Chapter Two: Notes and Conversations

                “Psssst! Laurel!” Samuel calls across the room. I look up to see another piece of paper fly out of Lacey’s hand, heading directly for my head. Daniel looks up right at that moment and catches it, beginning to unfold it as Lacey’s mouth dropping in shock and in fear, meaning she actually wrote something in this one. “Pssssssst!” I stand up and walk to him.

                “So Marie is coming over after school. You should come over and hang out since you don’t get to see her in school anymore. I really wish she could come to this school.” I roll my eyes as he once again shows that he is madly in love with her. I’ve known him for five years and it still amazes me that he can fall in love with people so easily.

                “Why should I interrupt your lovefest? And I have practice so I can’t. Sorry!” I turn around and my curls hit him in the face like a whip, the one strand of red glowing in the light like it always does. I walk back to my seat, resuming my Calculus work even though it is next week’s assignment. I tend to get ahead a lot in my work, doing it when I get bored at home and don’t want to deal with my brothers. Daniel lays the unfolded paper on the desk, letting me see what it says, a worried frown on his face, his soft eyes glowing in anger. Four words are written on it.

 

Stupid B***h Back Off

 

                I let out a sigh, folding it up nicely and then unfolding it, my hands and fingers nervously twitching. Lacey glares back at me, cunningly scratching her nose with her middle finger, trying to threaten me. I blow her off, knowing that looking at her only provokes her more. The warm feeling of skin-on-skin contact surges through my arm, causing me to blush again. Daniel removes the note from my hand and lays a sheet of paper on my desk.

 

            Don’t let that girl get you down. Just think, at least you know how to brush your hair! And believe me, you aren’t stupid if you are doing Independent Study Calculus and are THAT far ahead. Just this simple stuff is kicking my a*s. And if anyone needs to get a life, it’s her. I mean, throwing paper at people, how immature? What exactly are you supposed to be backing off of anyway? I haven’t seen you do anything that needs to be backed off of. You are beautiful, don’t let her get you down.

 

                Blushing, I look over to see him smiling at me, his dimples like little holes that you want to fall into and never fall out of. I start writing a response.

 

                She doesn’t get me down per say. It’s more like I’m terrified she is going to beat the crap out of me because she is way stronger than me. And I have two brothers. I think Calculus is better than having to deal with their annoying girlfriends. If you ever need help I’ll be glad to, just ask. That is very sweet of you to call me beautiful though I surely don’t deserve it. I’m not very attractive, or at least that is what all the boyfriends I had told me.

 

                 I slide the note back to him and a ball of paper falls in the center of my Calculus book, and arrow telling me to open it. I let out a sigh, slowly unrolling the paper, dreading what it says. Daniel sits in his seat, furiously writing on the sheet of paper that holds our note.

 

Seriously, back off. I had him first and you know it.

 

                 I toss it into my bag, looking up at the clock, willing it to go faster so I can try to find the French room. I’m fluent in French so when they told me that I would aid for a French 3 class I was so excited. I’m taking the AP test at the end of the year so I can be finished with my languages, considering that I am fluent in all of the one that they teach in schools. Daniel slides the note back onto my desk.

 

                It would be amazing if you could help me. I seriously suck at math so I really don’t understand why they put me in this. I would do much better if I had a teacher or at least a tutor. Your boyfriends said you were unattractive? Why would they lie to you like that? I think any guy would be lucky to date you! I mean, you are nice, beautiful, have a good personality, intelligent, and willing to accept changes. What is there not to like!

 

                A tear slips into my eye and silently flows down my cheek as a smile forms on my lips, pulling the edges up. I look at the clock so Daniel can’t see, wiping at my face with my hand. Only 8 minutes remain of the class so I begin to pack up my books and take my work up to the teacher who had been sitting in a chair at the front of the room the whole class, filing away at her nails. I hand her the paper and sit back down, gathering my books and organizing them so that I could carry them easier.

                “So what’s your next class?” Daniel asks lazily, placing his hand behind his head and staring intensely into my eyes. I give him a small smile.

                “French. Probably the easiest class in my schedule, besides Calculus that is.” He gives me a dirty look when I mention that Calculus is easy. I let out a small chuckle. The bell overhead rings and I stand up, grabbing my books from my desk. Daniel reaches out and grabs a few, making the load in my arms easier to carry once again. “Thanks so much. And thanks for the kind words you said in the note. It’s very sweet.” I say as we walk to the door, trying to reclaim my books. He pulls it away so that I can’t take it back.

                “So what grade are you in?” He asks me as Samuel comes up behind me, clearing his throat to tell me to hurry up. I turn around and speak to him strictly in Roma and he nods, walking away from us.

                “I’m a sophomore. You?” I ask him, his eyes staring into mine.

                “Junior.” I blush and turn away, realizing that a junior probably doesn’t want to be seen speaking to a sophomore. “Hey. Laurel, look at me. Please?” His voice pleads with me, causing me to turn around and look him in the eyes. “That’s better. Well, it just so happens that we are in the next class together though I don’t even have to take French. May I escort you to the classroom?” He bows and offers me his arm, an arm that I gladly take, and we walk down the hall together. Lacey glares at my back, letting me know that I’m going to get hell later but ignoring it, savoring the moment.