CHAPTER TWENTY NINE
point of view | zayne ali
...
"big eighteen today," i thought with a smile on my face, "yasmine also mentioned we were going to spend my birthday together so i was also ... mainly ... FULLY looking forward to that."
i decided to wear jeans today. dark blue jeans with a red hollister shirt that matched my red and black jordan 1 mids. my music wasnt as loud but for once i felt good. like not seventeen me good. eighteen me good.
my hands lifted up and i pressed the metal door handles opening up the school doors. i inhaled slowly and started down the hallway. my eyes wandered the hallways subconsciously avoiding eye contact with most students. my body turned the corner and i walked down a few steps before turning into my class. i ducked my head and i met eyes with mrs. willy who sent me a smile.
i nodded my head at her, as usual and headed for my seat. i pulled out my phone and tapped the skip button, good days by sza now playing. i placed my book bag on the floor after swinging it off my back. i sat in my chair and scrolled through yasmine and i's shared playlist analyzing the songs she had already added.
"i gotta keep from losin the rest of me," sza sang through my air pods, "still worry that i wasted the best of me on you, babe ... you don't care ... said, not tryna be a nuisance, it's just urgent.
"tryna make sense of loose change ... got me a war in my mind," i mumbled sitting back in my seat, "gotta let go of weight, can't keep what's holding me ... choose to watch ... while the world break up and fall on me."
"yasmine." a playfully stern voice announced and my eyes shot up from my phone.
yasmine's smile was wide as she bounded her way over towards me. i fought back a smile as she approached me and practically threw her arms around me. i blushed knowing students were currently looking as well as my math teacher.
"happy birthday." she murmured quietly as i gently placed my arm around her back.
she stood up and took the same seat she took last time. she threw her elbows on the desk and leaned her face in her fists. i could feel people watching us but she smiled and looked at me without a single care in the world.
"thank you." i answered her shyly.
she eyed me for a moment, "you look extra handsome today."
i sat up in my chair, "thank you."
"jeans suit you." she added.
my cheeks began to hurt from trying so hard to fight back my smile, "thank you."
"of course," she said her eyes trailed my torso for a moment then back up to my eyes, "of course."
"really, yasmine, thank you" i restated, "thank you for caring enough to remember."
she fawned at me, "its really nothing, zayne. ill always care."
"i hope you're not lying to me." a voice in the back of my head whispered.
we stared at one another for the longest time, "im still taking you out today."
"yeah?" i asked, pretending like i didnt wake up thinking about that.
"yeah." she confirmed.
"and you still insist on coming with me to homecoming?" i questioned.
she smiled nodding her head again, "yeah. i do still insist."
"are you sure?" i asked her and she giggled.
"no one else." she reassured me.
"no one else. jus me." i thought with a small smile.
"hows your morning been so far?" she questioned.
i tucked in my lips for a moment holding back my original answer, "it jus started."
"i said so farrrrr," she replied, "dont be boring."
"its been ... okay," i mumbled, "im glad you remembered."
we shared a moment of silence before she asked, "did your mom say happy birthday?"
i gave her a long stare and waited a beat thinking, "she knew me too well," before i replied to her question with, "no. of course she didnt."
she frowned for a long moment.
"my mom forgot until it was like 8 pm." she sighed looking at her hands before meeting my eyes again.
"id rather them not." i added with a shrug.
"well dont let that, them, ruin your day," she began to sit up from the desk, "how are we gonna go home today? my bus or yours?"
she held out her hand and i automatically lifted mine and placed it in hers answering her, "mine."
she gave my hand a squeeze before gently dropping it and turned to leave but not before saying bye to mrs. willy and mathew. my hand yearned hers as i slowly retreated my hand to my side. i watched her walk out of the class room until she turned the corner disappearing from my sight. i slouched in my seat and noticed mrs. willy staring at me. i shifted in my seat and felt my face turn a little red.
"are you going to homecoming?" she asked, a few students turned their heads and followed her gaze to me.
"yeah," i answered with a nod of my head, "i am."
"mmm," she hummed shifting on her feet before asking, "with her?"
i moved around in my seat and glanced at the students in the class before looking back at mrs. willy, "um yeah."
she smiled at me and then looked at her computer, "thats nice. happy birthday."
"thank you." i mumbled fiddling with my phone.
a few other happy birthdays followed but i gave no response.
"what are you doing for your birthday?" she asked me.
my hands went a little sweaty. i waited a moment before parting my lips to respond.
"em i uh ... im hanging out with my friend." i answered carefully.
"awh," she said flicking her wrist, "thats good. where?"
"sh- they never specified. im leaving school with them." i told her truthfully.
she nodded her head again, "well i hope you have a great homecoming and rest of your birthday, zayne."
"thank you." i re stated sitting up in my seat and opening my phone to scroll through the playlist.
she smiled before the smart board flashed and the morning announcements began.
...
