Mod High

More Lessons Than One

"I got 10 down betting they'll be late again," Victor nudged Garfield.

"I'd say you're on, but let's face it, dude," Garfield laughed, "They're gonna be so late."

Victor bellowed a hearty laugh as the both of them watched the door. The clock showed 3:45 PM. Technically, they still had 5 minutes before detention started. None of us had anything else to do, so usually we just sat in here until 4:50 PM every single day since Monday.

On Tuesday, Richard took Kori on a brief tour around the school. Yesterday he took her to the library after class. Of course, Kori invited each of us, but we got the feeling both of them would enjoy some alone time. Who knows where they went off to today...

"3:50," Victor said. "Think they'll even show up?"

"Guess not," Garfield shrugged.

3:52 PM.

That was odd. Neither of them struck me as the type to skip. Kori is a bit of a goody-goody, too kind-hearted to chance hurting someone's feelings, and especially concerned with ensuring she pleases everyone. Richard is the kind of person who likes to stay in the lines. Don't get me wrong, he lives on the edge. But it's more like he stretches out the boundaries as far as they can go without breaking any barriers.

3:54 PM. Perhaps I was wrong-

Something changed in the air causing the hair at the nape of my neck to stand.

"They're here," I murmured.

Both Victor and Garfield turned to the door and furrowed their eyebrows. The two looked at each other in unison, sharing the same dumbfounded look.

Victor spoke first.

"Um, hate to break it to you, Rae, but no one is-"

"3. 2. 1."

I tilted my head towards the door.

As if on cue, the couple finally appeared.

"Sorry we are late, friends!" Kori beamed. "We come baring gifts!"

She lifted up a cardboard carton of drinks.

"We have two grape carbonated beverages for Garfield and Victor," she handed them each large styrofoam cups. "And a mint green tea for Rachel."

A warm feeling flooded inside of me. I can't believe she remembered how much I enjoyed teas.

"Thank you both," I offered her a small smile before sipping my tea.

"Don't mention it," Richard smirked. "Sorry if we worried you guys at all. We didn't think it would take so long."

"It's all good, dudes!" Garfield piped up. "Dude, Rachel, how did you know they were coming? That was so creepy, like it gave me chills!"

I flinched when he said creepy. It was like an automatic response. Kids used to call me creepy all the time in grade school. It faded out to an extent once I hit freshman year. Then I was just the goth girl or brainiac or something to that extent.

"I don't know," I muttered. I continued drinking my tea, hoping he'd catch the hint that I didn't want to speak more on the topic. For once he actually seemed to get it.

"Y'all sure have been spending a lot of time together, Dick," Victor teased in a hushed tone when Kori went to the trash can. "Gonna ask the lil lady out soon?"

Richard adjusted his sunglasses awkwardly and choked out a laugh without answering. It really was sweet how they snuck off whenever they could to talk to each other. Even I couldn't help but root for the two of them from the sidelines. Richard seemed so at ease when she was around. Even with his sunglasses blocking the view, I could tell his eyes were soft for her as she sauntered through the isles back to her desk beside his. That part was literally sickeningly sweet.