Like To Be You ✓

thirty eight pt. one

Winter break is close, merely four days away, and we're being buried under piles of homework and assignments.

"Man, Watkins' had given so much homework!" Meera complains. "I feel like killing her."

"Same." I say, but for different reasons. Zayne gives me a meaningful look. I smile back at him.

We're hidden in one corner of the cafeteria, poring over our books. Sheets are strewn about the table, and a gigantic bag of flamin' hot cheetos lays in the centre of it all.

There's a quiz in chemistry later, and neither Meera nor I have done shit.

"Wow." Tobias says, picking up a sheet and scanning it. "This sucks."

Then he shrugs and drops it, and resumes his Home Science homework. Next to me, Zayne munches on a granola bar. "You guys look like a bunch of losers."

"That's 'cuz we are." Meera says sadly, reaching for a cheeto.

"Speak for yourself," I say, working on a stoichiometric equation. I fucking hate stoichiometry, and the questions in the guidebook I'm using make me want to claw my eyes out.

I sigh and look up from my book, only to find Tyler looking back at me from his table. He's holding his notes in one hand, and twirling a pencil in the other. My eyes zero in on the way his fingers tilt and twist the pencil between them, before I tell myself to get a hold on myself. He's smiling mischievously when I look at him again.

What?, I mouth.

The crinkles around his eyes deepen as he wiggles his fingers. I give him the finger and go back to solving the hellish questions in front of me. 

I get stuck on a question mid-way, and slide my book towards Meera. "Help."

She snorts and pushes the book back to me. "Wrong person." 

"You're annoying." 

"Stop talking to yourself." 

"Har, har, har," I say, rolling my eyes. I push my chair back and stand up, making my way to Tyler's table. Shannon, Dylan Padalecki, and Patsy Newborne are the first to notice me. 

I drop my book in front of Tyler and place my hands on either side of his, leaning over him. "Explain this, please." 

He tilts his head to look up at me, and as much as I would love to kiss him, there are people watching. Lots of them. 

I nudge his shoulder. "I even said please, Ty. I hate chemistry." 

"I know, I know." His lips pull up. He picks his pencil up and beckons me closer, before explaining the equations. 

"I'm going to copy all your answers." I promise him before leaving. 

x

Meera and I are huddled outside the Chemistry classroom, frantically flipping through our pages in hopes of squeezing in some last-minute revision. 

"We're already late!" She whispers, tracing messily-written words. 

"I know, I know!" I shut my book and hike my bag on my shoulders. We face each other, and I say, "Let's do this." 

She nods, and opens the door. Everybody looks up from their papers, and I bristle under the collective gaze. 

"You're late." Regina notes. 

"Sorry," Meera says sheepishly. I don't respond, and instead begin walking towards my seat, when multiple phones simultaneously buzz.