Chapter Eight (8)

This morning, before getting to school, I had to make sure that I didn't run into Emma. So I got up early and arrived at school thirty good minutes before time. I went into the library and connected my ipod to my headphones. I put the volume really high and played music.

I pulled out my Literature text book and continued my home work. The literature in Nigeria is so much different from the one in America.

The music was playing so loud that I didn't hear when the bell went off. It was at least twenty minutes later when I felt someone tap me. I turned around to see one the girls that I see always hanging out with Emma.

"Hi." I said after I had taken the headphones off.

"Hello. I just came to tell you that your class has started. I figured you didn't hear the bell because I could hear Bruno Mars from where I was sitting." She said.

My eyes widened. "Holy Moses! I am late for class." I stood up abruptly and rushed out of the library.

The moment I entered the class, all eyes were on me.

"Mr. Bello. So nice of you to join us." Mr Baldwin, my English teacher said.

"I'm sorry. I didn't hear the bell go off, sir." I said nervously. But, Mr Baldwin being the cool teacher that he is shrugged it off and didn't give me detention. Phew.

"Take a sit and let your seat mate update you on what we've done so far." He said and I nodded. I looked around to see if there was an empty seat. Good news! There was one. Bad news! It was close to Emma.

I sighed and walked to the only seat available. I looked at her and she smiled at me. I smiled awkwardly at her and turned to face Mr Baldwin.

"So, do you want me to update you on anything?" She asked in a whisper.

"Nah. I'm good." I shook my head. She nodded in understanding and didn't say another word for the rest of the class. When the bell went off, announcing the end of first period, I stood up and walked quickly out of the class.

"KB! KB!" I heard Emma scream from behind.

I stopped and turned to look at her.

"Is there something wrong?" She asked after she reached him.

"No, why would there be something wrong?" I played dumb. I didn't want her to know that I was purposefully ignoring her.

"You've been avoiding me through out today." She said.

"No I haven't." I denied.

Before she could reply the bell for second period rang.

"I have to go. I have class." I said and walked away.

Saved by the bell, I walked to my class quickly. I took a seat at the back like I usually did.

Then I saw her walk in after me. I totally forgot that we had the same classes together.

"Will you stop ignoring me?" She said and I heard the frustration in her voice.

"I am not ignoring you." I said. It wasn't a lie, I really wasn't ignoring her, I was just trying to give her space to think. She was going through a tough time trying to deal with her break up with the other guy, I didn't want her to make me her rebound.

"You haven't spoken a work to me today without me pressuring you into talking to me." She said.

I sighed and looked at her. The only way to make the situation less uncomfortable for the both of us was to talk to her and tell her exactly how I feel, like Ezra said.

"We have a free period after this class. We'll go to the spot behind  she didn't speak to me again.

~*~

"So, we're here... What do you want to talk about?" She asked.

"Look, Emma... I..." I had the words in my head but they didn't seem to come out of my mouth.

"If you're having a hard time talking, then let me talk." She said.

I simply nodded.

"I like you, KB. And I know what you're going to say, I am just saying that because I am going through a break up and what not but that's not the case. I have always liked you even when I was in a relationship with that cheater... But I thought it was just a crush but after that relationship ended I realized that it was the best thing that has happened to me because then I realized that I wasn't in love with him anymore, I was just kidding my self into believing that I had feelings for him." She stopped and took a deep breath before she continued. "I think when I met you I felt about you the way I had never felt about anyone... I guess what I am trying to say is that I like you."

I couldn't process the words because they never stayed in my brain, they just stayed in my heart.

At that point I felt like I didn't have to say anything to her again.

It felt like an effortless move when I touched her face and kissed her. It was a soft kiss then more thoroughly after.

I never felt like this before... I fell like... I can't even describe how I feel.

"So what does this mean?" She asked after they broke the kiss.

"That I want to be with you." I told her still breathless from her kiss.

"Good... Because I want to be with you too."