Unexpected

Chapter 1: Classmates

“Listen to me Maria, you're never going to get a boyfriend by reading about the perfect guys.” She says as she takes the book I've been reading from my hands.  

“Hey!”

“Maria, do you get what I'm saying?”

“NO, and give me back my book.”

“Not until you get it through your head that this is a once in a lifetime opportunity.”

“Why does it matter? They probably didn't even know I existed until now.”

“Well maybe that´s because you always have your head in a book.”

“Maybe, but that doesn't change the fact that I'm a nobody.”

“You are not a nobody, you just have to look up from your book every now and then.”

“But I´m satisfied with where I am.”

“Are you? Are you really satisfied if all you talk about are the relationships that happen in your books?”

I opened my mouth but then thought otherwise because she had me. She hit it right on the nail, I did go on and on about the romance that happened in my books.

“Aha, that´s what I thought. So, what did you find out about them?”

“Well… not really much because we were discussing about what project we wanted to do. But I did manage to get their phone numbers.”

“What!? You got their phone numbers? You didn’t tell me that.”

“Yeah, but I still don't get why you're still trying to get me to go through with this. I told you, I´m fine and plus I just want to complete the project and get a good grade on it.”

“If you say so.”

That was when the bell rang and I had to get to Computer Coding. We were learning how to use loops and shorten the code. The teacher gave us time to practice and told us we could work with each other. I was halfway through the code when Antonio turns to me and says “I see you're halfway done, do you mind helping me?” That caught me off guard because Antonio, the Antonio Rosalio, was asking me,  a nobody, to help him on his work when he usually has the highest grade in the class.

“You want me, to help you?”

“Well, yeah, you seem like you know what you're doing and I was confused so...will you help me?”

“Sure, what did you get confused on?” He gets closer and is explaining it to me.

I´m comprehending everything he says but can´t stop thinking about how close he is and for some reason my heart is racing. I brush off the feeling and explain how to properly use a loop. After I show him some examples, he gets the idea. Then says, “Thanks, this makes much more sense.” And then he gives me a warm smile of appreciation. For some reason that makes my heart skip a beat.

“Y-Your welcome” I smile back awkwardly.

He then turns back to his work.

Then the bell rang and I had to go to English. In English we didn´t have assigned seats and I took my usual seat in the back of the room and read a book until class started. As I was reading I could sense that someone was coming closer and then I hear.

“Hey Alonzo, is that a good book?”

I look up to find Nick staring at me. I couldn't believe my luck that he was talking to me and he knew my last name. Everyone usually just sits with their friends and doesn't acknowledge me. I reply “Yeah, it's pretty good.”

“What's it about?”

“Oh, it´s about people who have magical powers and these teenage boy and girl are trying to escape this other world, I think in the end they might end up together.”

“Wow, that sounds interesting, maybe I should read it sometime.”

“It´s really good, I highly recommend it.”

“Do you mind if I sit here?” He points to the seat right next to me.

“S-Sure, go ahead.” Again I get that weird feeling when he sits down. It's the same thing that happened with Antonio. Maybe I'm just overthinking it, but what are the odds that both Antonio and Nick decide to talk to me in the same day? I snap back to reality when Nick tells me, “Hey I'm sorry for the way I acted earlier, I was just stressed about a test in math.”

It takes me a second to realize that he was talking about Biology. “It´s okay, I'm glad your feeling better now.” Then the teacher gave us our assignment: write an essay by the end of the week on freedom. I began typing my first paragraph when Nick leans over to ask “You don't plan out your essay before you write?”

“Well, I kind of find it a waste of time and usually my ideas come to me when I'm writing.”

“huh… interesting…”

“Is it a bad thing?”

“No, not at all it's just interesting to think that you don't need a plan to write a good essay. I've read your other essays and they're amazing.”

I immediately stopped typing and looked at him to ask “You´ve read my essay´s?” Hearing that caught me off guard because why would anyone, especially Nick, read my essay´s.

“Your essay´s really get your point across and they are always great stories.”

That made me blush hearing those words, I hope my face isn't too red. “Really?”

“Yup” He says it so casually that I can't help but think if he really means that or if he's just messing with me. After typing a couple of paragraphs the bell rang and I headed to Algebra. I grabbed the bellwork on the way in and finished really​ quick so I could read my book. After the teacher taught a lesson on factoring polynomials she gave us a worksheet to work on and told us we could get help from our classmates. I was almost done with the worksheet when a shadow covers my desk and I look up to find Carlos. I looked at him with confusion and he answered my confusion with “Do you think you can help me with this problem?”

“S-Sure” He pulls up a chair and I go step by step with him. Once I let him try a problem on his own I find myself in a trance as I watch him work out the problem with a confused expression. He looks up and immediately realizes I was staring. “What?”

I quickly reply with “nothing” and continue solving the problem in front of me. He smiles as he returns to his seat to finish his worksheet. After I turn in the worksheet I pack up to leave when I realize my book is missing. I know I just had it because it was on the desk right before I turned in my worksheet. As I wait for the bell to ring I look for my book. I couldn't find it but when I looked up I found an overly happy Carlos laughing.

“What's so funny?” He takes out a book from his backpack and I realize it´s my book. “Come on Carlos that isn't funny.”

“Sorry I thought you would find it funny, I guess not.” He shrugged it off to ask “So what are you doing later?”

That's really weird coming from him especially since we don't usually talk, and the fact that he's asking such a personal question.

“Why do you want to know?”

“Well there's this new movie coming out tonight and I got two tickets from a friend, what do ya say?”

“Why me? Why not any of your friends or any of those girls?” I point to a group of giggling girls who seemed more interested in Carlos than Algebra.

“I could´ve asked them, but I asked you.” That struck me because he was right. He could´ve asked anyone else but instead asked me.

“Alright I'll go, but what’s the catch.”

“There’s no catch.”

“hmmmm”

“How ´bout I pick you up at six?”

“Alright.”

“Also, I was hoping that after the movie we could go get some ice-cream.”

“That sounds good.” Just then the bell rang and it was time to go home.