I Don't Really Know...

Chapter 21: Confusion and Regrets...

“Ok, amigos, we’re doing another partnership today!  You need to have a conversation, record it, and send it to me for a grade and participation.  Vamos!”  I exhale loudly and turn, to see Welby getting his computer out.

 

“Is it ok if we record on mine?”  He asks.  I can tell he’s not waiting for my answer, because he’s already prepared to tap the mouse for the record session.  

 

“Sure,” I answer anyways.  

 

We had made a internal agreement to, since neither of knew anyone in this class, always go to each other, since the first day of school, when we were assigned as partners.  I had also seen him sitting with Preston at lunch once, and I knew that Preston would never hang out with a jerk.  

 

“So, what do you want our conversation to be about?” I ask timidly.  Even if we had made that agreement, it didn’t mean that I wasn’t shy.  He bit his lip, blonde eyebrows drawing together as he thought.

 

“How about introducing ourselves? You know, like what we enjoy to do and seeing if we have anything in common.  Basic stuff like that.”  He suggests, drumming his fingers on his small desk.  

 

“Diez minutos!  And I don’t hear a lot of talking!”  I hear the teacher yell from her desk, her red pen flying across papers.  

 

“We should really start recording now…” I mumble, as he nods and holds up his fingers.  Three, two, one…

 

He presses start and a red light pulses from his computer, and he signals for me to greet him.  I cleared my throat and began speaking.  

 

“Hola, me llamo Zoie.  Mucho Gusto, como te llamas?...”  We continued the conversation, exchanged farewells, and he stopped the recording, grabbing his computer and pulling the screen closer toward him.

 

“I’m just going to email it now, so I don’t forget.”  I heard taps on a keyboard, and the swoosh of a mail being sent.  He pretended to bow in his seat, and I chuckled softly.  

 

“Whew, glad we’re done with that.  By the way, are you friends with Preston at all?” I question, innocently.  He looks at me strangely, leaning closer.  

 

“Yeah.  Why do you ask?”  He squinted his muddy brown eyes at me, scrunching his nose.  

 

“No, it’s just...I saw you guys sitting together at lunch today.” I quickly add, not wanting him to think anything else of it.  He sighs.  

“Okay, but don’t think you have a chance.”  I scoff at him, surprised at his rudeness of that statement.

 

“Hey, look, you don’t have to insult me while you’re at it-” He gets a panicked look on his face.

 

“No, no, that’s not what I meant!  It’s for...another reason.  Not including your looks or anything.  It has to do with him.  Girls...in general...don’t have a chance.”