[Excerpt] No More Maybes (a No More Maybes novel)

Two

"I haven't done any work on my Chem prac write up," Cassidy grumbled, flipping through her diary.

"When's it due?" I asked, thinking, not for the first time, that I was very glad I didn't elect to do Chemistry.

"Monday."

"Ah, you should be fine."

"Yeah, I know, but there's still our English essay, History essay..." Cassidy sighed.

"Ugh, and we have that Psych stats assignment," Rachel reminded me.

"Why does everything have to be due at once?" Beat sat next to me and pulled out her lunch. "I mean, you'd think the teachers get together and plan for all the assignments to be due at the same time just to punish us."

I shrugged, smiling. "Maybe. I'd like to think they don't hate us that much though."

Cassidy sighed and closed her diary. "Twenty-eight weeks until we're done."

I munched on my sandwich. "Not that you're counting or anything?"

She flipped her thick blonde hair over her shoulder and smirked. "No, of course not. I love school, I-" Her sarcastic rant was interrupted by a commotion across the courtyard.

I tried to peer around the gathering crowd and saw two guys getting into a fight.

Beat rolled her eyes. "Boys! Seriously, you'd think they couldn't get through one day without resorting to violence."

"Should we do something?" Rachel asked.

I looked around for a teacher, but didn't see one. It wouldn't be long until one came along, though.

"What can we do?" I replied. "The boys never listen to us anyway. Besides, who's to say we know those ones?"

"I say we know those ones. It's the new guy, Cole, and I think...Murray?" Beat pointed.

"Alex Murray?" Rachel asked, suddenly much more interested.

"You need to get over your obsession with him, girl," Cassidy reproached.

"I'm not obsessed!" Rachel exclaimed, but sounded like she wasn't even convincing herself.

There was a great "oo" from the spectators and we turned back to watch. Two guys came tumbling through the gathered crowd, which hastily moved to get out of the way, and landed on the ground. I could see from where I sat that it was indeed Cole and Murray. And, it wasn't the first fight Cole had been in at school.

Murray looked like he had the upper hand for a moment. I wasn't the only one who winced when he landed a punch to Cole's stomach. Cole, though, managed to flip him over and seemed to be saying something to Murray, until Murray kicked him off.

"You don't seem particularly fazed," Cassidy commented wryly.

I took another bite of sandwich and smiled. "Why would I be?"

"Your crush is over there getting pummelled."

I snorted. "Uh huh, because I am so enamoured with him."

"You are a little," Beat replied.

I felt a slight flush creep up my cheeks. Okay, so I watched him now and then, and we exchanged a smile sometimes. I'd seen him when he picked up Matt on Wednesday, but we hadn't spoken. But, the scene in front of us was proof enough that he wasn't the type of guy I should be crushing on.

I cleared my throat. "Just because he's hot, does not mean I'm enamoured with him."

"And, what is your definition of enamoured then, Miss English Nerd?" Beat smiled brightly.