In Love With a Stranger

Who are you?

As I walk to my next class, I wonder about this kid. They seem pretty cool, but also, you can't tell by just one compliment. I start thinking;
Should I have just left it? Is it a good thing I responded? Should I have told them my name?

But then the bell rang. Social studies has officially begun. I think we get our tests back today, I hope I passed. Everyone starts talking about who's dating who, who passed who failed, y'know, 7th grade stuff. But I just can't stop thinking about this kid who wants to know me! I mean, they only saw a bit of doodling! My teacher starts talking about latitude and longitude, and I just kinda zone out.

     "Rory? Rory!"
Huh?
"The bell rang, and you were just staring into space."
Oh, thanks Levi, sorry to hold you back
"Oh, it's no problem, are you okay?"
Yeah, I'm fine. Just thinking.

     Ugh, I need to forget about this. I started toward library, and I see Logan. Welp, there's my highlight today
"Hey Logan!" I called
"Oh hey Tomato" he says it without even looking back. Ouch.
"Meanie"
"Butthole"
"You act like you're six, you know that, right?" I told him.
"Yup! Anyway, how's my Tomato?"
"Stop calling me that!"
"Mmm lemme think about it. Uhhh, hmm, umm, no. You're my tomato." He laughs, while sticking his tongue out at me a little.
Ugh. Fine, I thought.

As we walk into the library, I quickly pull out Gone With The Wind and hold it out like a toddler, as I was showing Logan.

"Look! Logan! Looook!" I say, maybe a bit too loud.
"Hmm?"
"My book! It's about a girl who is of age to get married, and the two boys who want to marry her, along with the boy SHE loves are shipped off to war, and-and everything she's ever known is gone a-and uh,"
"HEY! BREATHE!"
"Oh, oh yeah!" Breathless, I realize how fast I was talking.
"Wars don't happen anymore!"
"No, of course not, stupid! This is set in the way old! Like when people still have slaves and stuff!" I rolled my eyes.

     Maybe I should mention that Logan is my second best guy friend. The nickname 'Tomato' is from the time I stole his red hoodie because it was fucking cold. Its 3 sizes too big, and yeah, so I looked like a tomato. Big deal. But he'll never let me live it down.

     As we walk to the library, I kinda wander into thought. Just about stuff, nothing in particular. Well, except who the kid is, obviously. I kinda zone out, but then someone grabs my arm and jerks me back. Shocked, I drop all my books, then turn around to glare at whoever pulled me. Who could it be, except, of course, Logan, standing there, laughing his ass off.

"What's so funny, huh?" I ask, annoyed.
"Nothing, you just walked right past the library. And then dropped like, everything"
Looking around, I realize I'm a solid 15 feet past. "Why didn't you stop me sooner, then?"
"Dunno," he shrugged, "wanted to see how far you'd go. Then I got tired of following you."
"Fine, douchebag. But help me get my stuff, at least."
"Nah," he laughs, as he walks off, back to the library.

     Once I've got all my stuff, and I make it into the library, I go to turn in Scythe at the desk. As I'm leaning over, I feel a hand on my shoulder.

"Fuck off, Logan," I groan, turning around.
"Oh, jeez. Sorry"

But it's not Logan. It's the kid from the hall, earlier. And damn, he is gorgeous. I try to ignore it, as I apologize quickly.

"Oh uh, sorry, my bad. I thought you were someone else"
"No, it's fine," he offers his hand for me to shake. "Dylan," he says, eyes twinkling, "And you are?"
"Huh? Oh, I'm Rory. Not legally, of course, but well, you know... why am I telling you this?"
He laughs, as I keep stuttering away, but then Kaleb walks in, my saving ass. Kind of..?

"Hey, Matoe, Who's the cutie?" He teases, gesturing at Dylan
"Matoe?"
"Yeah, Matoe. Short for Tomato?"
I roll my eyes. "Whatever"
"Anyways, what about the cutie?"
"Kaleb!!!"
"Fine"

     But then Dylan walks off, and once he's about halfway down the hall, he turns back, and calls to me;
"Bye Matoe!"
Cringe. But cute cringe. But still cringe.

Kaleb shoves me. "So, nicknames, huh?
I give him the 'evil side eye' "screw off" I joke, "And for the record, I do have a girlfriend, you know."
Acting shocked, he smirks and says "No way. You? Really?"
I push him, and we walk to 'our' table, laughing