Dabbling in Danger

Loose Screws

Malina

I miss you and I'm sorry. I was stupid and shouldn't have reacted the way I did. I understand if you still don't want to talk, but know you're still my best friend.

I press send and off the message goes. I feel like I'm going crazy. It feels like too much is going on and I'm unraveling head first. I've never had a panic attack in my life, what the hell was that about? Maybe I'm just exhausted.

Finals are next week so I can't skip these review days. Normally I wouldn't care, but I'm so close to graduating and I can't fuck this up. I'm no better than Tiana if I can't even pass twelth grade...

I feel like crying. I miss Sasha. I don't want to be around Adeen and every time I think of Tiana I want to punch a hole in the wall... Honestly I'm starting to hate myself.

"Malina, please put your phone away."

I look up from under my desk where I hold my phone to see several pairs of eyes on me. I roll mine and tuck my phone into my back pocket.

"Thank you," says Mr.Baker. "Now can you tell me the thing Lavici actually cared about although seeming indifferent and apathetic to nearly everything?"

I sit up in my seat, finally look at the round man, pen in hand as he looks at me over his glasses.

I clear my throat, "death?"

Baker nods, "very good."

"Oh, and he seemed to care about being cheated on considering he hit his wife instead of leaving it alone," I add. "Even though he cheated himself," I mumble at the end.

Mr. Baker readjusts his glasses and places his pen into his shirt pocket that sits over his large breast.

"Yes, many overlook that detail but I would say he does in fact seem just a little ticked off by it. Excellent Malina."

I nod and look down at my notebook, feeling a little beside myself.

Rest of class goes quickly and as I'm packing my stuff away, the girl who sits next to me says my name. I look up from my bag to see her pale freckled face smiling at me.

"Hey, few of us plan to study for finals at Ray's Coffee around five, it'd be cool if you joined."

I've barely talked to this girl, half the time it's because I've picked up her dropped pencil.

"Uh, yeah maybe," I smile.

"What's your number so I can text you when we all meet up?"

After giving her my number and we say bye, I feel sort of proud. It's cool being recognized for my brain and not my attitude, feels different.

When I got in the Tesla after school, I recieve a text back from Sasha. My hearts jolts and I open the message.

I miss you too. Even though you're hardheaded you always gone be my number one.

I immediately give her a call and we agree to meet at the mall.

When we approached each other, I didn't say a word only wrapped her in my arms and held tight. We stayed that way for a bit, honestly I only let her go after realizing we were in the way.

"Let's get some food," Sasha suggests.

After ordering spring rolls and lo mein we sit at a table and gush about our shitty days without each other.