in, i scanned the room. maddie and her friends, as in lilia and kalani were already seated in the back left corner.

there were two seats open near them; one next to kalani, and the other next to maddie. lilia was in front of maddie. i sat next to maddie and lucas sat behind me next to kalani.

"hey maddie, we haven't talked in s-," i said as i put down my backpack, suddenly being cut off.

"oh hey joey, what's up?" lilia jumped in turning around in her seat to face maddie & i. she was twirling her hair and chomping on gum. lilia was the first girl i got with this year, she always acted like she hated me since i broke her heart but whenever she got the chance she'd try way too hard get me back.

"um... nothing," i gave her a confused look. she was so annoying. the smile on her face started to fade and she turned back around.

i glanced at maddie and she looked like she was holding in a laugh. sure, it was funny for her to see her obnoxious friend embarrass herself.

i let out a laugh and smiled at her & she seemed to do the same thing.

"what i was going to say was, we haven't talked in so long, how are you?" i asked maddie, finally able to finish my sentence.

"i know right! i'm the same. you?" she smiled again.

"same. science sucks when we sit on the opposite sides of the room. you were the best partner." i replied. i honestly didn't know what else to say.

"yea, science was so fun last year!" maddie said so genuinely. am i really good at this or was she just being her nice self?

"well anyways, we should ta-," i started to say,

"okay class i'm handing out a worksheet to do this period, whatever you don't finish is for homework. if you need any help let me know or ask someone around you," the teacher said cutting me off mid sentence.

the teacher passed out the worksheet. graphing inequalities, great. i'm absolutely horrible at this. i look around the room and everyone seemed to be doing their work just fine. i could just look up the worksheet online later since it'd probably be on there anyway. for now, i needed to figure out a way to talk to maddie more.

i felt lucas kick my desk. i'm sure that was his way of telling me to do something but at this point, i had nothing.

"yo joey check your phone," lucas whispered.