Chapter Three: Meow?

When the bell signalling the end of class finally rang Noa made a bee-line for the door without so much as a second thought. She liked beating the crowds out to the schoolyard so she could get to her favorite place before a bunch of people noticed.

“Hey!” Manasseh called her from the classroom door as she hurried down the hall. Ignoring him Noa repositioned her schoolbag on her shoulder and walked faster. It had completely slipped her mind that he had her textbook still.

***

Safely perched in the branches of the massive oak that stood in the corner of the schoolyard Noa waited for it to be 11:30. Knox High School started recess ten minutes before Willow & District so she had to wait for Reagan to get out of class before texting her. Noa had always liked trees so waiting while cradled in the oak was wonderful. She was above everyone’s heads and since most people didn’t look up it was a good way to be alone.

Noa took a moment to roll up her sleeves making her remember once again that she hated the uniforms. The girl’s outfit consisted of a dark grey skirt that was, no way, pleated and hund just above her knees; a white, button up blouse with long sleeves that she liked to keep rolled up; and a pair of all too shiny black shoes. In all honestly it wasn’t that bad, Noa just sub-consciously wanted another reason to hate the school.

“I can see up your skirt…” someone said from below and Noa instantly tugged her skirt tighter around her legs as her face flushed from the embarrassment. She peered down from her perch and was horrified to see that it was the exchange student who was looking up at her.

“How long have you been there?!” she hissed, her fists tightening on the fabric of her skirt. If he had been standing there gawking she’d die.

“Only a few seconds,” Manasseh responded, his mouth pulled into a charming half smile, “I don’t think sitting in a tree is a good idea when you’re in a skirt.”

“Most people don’t look up.” She huffed, irritated to have to talk to him again.

“I did.” He grabbed one of the lower branches of the tree and smiled up at her, “Can I come up?” Once again an unnecessary happiness was sewn into his voice and Noa nodded, oddly compelled to be nice to him.

“Do what you like,” she caught herself and muttered unenthusiastically, “It’s a free country.” And yet again his reaction was mind boggling. Rather than being invited to sit in a tree you’d think he’d just been given a puppy by the way his face lit up.

To her surprise Manasseh had no trouble climbing the tree; she’d assumed that he wouldn’t have known how"what with being a rich kid and all. He sat on the branch just below her and to the left and proceeded to take her textbook out of his bag. “You forgot to take it back.”

“Oh,” she felt her face heat up from the embarrassment as she took it from him, “thanks.”

They sat in silence for a while and Noa found herself wondering why he didn’t just leave. “So-“

“How old are you Noa?” he cut her off, smiling.

Ner eyes narrowed suspiciously, “how do you know my name?” seriously, she hadn’t given it to him.

His laugh started her, it was a beautiful sound, like music, she blushed slightly, it was so familiar. Neko? The question formed in her head but she pushed it away, No, there was no way.

“You wrote your name in the front of your textbook.” He pointed out and Noa was embarrassed once again.

“Oh, heh, well, I’m 16, almost 17.” She answered finally, “What about you Manasseh? How old are you?”

“Mana.” He stated staring at her with a dull expression.

“O-oh… um, sorry?” Noa could see something hidden behind his eyes but she couldn’t quite grasp what it was, “Mana then.” She smiled uneasily, he was so… strange.

“I’m 17.” He replied, smiling once again. Noa nodded, not really caring but being polite anyway. She tugged her phone out of her bag and glanced at the clock, 11:32.

“Well, I’m going to call my friend so….” She waved the cellphone at him and he nodded in understanding.

“Bye Noa,” he climbed back out of the tree and almost instantly several girls ran toward him.

“Manasseh~!” one whined stupidly, “we were looking everywhere for you.” Several others nodded, pouting.

“Ah, well, here I am.” He laughed and Noa felt a confusing pain in her chest. It was if she didn’t want him to laugh around anyone but her"but that was ridiculous, she didn’t like him, right?

“Good riddance…” she muttered as the girls led him away.

BINGBING! Noa’s phone went off in her hand as a text from Rea came in.

[Gee, it’s 11:35 Noa, are you okay? ~Reagan]

Noa sighed, she’d kept Reagan waiting.

[I’m good, no need to worry. ~Noa]

                [oh, good. What kept you? ~Rea]

                [My school has a new exchange student and he was returning the textbook I lent him in class. ~Noa]

                [He? Is he cute? <3 ~Rea]

                [Of course you’d ask that… I dunno, he’s okay… ~Noa]

                [Riiiiiight… I bet you like him :3 ~Rea]

                [How about no. so, are we meeting after school to talk about Neko? ~Noa]

                [Yup ~Rea]

                ***

                Mrs. Mackey’s class started off much better than Mr. Reeds so Noa’s mood had already improved. She liked Mrs. Mackey a lot more anyway so it didn’t take much. The exchange student was in this class too but they were having a quiet period to work on the assignment they’d gotten early that week so Noa had an excuse not to talk to him.

Honestly though, Noa couldn’t understand what his issue was. It was very apparent that he fit in well with the other students and yet he still kept trying to talk to her regardless of how many times she ignored him or the other girls pointed out how lame she was. On the other hand however, she found it almost sweet that he was trying to be friends with her.

“Oh I don’t know…” she muttered to herself as she doodled on the side of her page.

“Don’t know what?” Mana’s voice asked, he’d been walking past to get paper from the back of the room and had heard her talking to herself. He tilted his head to look at her paper, “is a question bothering you?”

“No, I’m fine.” She huffed, closing her binder and looking up at him, “so you can leave me alone.”

By now she was ready for his over-the-top reaction to her being rude but to her surprise he just shook his head with a sigh and set his paper on the desk next to hers. He sat down with a loud exhale and frowned at her.

“Why don’t you like me?” he asked quite suddenly and Noa was caught off guard. Why was he asking this?

“Why should I like you?” was her comeback, her eyes steely. She didn’t really know why she didn’t like him; it just made sense to her to dislike anyone who went to Knox High School.

“Good point,” he muttered, “it’s just, I’ve only tried to be nice to you and you shrug me off like I’m a diseased parasite.” His simile was quite funny.

“Most people would take that as a sign to get lost.” Noa’s reply was bitter. This time he didn’t say anything, just stared at the floor. Again Noa wondered what was wrong with him.

“Gee, I guess if that’s what you want.” He looked up and for the first time their eyes locked. Noa’s breath caught. Mana had simply beautiful golden eyes, the color of honey. Just like Neko she found herself thinking again as he stood and took his paper back to his own desk. But, that was impossible, right?