Story of A Lonely Guy

Chapter Seven: She Drives Me Mad

After French ends we go our separate ways and I head to English while she heads to History. Two hours and fifteen ridiculous minutes later, I walk to lunch alone to socialize with Roger and Jade. They're already there so I go ahead to the lunch line, grabbing a salad and water then walk over.

"Hey, punk. Hey, Roger,” I say. Roger says hey and launches into a very descriptive conversation about his new blog he started last night. He didn't even ask where we were. Either Jade told him we took an unexpected journey to Chicago, or he just didn't care to know. I was grateful for his lack of inquiring.

"So,” Jade says to me avoiding eye contact. "You see Angela yet?" I try to respond but she interrupts me before I can. "She's in my English class. Quite the disrupter she is. Pretty though." There's that flash of jealousy again.

"Oh,” I say. I'm somewhat speechless. Jade's never been jealous of anyone I've liked before. None of us say anything else the rest of lunch. Once they leave, Joel strides up to the table. I refuse to acknowledge his presence.

"Brone, buddy! Where were you yesterday? I was just beginning to miss you,” he tells me ruffling up my hair, to which I immediately fix.

"I was busy. Now, do you mind fucking off somewhere else? Thanks.” I ignore him, packing up my books and tray as I glide toward the trash cans. Joel surprisingly feels buff today. I have no time to comprehend what happens before he's pushed me down and all of my belongings scatter out around me on the floor. I don't even say anything.

"Feeling a bit strong today, huh? You'll regret that soon,” he tells me grudgingly. I have no idea what I'm doing before I turn right around and slug him in the nose. He tries to duck but he's too slow and my fist ends up connecting with the bridge of his nose. Surely I've fucked up the cartilage. What a medical bill.

"Maybe next time, you'll learn to just shut the hell and quit being such a condescending asshole who doesn’t care about anything nor anyone besides himself." Everyone looks to me in pure consternation, in confusion. I had just slugged the one kid in school everyone saw as untouched.

~

News of the ‘fight’ quickly spreads around the school. It's now impossible for me to walk down the hall without hearing hushed voices and a few people saying, "Can't believe he did it,” or "Joel got what he deserves,” and "Finally! Someone had the balls to kick his ass." I laugh under my breath every time.

I'm standing at my locker grabbing my ponderous English book when Jade comes up to me. She punches me in the arm a little too forceful. Her strength astounds me.

"Dude! I heard what happened. Can't believe you did it. The whole school was waiting for someone to kick him into next week,” she says to me excitedly.

"It was pretty hapless. You know, about his nose. But remorse is not something I feel for him. Come on, punk. We’ve got to get to English. I think Harris will be pretty pissed if we miss anymore class time.” I push her up ahead and slam my locker shut behind me. As we walk, I suddenly remember Angela’s in that class too.

Not three minutes later, I spot her walking up ahead.