You Ain't Bad || Michael Jackson

Chapter 8: All Bad News ...

As soon as the bell rings, I run out of the lesson. Next, I have Chemistry next, which means I sit next to Emma. We always have a laugh; we never work. It's not like I'm gonna grow up to be a scientist is it?

When I get to chemistry class, I quickly sit down at the desk. Trust me to be the first person here – now I look like a geek, rushing in here first out of everyone.

Jacob Varsini comes in second. I must admit, he isn't bad looking; his black hair is spiked up into a quiff, he has olive skin, and a slender build – but I think his eyes spoil it. They're just so shallow. For me, eyes are everything. I have to lose myself in one's eyes to be able to fall in love with them. Eyes are the window to the soul. And he's Italian, so his accent is rather iffy. But, apart from those flaws, I can't really fault him.

Third in, Peter South. He's more nerdy. He has light brown hair that is curled loosely and droops past his ears.

Then, a few other students come in. Emma, where are you? The teacher, Mr McCartney arrives; he's holding a folder.

"Hello, class. I have your chemistry test results back from last semester. Peter, you got the only A* in the class. The rest of you, most got As and Bs. Emma and Becky. You got Es," he tells us, opening the folder to reveal the tests.

All I do is sigh. Another test failed.

Oh well – where's Emma?

"Sorry I'm late, Sir," Emma sheepishly walks in, her lipstick smudged.

She's obviously had a make out session with Mark. I try to stifle my laugh as the rest of the class does the same, because it's that obvious why she was late.

"Miss Woodthorpe, would you like to explain why you are ten minutes late for class?" sir asks.

Emma shakes her head. "I'd rather not talk about it," she says nervously.

She obviously knows the rest of the class know the reason why she was late.

"Sit down. I was just telling the class that I have the latest test results back," sir explains.

Emma nods in understanding. "What did I get this time ... G? F?" she asks. Sir shakes his head and hands her the paper. "I got an E! That's a new record!" she smiles in satisfaction.

Amused, I roll my eyes. "I got the same," I tell her.

The lesson carries on, until the bell goes for break time. We all – quite literally – zoom out of class. Emma and I sit on our own in the canteen.

"Where's Mark?" I ask. Emma frowns.

She takes a hold of a strand of her black hair and twirls it round her finger. "He dumped me ... he's asked another girl out," she replies.

Despite it being her, I feel I've had a killer blow to the stomach. "What? Why!" I ask.

Emma shakes her head, just as puzzled as me. "I don't know ... but he's left me for another girl ... " she sighs.

In a friendly way, I pat her arm. "But I thought your relationship was perfect ... " I say.

Emma looks at me, fighting to keep tears back. "Not all perfect relationships last long," she says.

I nod in understanding. "I must admit, it'll be weird without him on our team," I sigh.

Emma nods. "It will, won't it?" she asks rhetorically.

"Look, don't waste your tears on him. Your mascara's too expensive," I tell her. She nods, a small, closed-mouth smile tugging at her lips. "Hey, wait ... if Mark dumped you, how did your lipstick smudge? It can only be from kissing someone," I quiz.

She frowns. "Yeah, Mark got real romantic with me before class. He started kissing me, real passionate, but then, when we were done, he turned around and said "Look, I wanted to end this smoothly. We're done. That was my goodbye and "No hard feelings" thing, okay?", and it really got to me," she explains.

Annoyed, I sigh. "Just forget him then. He isn't worth it," I assure her. Then I remember. "Oh, Em ... I forgot to tell you something ... " I start guiltily.

She looks up, her eyes moving to me. "What could possibly make my day worse, huh?" she asks.

Guilt fills me as I look down. "I'm going away ... to University. For a year," I say.

Tears form in Emma's eyes. "So we won't see each other for an entire year?"

"I'm sorry, Emma ... I'm really sorry ... " I reply. Then, I embrace her in a hug and hold her tight. "And, there's bad news for me, too," I continue. Emma looks up and nods, ushering me on. "I gotta go with Michael Jackson."

Emma's eyes widen. "You're going to University with Michael Jackson? Shucks to be you, girl," she says.

Finding her sarcasm funny, I slap her arm, but then I realise just how bad this is. "Yeah, this is serious. How am I gonna avoid him for an entire year? We're probably gonna be in the same class and everything!" I cry.

Emma embraces me, and I bury my head into her chest. Ugh. Life, why do you have to be so irritating?

I look the opposite way, and there it is again. It's just impossible to escape. They're always there.

Those deep, hypnotising, chocolatey eyes.

~~

-Edited June 4, 2016-