The Truth in the Ring

Chapter 2

Joey

28 Days

        She slammed her locker door shut with a huff of irritation. The way she glared at me and tapped her red talons on her crossed arms made it quite obvious that she was livid. If it weren't for her trying to stay calm in public, I'd probably have one of her glittery purple pens in my neck by now. She parted her lips to speak, then pressed them together in a thin line before puffing up her cheeks.

“Look, can we just talk about it?”

“There's nothing to talk about.” She responded while releasing the air in her reddened cheeks.

“Please don’t play this game, Andrea. I'm being serious.”

Suddenly the death glare and raised eyebrows intensified.

“Oh, so you think that I think this is a game? I don’t think my boyfriend sleeping with a sophomore is something I find entertaining.”

“I did not-”

        The side of my fist hit the top of the lockers as I cut myself off, trying not to get too pissed. Glancing to my left, I find a crap ton of students and teacherswatching and listening ever so closely to our conversation. You would think that each of them had something of their own to be consumed in, but no. After knowing these people for several years, I know they'd much rather be caught up in someone else's drama than their own. Once they realized they'd been caught eavesdropping, they pretended to resume their non-exsistant conversations. When I glanced back down at her, she was staring at the grey tile floor.

“Alright, Andrea, listen.” I began calmly grabbing her wrists. Just as I was continuing to speak, the bell rang and crowds of snoopers started to leave the halls. As I was about to continue speaking again, a heavy hand grasped my shoulder. Ace appeared beside me oblivious to the sensitive situation and death grip I had on my wrists now from Andrea.

“We gotta get going, like now.”

"Can't it wait?" He shook his head. I turned around to completely face him.

"Coach will go ape shit if we're not in the locker room in two minutes. He already has it in for you in practice today." I was about to apologize to Andrea before I noticed that she was no where in sight. I cursed under my breath and began jogging down the hall towards the gym with my best friend by my side.

 *5 Hours Later*

The stench of dry erase markers and young miserables lifes slapped me in the face as I walked into Pre-Cal. 

"Good afternoon, Mr. Michaels." 

I was about to respond before I turned and realized we had a sub. I popped my chin in response.

"Mr. Aacker."

I greeted the familiar graffiti-covered seat in the back and sunk into my usual slouched position. The bell was prepared to ring at any second, and right before it did so, Andrea walked in.

"Good afternoon, Ms. Anderson."

"Good afternoon, Mr. Aacker." she responded while sporting a mega watt smile. "How's your day?"

"It's going well so far. Yours?"

She took a seat to my right and sat her blue chevron backpack on the ground beside her.

"Fantastic."

        After about half an hour into class, there was a soft knock on the door. Mr. Aacker opened the door to reveal a girl on the other side.Her firetruck red hair in tight curls that reminded me of Shakira in 2006. With a textbook in her hand, she claimed to have gotten kicked out of her geometry class. Skipping open desks in the front, she made her way to the back with her brown eyes locked on mine. After she settled in the seat to my left, the lesson resumed. I noticed the vaguely 'rebelle fleur' was tattooed in cursive on the side of her right hand. Her black nose ring matched the thick eyeliner that reached up towards her eyebrows. She sat her handbag on the desk and rubbed a scuff off of her purple pumps. The beige fingernails slowed down as the girl slowly looked up at me and gave me a small smile.