Steal My Soul

07 | bobbi

Bobbi

When I got to my classroom, I placed my bag on top of my desk and pulled out my books. I rummaged through my bag looking for the math book that was assigned to us in the classroom syllabus. I cursed when I couldn't find it, remembering that I was supposed to make a trip to the office last week and see if they had any rentals left.

I should have been able to receive a rental textbook months ago but someone else beat me to the punch. I've barely gotten by with just my notes. Sometimes I asked my classmates for pictures of the textbook pages but I could tell it was getting tiresome for them.

Ever since our public school became an academy they were free agents and allowed to charge as much as they'd like. Soon we had to pay for classes, books, and other school supplies and fees. Most of the students that couldn't afford it transferred to the public school downtown and that was six hours away.

The only reason I got through the past two years was because of scholarships and saving money but now it was starting to catch up with me. Maybe if I hadn't been spending my time with Ken I would've remembered. I had a soft spot for me, whenever he called me, I'd answer, dropping everything to make time for him.

I sighed, shoving everything back into my bag and leaving my bright blue notebook and laptop. I leafed through the pages, looking for the notes from the last class. My teacher started going over today's notes and assignments.

I grabbed a pencil and started writing down notes with my left hand and typing them down on my laptop with my right. I tried not to panic, I would stop by the office later. Class went by in a blur and when it was over Asia was waiting for me by the door with a smile.

"Please tell me that I just got unlucky and not all of my classes will be this intense?" she asked, waving her thick textbook in my face. "I could barely get enough notes down and my teacher wants us to finish reading the book by tomorrow,"

I hook my arm with hers, shaking my head and smiling. "You'll manage," I say.

She pouts in response and I push her lips forward with my fingers.

We walk down the hall and to the cafeteria, steering clear of the large group of students that we pass. I get a few hellos and I smile back at them.

"Wait but our next class is that way!" She says, pulling out her crumpled schedule and squinting at it. "I think,"

"I know, but we get a fifteen minute break between classes, so let's grab a snack," I say, picking up the pace as I see the cafeteria door.

"That must add so much more time!" Asia exclaimed, her shoulders slumped. "So we're at school all day?"

"Pretty much," I say.

We walked into the cafeteria, took our dark blue trays, and stepped into line. Asia grabs an iced sweet tea with vanilla cream, a bag of nacho cheese tortilla chips, and a vanilla pudding while I grab a water, spicy sweet chili potato chips, and a marshmallow bar.

Asia decided to sit in the middle of the cafeteria where everyone could see us. I saw Ken sitting with his teammates across the room. His eyes grazed across mine, connecting, and then he turned away quickly, spinning a football between his fingers.

My heartbeat was accelerating, speeding up inside my chest, creating a storm. A lurch of electricity startled my chest and I took a sip of my water to distract myself. Just looking at him set my nerves on fire.

"Hello? Did you hear me?" Asia said, staring at me skeptically.

I blink, jolting out of my daze. "What?" I said inattentively.