Stay Beautiful Keep It Ugly

Gentle Giant: Chapter 3

It was now after first hour, which was math, and Frank and Mikey were walking me to history so they could introduce me to their friend Ray. Mikey and I carried out own small conversation while Frank clambered about Ray.
"So, I see that you like Anthrax," I spoke quietly to Mikey as I motioned to his shirt.
"Yeah, they are my favorite band. You?" Mikey said.
"You're going to love Ray. He has a fro and he's tall and very gentle. Like a gentle giant!" Frank shattered away.
"Yeah, I like Anthrax. I also like Korn, Metallica, Nirvana, Smashing Pumpkins, and so on. That kind of music," I told him. He smiled and asked, "What other kind of things do you like?" I responded with, "Comic books, coffee, writing, drawing, playing gu-" I stopped talking because Frank cut me off with, "I'll go get Ray! Be right back!"

I noticed that were now standing outside a classroom.
"You like comic books?!" Mikey lost the poker face to have it replaced with a smile.
"Yeah. Batman is my favorite. And I also like beanies," I told him, grabbing his hat off his head and slipping it onto mine.
"I want that back by the end of the day. And ar-are you fr-free on Wednesday? We c-could g-go t-to, you know," Mikey paused to take a deep breath to calm himself. I started wondering why Mikey started stuttering again because he lost it when he got use to me in math.
I watched as pink spread across his cheeks.
' Oh,' I thought, 'he's going to ask me out on a date.'
"I was wondering if you want to go to the comic book store with me on Wednesday. Not as a date or anything. Just as friends," Mikey finally spit out what he wanted to say.
'Oh thank God he didn't say like a date,' I thought before answering him.
"On Wednesday I'm busy. How about Thursday?" I told him. I really was busy on Wednesday. I had online tutoring for math on those day. I hated it but, then again, I didn't want to fail math either. I saw Mikey's face droop.
"Are you free today? I don't want to go there on Tuesday or Thursday," Mikey said. I shook my head, "I gotta unpack. Why don't you want t-," I was cut off by Frank once again.

"Tori, meet Ray!" Frank squealed from he hide me. I turned around and was greeted by a giant with a brown afro.
"Hi, nice to meet you. I'm Toria, but call me Tori," I held my hand out for him to shake.
"I'm Raymond, but call me Ray," Ray said ignoring my hand and pulling me into a hug. I was pulled in his abdomen because of our high difference, me only being 5' 3" and I was guessing Ray was 6 feet tall. One thing I noticed was that his voice wasn't very deep. It was surprising high for a guy who has probably already went through purity. I guessed he had went through purity because of his height and the stubble that covered his upper lip.

"You two should go. You guys don't want to be late for you class," I told Mikey and Frank. They glanced at each other, bid us good bye, then ran down the halls. I looked over at Ray.
"Please tell me you are nothing like them two," I told him. In response he gave me a chuckle and walked into the classroom

'Does that mean he's  like them, or not?' I wondered, following him.