I Like Boys Too

Chapter 3

Treanne

When I thought I couldn't sleep because of the nightmare the soccer team made me carry on my way home, Kaizer told me I slept like a log that Carlson had to carry me to my room. He's bragging how heavy I was and how mad Ridge was when he found out I reek of alcohol. I was containing it perfectly until they had to tell me I should be bringing Galvin Chase Gaines to the ball.

It's not the hardest thing for me but, me? and that nerdy popular weirdo? That's going to be hard for everyone.

First thing's first, at least he knows me. He knows my name? Remember the scene at the stairs? The room smells like lemon but why am I being reminded of his scent that moment?

I shake my head but it's a wrong move for someone having a hangover. I push my head against the headboard and sniff all the oxygen in the room until it's just dust. I sneeze.

"Now we're back to reality." Maybe I can just back out of the game right? They might be kidding?

"No they're not." Stephen killed the last bits of my hope that it was just a drunken night, that no one's taking it seriously.

"Everyone's still talking about it and they can't wait to hear about your plan." Icarus adds.

"I don't have a plan!!"

As soon as everyone sits on our Chemistry class, some are chatting about what happened to their brief Spring break, some are bragging about their plans for the rest of the year like winning the Senior King and Queen. Some are banging their heads on the surface of the table because who loves Science class? Who loves experimenting? Who loves holding out a tube without the tube holder and getting her finger burn because of weird chemicals?

Me, that's my stupidity last semester. I got so excited I forgot to use the thong for test tubes and I watch how liquid chemicals spill on my thumb and index finger. It's not as dangerous as it sounds, I just have to not use those fingers for a week. They didn't look as awful as I thought it would be.

But speaking of the answer to my questions, the man who really loves Science is making an entrance to the lab. His gray hair dazzles me again and it makes his aquamarine eyes pop even more. It suddenly smells like his perfume.

"Heads up." Like my gaze is not already towards Baby Cakes, Stephen takes the cap off my head which I put back really quick. Galvin sits on the second row, in the only table left vacant. Unlike any other popular male protagonist, girls are not coming at him to seek attention. They just surrendered and stop because he's really a tough shell to crack. He's hard like a turtle's cage. It's not that they lost their interest (some actually did) but he just shoos them away, crushing their egos. He's too high to reach so no one ever dared climbing up again.

The teacher arrives just in time. The crumpled papers stopped flying and I can't take my eyes off of him. He's laser-focused to the teacher and there's not even a lecture yet.

"So, how was everyone's vacation?" Mrs. Yu excitedly asks everyone in the class. As if someone's really going to tell their story. As for me, I slept all throughout and spend nights crushing my brothers at our little games.

Unless she starts calling out names to actually tell their stories because she forgot to prepare her lectures like the last time when we met after the summer vacation. We spent the whole three hours, talking about her life. I was asleep for most of it.

"You, lady in the back." I thought she was pointing at me but she's talking to the girl behind me. Her name is Glenda, she's also one of the top-notchers in our class. The female version of Baby Cakes to be exact... She's just not that pretty looking. I mean, Galvin is way, waaaaaaaaay pretty looking. Fun fact, despite the similarities, they don't get along well. She's waaaaaaaaaay too competitive.

Mrs. Yu fails to recognize her because her hair have gone to a drastic change. From waist length, it turned to bob.

"Glenda, so glad you chopped your hair down finally!" The typical funny teacher says. Fun fact, they also don't get along because Glenda thinks Mrs. Yu only teaches for fun. I mean, she's too funny and jolly to be holding a five unit subject. She's a great teacher, just not most of the time as it's needed.

Glenda rolls her eyes just when the teacher's focused on something else.

"So, everyone, next meeting we will be conducting another experimenting activity about our next topic. For now, I want you to choose your partner for the said activity." Everyone cheers, the room starts buzzing again. The IT girls pairing themselves as if they had never been paired all the time. "Except, choose a different partner this time, I will not allow the same pair anymore. It's tiring." She sighs then smiles on her ear.

Most of the girls complained but eventually everyone starts swapping partners. Icarus and Stephen are so lucky, they weren't teamed up last time so they just chose each other for themselves leaving my out alone in the pod.

Only, they're eyes are telling me to volunteer myself to Baby Cakes in order to be his partner. Over my dead body.

"Come on, guys. Who hasn't been paired yet?" Like Satan's children, they lift both my hands in the air.

"Treanne's alone!" The girls smirks at me, and they guys starts pushing each other to give up their partners so I can have one. Aww, I feel like a princess. It's flaterring. I look around to see we are on odd numbers. Baby Cakes and Glenda both doesn't have a partner.

"Seems like everyone's got a partner..." Assuming Galvin and Glenda are pairing up, Glenda said something bold and stupid.

"I'd like to be alone in this activity. Thanks, Mrs. Yu." It's not the first time she's saying she can do things all by herself but this time, I just hoped she didn't say it. I mean, she's obviously a better partner than the guy the soccer team's daring me to date! Scratch that, to bring as a date in three months.

"Okay. So Galvin and Treanne, you are a pair." She turns her back disregarding my upcoming objection to write the stuff to bring for the activity and the topic itself. She claps her hand in the air then looks at her gold Casio watch. "Go to your partners and spend the rest of the time getting to know each other." AS IF WE DON'T KNOW ANYTHING ABOUT EACH OTHER. We've been classmates for four years, some for eight.

My two friends push me out of my seat then throws my bag at me. Baby Cakes didn't even bother looking at me now I doubt he even heard I'll be his partner. Did he? Yes, he is just not interested about me at all.

I pull the chair meters away from him but we still sat on the same dirty white laboratory table. Should I turn the gas nozzle like I did last time?

If that's the only way to get his attention without actually talking to him initiatively, I will.

-A