The chatter of dozens of kids suddenly pulls me back into consciousness. I'm in the art room. Staring at a wall. Again.
I quickly look around to see if any one noticed my odd behaviour, but that doesn't seem to be the case; they are all too absorbed in their work.
Thank god.
This is the fourth time it's happened this week, and it's only Wednesday. Each time it's exactly the same as the last; I go to class, get to work, drift off, and find myself thinking of him... I just can't help it.
Now I know that the way I'm talking makes me sound like one of those prissy little boy-obsessed twats, but I can assure you that is not the case. In fact, I don't even like boys, or at least that is what I tell myself. But for some reason, Aadi is different.
Don't get me wrong though, I don't mean that I like girls or anything... I'm straight. I just avoid any romantic encounters of any kind. I'm independent, and I like it that way.
Over the years I have been able to stifle my urges to like boys the way other girls like them. I suppress my feelings for the good of my own life. There is no point in involving myself with boys at this age, especially since my school is full of annoying and immature brats... At least I thought they were all annoying and immature brats. Unfortunately, I have been proven wrong.
Aadi is this sort of unexpected, and unwanted, surprise... Like a pop up in the children's book that is my life.
"You okay there, Patel?" Mandi's voice shatters my thoughts instantaneously. I turn to my right to see her staring at me, her dark hair pulled back away from her ivory face, revealing a set of suspicious brown eyes.
"What?" I shake my head, trying to act oblivious. It's best if she just thinks I was zoned out.
She laughs at my confusion.
"I asked you if you're okay." She shakes her head, grinning. "You're thinking about that brown boy again, aren't you?" Her words make my stomach knot up. I hate that my reputation of emotionally neutral has been tainted.
"Ughhhh." I cringe, closing my eyes. I want to die.
"Aha!" She laughs loudly. "I knew it!" She smiles and points an accusational finger at me. Clearly, she is very pleased with her prediction skills.
"No..." I whine, still wanting to die. I don't want to be talking about this. I would rather do anything but talk about this. Talking about it makes it that much more of a thing... And I want it not to be a thing more than anything.
"You two are going to get married." Her words are stated extremely matter-of-factly. I know she's kidding, but I don't appreciate the sarcasm.
I'm just about to start yelling at her to shut up, when the bell goes. That lovely sound freeing me from this colourful cell that is the art room. Finally.
I get up without missing a beat. I haven't really done much all period so it only takes me a moment to collect my things and whiz out the door. Mandi is staying to work on her sculpture after school, so thankfully I won't have to endure her teasing for the entire walk home. I just want to make it to my house and sleep.
