Chapter 3: It Starts With A Smile

Jevan's POV 

"Did you miss me, baby?" Brooke asked when she eagerly came into my arms. 

"Hmmm," I sounded as I looked her in the face. She lowered her head to mine and our lips collided with a passionate kiss. 

Brooke and I were hitting a rough path in our relationship. Her possessive side was getting out of control and now, both my parents were of concern. But Brooke wasn't the type of person who'll let go of me so easily all because 'It's for the best'.  

And to top it off, she knew how to charm her way to me when she sensed I was trying to push her away gradually. 

I watched her leave the cafeteria with her friends then my eyes fell on someone new. Someone I've never seen before. She was sitting across the cafeteria with two of my fellow seniors, Nina and Sophia. 

The new girl was staring right back at me. Her dark brown eyes were like rich chocolate and her complexion matched them. Her kinky hair was in the highest puff I've ever seen on a black girl and she sparked my curiosity instantly. 

I noticed when her friends stopped her from staring at me and I stopped at the same time and returned my attention to Nick and Connor. 

"Bro, who's the new girl?" I asked Nick. 

"Heard she's from Africa. She's a nobody, bro. She earned a scholarship to get here." 

I narrowed my eyes at him but I didn't say another word. The bell rang and I was walking to my next class when I was cut off by my always-highly-energized coach. 

"Hollen! Just the person I was looking for! Practice after school! I need to run you a new game plan!" 

"Umm, yeah. Sure coach. Anything to crush those Jags. They're going down." 

"See, that's why you're my star! Here's what we'll do! Follow me!" 

"I got class with Mrs. Smith." I didn't want to be late to her class. She was my favourite teacher. 

"I would not take long, son!" 

Coach went on and on about his new game plan and when he went into the washroom, I slipped out the door and jogged to Mrs. Smith class. 

As expected, I knew she'd be upset with me being late. She instructed me to find a seat. I scanned the room so quickly that one would think that I didn't even look. 

I saw her again and my body immediately went over and sat down in the unoccupied chair next to hers. 

Then, Mrs. Smith dropped the bomb. We'll be pairing up with the person sitting next to us for this baby project. 

"You've got to be kidding me," I mumbled softly when Mrs. Smith handed us our doll. 

"Congrats. It's a boy. Name your baby with your partner," she said then handed another pair of students theirs. 

"Congrats. It's a girl. Name your baby with your partner," her voice went around the entire classroom. 

"Mrs. Smith, I don't have a partner," Nina said. She always sat by herself in class and I couldn't understand why.

"Nina, pair up with Tobbie," Mrs. Smith answered. 

"Tobbie? Please, Mrs. Smith. Anyone else but Tobbie," she pleaded. 

"Why, what's wrong with him?" 

"What's not wrong with him? He picks his nose and eats it like a kindergartener. Plus, he's always farting and wants you to tell him what it smells like." 

I couldn't help but laugh from Nina's protest. I had no idea she was so out of spoken and 'real'.  I needed friends more like her in my circle. 

"Well, the last available person is...." Mrs. Smith dragged. "Connor," she finished. 

Nina's eyes grew wider and Connor walked through the door at the mere mention of his name. 

"Mrs. Smith, sorry I'm...." he started. 

"Let me guess, coach cut you off on the way to class as well?" Mrs. Smith asked and crossed her arms. 

Connor looked over at me and I shrugged. 

"Yes ma'am," he responded. 

"I'll have some words with him but do have a seat next to Nina as she's your partner." 

"For?" 

I waved my 'child' at him. 

"Nah, no. Nope," he said and backed towards the door. 

"It's sixty percent of your final grade so I suggest you pull a chair and get to know your partner and your doll better!" Mrs. Smith snapped at him. 

"Man," he groaned and did what he was told. 

__________

I slowly turned to my partner now. 

"Hi," I started. 

"Hi," she answered and was toying with her pen on her book, avoiding my face. 

"What's your name?" I asked next. 

"Blossom." 

"That's a beautiful name," I complimented and I saw the shy smile forming at the corner of her lips. 

Something sparked in me. 

"So, what should we name our 'baby'?" I asked her again. 

"I'm not good with names. Maybe you should name him." 

"I like the name Jason." 

"Then Jason it is," she agreed, still avoiding looking at me. 

Am I ugly? 

"Oh, there's a twist!" Mrs. Smith said, getting everyone's attention. "Although these babies are stuff dolls, they got realistic personalities and each one is different." 

"What?" everyone asked. 

She pushed in a button on a remote control and every 'baby' started crying. 

"Ahhhhhhh!" we groaned. 

"I'll enjoy this," Mrs. Smith said back. 

"This is torture!" Connor expressed. 

"I think ours need attention," one couple said behind us. 

"I think ours need his diaper changed," I told Blossom. I watched as she took the doll and checked it's diaper and changed it perfectly. 

"Do you have kids?" I asked and mentally slapped myself for asking such a rude question to my new classmate.

"No," she answered simply. 

"Sorry. I didn't mean to offend you." 

"It's fine." 

_________________

After Mrs. Smith's class, I had a free period. I took Jason so that Blossom wouldn't have a distraction to her next class but I found her hesitating in the hallway. 

"You're not going to class?" I asked her. 

"I don't have one," she answered, looking everywhere but my face. I was getting annoyed with that. 

"Look at me," I told her. 

"I am." Her eyes landed on my feet. 

"I meant my face, Blossom." 

I watched her head slowly rose until, at last, we were making eye to eye contact. I took her in clearly now. 

"Come on, I'll show you my favourite place to chill when on my free period," I told her and took her hand and took off to the garden roof top. 

Although it was overcast, it was still beautiful up here. 



"Wow. This is nice," Blossom beamed as we took a seat on the bench. 

"This was actually an agricultural class project since freshman year. We came up with this idea of a roof top green environment," I explained. 

"Brilliant." 

"Tell me about yourself." I was keen on knowing her better. 

"There's not much to tell. I'm just an ordinary girl who moved to your country for a better education and life." 

"I'm glad you're here."

"Thanks," and she gave me the best smile ever. Her teeth were perfectly white, not pearl or off-white. 

Then we heard the rustling of leaves and her voice calling me. 

"I'm right here, Brooke," I answered. 

"Baby, Connor told me you were free and I knew I'd find you here but....." she paused when she caught Blossom sitting right next to me. "Who the hell is that?" 

"This is Blossom," I answered. 

"Like if I care what her name is. I meant what are you doing up here with her!" her voice rose. 

"I'm sorry. I didn't mean to offend anyone's relationship," Blossom inputted as she stand up to leave. 

"Wait," I told Blossom but my words were wiped out by Brooke's shouting. 

"You better leave because if I see you around my man again, it's not going to end well for you!" 

I watched Blossom basically ran away before my fury eyes burned into Brooke. 

"What the hell!" I yelled now. 

"What? I just so over protective of you. I don't want to see you talking to her." Her voice was lowered and she ran her fingers down my chest. 

"Stop. This is getting very out of control, Brooke. Blossom is my new partner for a class project and you just ran her away from me."

"I could careless about her. She's a nobody. A baboon from Africa." 

"Stop! What the hell is wrong with you?" 

"Jevan, I.." 

"I can't do this anymore with you Brooke. And I'm not sorry about it." 

I left the roof top with her calling after me.