The boy I should not love

“Why does he always look so dirty?” Amara says making a face. I turn and look in the direction she’s facing and my heart beats faster. Leo is walking across the school parking lot to the school entrance.

Leo has his head down, he's wearing a pair of jeans that are weathered. He paired it with a long white T-shirt and hoodie. I don’t see any dirt on him but maybe Amara has extra-ray vision. Maybe she can see something we don’t.

Amara is known for being judgmental and loud about it. And unfortunately, Leo is always at the receiving end of her judgment. A day never goes by without her saying something mean about him. 

I never want to add to her judgment because I don't see anything wrong with him. All I see is a normal school kid minding his own business. I don't get why she has the authority to pass judgment on anyone. But I can't say that to her now can I? We all know how that is going to end. 

“He doesn’t look dirty,” Gea says and giggles. I want to say exactly but I don’t, whenever we talk about boys it always ends up in a fight. And I don’t want to fight today, we have tests to write and I need good vibes only.

The school bell rings and all the other school kids start scrambling to get to class but the three of us slowly start taking out backpacks from my car. We leisurely start to head to class. But we do it so slowly that Mr Swan our homeroom teacher has to walk out to the parking lot and basically herd us to class.

We do this every day, it’s like a ritual. We don’t start moving until a teacher comes out to tell us to start moving.

I call it our 2 minutes of fame. The whole school needs to see what we’re wearing for that day. They need to know that the “it” girls are here.

Eventually, we get to class and sit down; our homeroom class is full of the worst 11th-grade students in the school.

We’re the loudest and the most disruptive class at Mount Gordon High School and we like it. Except for Leo that is.

He is the quietest of all of us, the other students in the class pick on him and try to get a reaction out of him but they never succeed. He never reacts or responds to their taunts, it’s like he always has so many more important things to think about.

Sometimes I wonder if he sees the people around him. He is always so disconnected from the present.

“Okay class, today is a full day. We will be starting test week today. So it would be helpful if we all behave and steer away from our usual shenanigans.” Mr Swan says and points to Cole, the class clown/school jock/ my boyfriend.

The class laughs and hoots as Cole stands up and takes a bow as if Mr Swan gave him a compliment.

“Sit down please” Mr Swan says irritated.

“Your boyfriend is so cool” Gea says from behind me. I look back at her and my eyes collide with Leo he looks away quickly.

“I know right” I say not really meaning it. I am all about having a good time but I take my education seriously. When I’m in class I switch everything off but Cole doesn’t do that. It’s always play time for him.

“Okay everyone, have a great day. Make sure you take your time when writing your tests today. Don’t rush and stay calm. Good luck.” Mr Swan says and everyone gets up to go to our next class.

“What class do you have?” Cole says behind me. He moves close to me and kisses me on my neck.

“Excuse me love birds” Zion, Cole’s best friend says behind us and pushes past us roughly. He laughs when Cole pushes him.

“I have Biology” I say and head to my locker. Cole follows me and leans on the locker next to mine.

“Did you study?” I ask him when he leans in for a kiss. He stops midway from kissing me, he makes a face, and looks away.

“I tried, you know how it is” he says and I make a face too. “Math is hard” he says and pouts. That makes me smile because he looks so cute when he pouts.

“I told you to sign up with a tutor or I can help you” I say fully smiling now.

“You can help me?” he says and leans in kissing me.

“With Math” I say when I finally break the kiss.

“Okay you can help me this weekend then” he says smiling.

“Golden and Cole please go to class” Mr Swan says behind us.

“Yes sir” I say and close my locker door and lock it up. “ See you later” I say  to Cole and head to Biology class.

Biology class

I get to class and find everyone else seated.

“Late as always, Golden” Miss Day says when I sit down.

“Sorry Miss D” I say and smile at her. She shakes her head disapprovingly but doesn’t say anything else.

“Okay class this Biology test is 45 minutes long. You can only leave when you’re done and please if you do finish before the allocated time. Leave quietly and don’t disrupt other students. You can go to the library or the gymnasium.” She says as she hands out the test papers.

I stretch and get my writing supplies in order. I have to get in the zone when I write exams and tests. I need to block everything out and concentrate on what I’m doing.

“Okay good luck guys, remember this is a very important test so do your absolute best and then add 49% more.

I look down at the test and read the first question.

• The main disadvantage of an exoskeleton is that it___________

I look up after 35 minutes of my test. I stretch letting out all the energy I was holding onto when I was writing I smile because I know I did really well. That was a good one, dare I say it was an easy one.

I put away all my supplies and hand in my test. I head out of the class and head to the library. I need to go through my Math notes and prep for the next test.

“Are you heading to the gymnasium?” Amara whispers behind me when she finds me in the hallway.

“No, I’m going to the library” I say and I can instantly see the disapproval on her face. Even we’re the three amigas; Amara, Gina and I. We don’t really see eye to eye when it comes to school. They see school as a passing inconvenience and nothing to worry about. But I take school seriously, I want good grades, I want to be able to go to any University I want and it starts now.

“I was hoping we’ll hang out with everyone,” she says sounding so whiny. I don’t usually mind her whininess but today I don’t care for it much.

“I’ll see you later” I say and walk away from her. I don’t want to argue today, she’s going to mess up my vibe.