Love Me, Love Me

One. Leslie's back.

Marcus couldn't pinpoint everything that drove him nuts. It was just her in general. Her being, her existence.

The way her long, sleek, dirty blonde hair swayed from shoulder to shoulder with every step she took. He hated it.

The way she moved her left arm back and forth while she walked that perky, uptight walk. Right arm usually never caught dead without a Prada Bag or whatever the fuck girls like. He just hated it.

The way her eyes glistened when she cried, or her lips shined after an appliance of one of those egg shaped chapsticks. He could not STAND it.

Her name was Nicole. But there was just something about her that drove him mad. He just wasn't into girls like her. She got so much male attention, always positive except when it came to Marcus.

*****

I groaned from the back of my throat at the thought of it being yet another Monday, and yet another day beginning at this piece of shit school. Twisting the padlock on my rusted looking green locker, I thought to myself...

15... 3-? ...Fuck, what is my combination.. 15.. 3-...34... 29... Damn it.

"Why can't I ever remember this?" I asked myself, when a familiar voice spoke up from behind me.

"Hey, Marcus..."

I began sarcastically, "Oh, hey. Did you come to yell at me some more? Pick another fight maybe? Did you come to lecture me about everything I seem to do wro--"

"No, I came to apologize!" Leslie screeched. "I wanted to say that I was sorry, I felt awful ending things the way I did and I miss you..." Her eyes began to tear up.

"You know, Les, you haven't even talked to me for a month and a half after painfully dumping me for something so little. I don't quite understand why you are just now coming to fucking apologize, let alone tell me you MISS ME. I'm sorry, but this conversation is over. Have a nice life, Leslie."

As I began to walk away I felt a small hand grip my forearm and pull me back. Before I could say anything Leslie pressed her lips against mine, and I immediately heard the snap of a photo. I pushed away and ran. Surprisingly enough, I ran straight to my class.

[Riiiing]

"Hello, everyone, I hope you had a good Spring Break. Raise your hand if you trav--"

"I'm sorry, I'm late, Mrs. Dubois. Had too much fun over the break, I accidentally slept in." Nicole giggled and pranced to her seat on the left side of the room.

He couldn't stand the way she giggled and laughed so often over the stupidest things. He rolled his eyes and slid down in his seat.

"As I was saying, before being rudely interrupted. Raise your hand if you traveled over the break."

Marcus sluggishly rose his hand, as did a good half of the class. Nicole glanced back in his direction and gave a small smile. He looked down to avoid eye contact. He wanted nothing to do with her.

"Man, why don't you even give her the time of day?" My buddy, Ben, asked.

"I just don't like her, I don't like anything about her. She's loud, and everyone likes her for it. Everyone thinks she's just so hot and amazing and I, well, I just don't."

"You don't even let yourself get to know her..."

"That is because I do not want anything to do with her. All she does is strut around this place and stress teachers out and make guys put they're damn nuts on a plate even though she doesn't fucking date anyone. I just don't want to be sucked into her life, I don't want to be her friend, I don't want to occasionally have that awkward 'can I borrow a pencil' conversation. I--"