The Boy across the Street

“So you're saying Jayson Bradshaw went to the library yesterday?”

“Yes, Steph. How many times do you want me to tell you?” I replied as I placed my lunch tray on the table.

“And he spoke to you?”

“He just asked for a book, it was nothing.”

“Oh I don't think so. Jayson Bradshaw spoke to you and that means he has noticed you Kayra.”

Hearing his name alone made my heart skip a beat. After yesterday, I couldn't stop thinking about him. His face. His voice. Oh God,i really do hope he doesn't even remember my face. But of course, I didn't tell Steph that.

“No he hasn't, he probably doesn't even remember my face.”

But I do remember every detail of his face.

“Enough about Jayson Bradshaw, let's talk about something else.” That was more to myself than to Stephanie.

“Well, okay. What did your parents say about you coming home late yesterday?”

“The usual. 'You should grow up, Kayra. Take school seriously' and all that.”

“Why didn't they wake you up anyway?”

“My mom was on morning shift and my dad had a meeting at work, so he left really early.”

“Oh okay.”

“Hey guys”. I hadn't seen Gale today, we have separate classes. He didn't have lunch with us either, he's a jock.

“Hi Gale”, I responded at the same time Stephanie said, "Hey babe”

“What's up?”

“Food. Isn't it obvious?” I rolled my eyes playfully and he laughed.

“Oh, okay, I see. But lunch is almost over, you girls should hurry.”

“Didn't you have lunch?” Steph asked him.

“I ate with the guys.”

“Oh okay”, she responded.

Like I said, Gale is a jock. He is part of the football team, so he usually hung out with them.

The bell rang, and we went our separate ways; Stephanie and Gale to Art class and I to biology.

*****

“Good morning class. Before I continue, we have someone joining us. Jayson, come on in.” I nearly choked on my saliva when Jayson Bradshaw walked in.

“Jayson here had his timetable changed, so he'll be having biology with you from now on. He may be having other classes with you as well, but that.”

Who changes timetables in the middle of the semester?

Addressing the bad boy, he said, "You're welcome to our class. Please, find a seat and settle so we can move on with the class”

I froze when I realized he chose the seat right behind me.

Oh God, why did that seat have to be unoccupied?

I shifted uneasily in my seat for the rest of the period. Now he wasn't just in my thoughts, but he was in my class as well.

Just great!

Note the sarcasm

****

“You won't believe what happened in bio?”

“What?” Stephanie was going home with me today to pick up her stuff that she left in my house some time back. Also because she left her keys at home and her mom won't be back until after dusk.

“Jayson Bradshaw is in my biology class now.”

“What? How come?”

“Apparently, he had his timetable changed.”

“In the middle of the semester?”

“I know right! My thoughts exactly. And you know the funny part?

"What?"

"Who knows which other classes of mine he's in.”

“At least, he'll be sitting at the back, so he still might not notice you.”

“Wrong. Guess what? He sits behind me!”

“Ouch”, she tried to stifle a laugh

“It's not funny, my life is ruined!”

“Oh come on. He doesn't even know you.”

“But eventually, he'll notice the girl who sits right in front of him in biology class.”

“Now, you're being dramatic.”

“I'm not being dramatic”

“Yes you are. Even if he does notice you, what can possibly happen?”

“Have you forgotten his house is just opposite mine?”

“So?”

“It's fine, let's stop talking about him.”

Yes, let's daydream about him

Can someone please tell the voice in my head to please shut up!

***

I pulled up on my driveway, parking in a way that there's enough space for my dad's car.

Steph and I hanged out at my place after school, mostly gossiping.

Yes! We're two teenage girls who love to know everything that goes on, can you blame us?

I sometimes do wonder how Steph gets all that information anyway.

“I have my sources” was her reply every time I asked.

Before we knew it, it was dinnertime and she helped me cook supper. After eating, I dropped her home.

******

The next day, I went through all my classes hoping, no, praying Jayson Bradshaw wasn't in any of them. Thankfully, my prayers were answered, at least so far, because he never showed up, no matter the number of times i took glances at the door as if he was magically just going to appear. It felt to me as if the day dragged and lasted longer than usual. I guess it's true that time moves slowly when you're anticipating events that aren't meant to happen.

But finally, the lunch bell rang. Just a few more periods left to guard the door with my eyeballs.

Hurray!

Once again, note the sarcasm.

“Kay, move fast. I'm starving”, Gale was after me in the lunch line, but I didn't know what I wanted to eat, so I was taking my time to decide. I was aware I was delaying the line, but meh, who cares?

“I'm still deciding. Wait a minute”, that received a groan from him.

Fries or pasta?

After debating with myself, I decided to go with fries. Oh God, they were so mouthwatering, I could literally taste them in my mouth.

I smiled at the lunch lady who gave me a generous serving and winked at Gale who rolled his eyes.

“Kayra, what took you so long?”

“Chill, Steph, I couldn't make a choice.”

“You and your indecisiveness.”

I laughed, “I'm not indecisive”

“Keep saying it till you believe it, baby”

“Kayra!”

“Here comes your boyfriend”

“What's up Gale?” I pretended as if I didn't just talk to him five minutes ago.

“Oh, don't act like you don't know what you did.”

“Have we spoken today?” I went on playing oblivious.

“Babe, what did she do?”

“I didn't do anything, Steph”

“Because of you, the fries ran short.”

“Moi? Oh, that's French for-”

He didn't let me complete, “I know what it means! You'll have to give me some of your fries.”

“Why? It's not like I even served myself.”

“That's because you bribed the lunch lady”

“Don't be ridiculous”

It appeared Stephanie was enjoying the little banter going on between Gale and me.

“Erm…what's funny Steph?”

“Oh nothing, I'm just enjoying you guys fighting over food.”

“We're not 'fighting',” that was Gale this time, “I'm just letting her know she owes me french fries”

“No I don't”

“Yes you do”

“No I don't”

We'll see.” With that, he stole a fry from my plate and started running.

Oh, no, he didn't!!

“Gale!” I chased after him despite the fact that we were in the cafeteria and

could actually get punished for child's play.

“Haha!” He swerved past a group of students and I lost sight of him for a minute. When I saw him, he plopped the fry into his mouth and smirked.

He didn't just-

You are so dead, Gale!

I gathered momentum again and was about to start running when I hit someone's really muscular chest.

“Shit!” he exclaimed

“I'm so sorry”, I apologized after noticing I had ruined his shirt with the soda he was holding.

“Can't you watch where you're going?!”

That voice, despite being an angry one, it was calm in a way. I've heard that voice before.

That's when I looked up

Oh, no.