Remember

Chapter 4: My Introduction

I'm more distracted than usual in art class. Even Ms. Perkins, who usually doesn't mind my behavior very much, comments on my unusual behavior.

"Philipine..." I hear distantly.

"Philipine..."

"Philipine Jones Waters!" I blink. Nobody calls me by my full name.

"Yes? Yes, Ms. Perkins?"

"Philipine, pull yourself together. Class ended five minutes ago. You're missing lunch girl. Seriously, child, what's up with you today?" Ms. Perkins asks in her New Orleans accent. Born and raised there, she has all the qualities of a N.O. black woman.

"Sorry, Ms. Kisha. I'm sorta out of it today." Quickly, I pack up my things.

"My mama woulda said what ya need is a big bowl o' good ol' fashioned gumbo, but my mama ain't here, an' I ain't my mama, so imma tell you to WAKE UP!"

Ms. Kisha Perkins laughs loudly and waves me out the door, as I jump at her sudden burst. I hurry to drop off my things at my locker, and scurry to Kayla, sitting alone and worried at our lunch table.

"Phil, Phil, Phil! What happened? Why'd you run off? Are you okay? Why didn't you answer my texts?" Kayla shoots out. I grab my phone from my back pocket and see that I have 125 messages. I sigh.

"Really KAYLA? 125 messages?"

Kayla smiles sheepishly. "Well..."

"Nevermind," I say. "I saw something I HAVE to tell you." I watch Kayla's eyes widen with surprise and interest when I tell her about Vanessa and Michael's conversation.

"That makes sooo much sense now!" She exclaims, when I'm done.

"What does?" I ask, still confused.

"Well, in my elective, Caleb and Vanessa sit near my seat, right? So, I heard them arguing about all sorts of random stuff, until Caleb suddenly kinda shouts out 'We're over, okay?!' and rushes out of the room. Everyone was so quiet, and Vanessa was so embarrassed, and extremely pissed off. She didn't talk to Rose or Hannah at all, and you KNOW how they ALWAYS talk. It was so strange! But you know what this means? Her pride, ego, reputation, and even Caleb, are all gone! We could-"

"No, Kayla. Remember, Michael said Caleb wanted to lie low, and besides, he wouldn't date either of us," I say.

"What? No. I was going to say that we could separate her and block her out of everything, now that she's no so popular anymore, being rejected and all. She can be a social outcast. Man! You are really obsessed over the whole date-Caleb-in-order-to-kick-Vanessa's-butt thing, aren't you?"

Embarrassed, once again, I put my head on the table, covering my face the best I can, while K pats my back sympathetically.

"It's fine, it's fine! I want to date Michael Evans. There, I said it. It's nothing to be ashamed of, sheesh."

The bell rings for the end of lunch. Kayla and I never eat the school lunch, so we are the first ones out the door. Today, however, I see Caleb hanging around the door of the cafeteria. I walk past him quietly, as usual, and open the door.

"Hey, Caleb! It's Kayla, from your music class. I wanted to let you know what we have homework, pages 102-134, since, you know, you left early, and nobody else would really tell you anyways."

I turn to see Kayla staring up into Caleb's handsome, and slightly surprised face.

"Oh, thanks, Kayla. Yeah, I'll be sure to do that. Uh, see you, I guess." Caleb says in his deep, sing-song voice.

He looks from her to me, which Kayla takes as an opportunity to introduce us.

"Caleb, that's my best friend, Philipine Waters, " she says, pointing at me. "Phil, this is Caleb Truman, the best singer...in the world." She says, pausing dramatically at in the world.

Caleb smiles a bit. "HI, best friend Philipine Waters."

I try to respond, but my tongue is heavy, and I can't' form any words. Slightly, I nod in acknowledgement. I look to Kayla and see her disappointment.

Caleb looks over Kayla's head at the crowd of people marching our way.

"Well, time to go," he says, and walk through the door that I am still stupidly holding open.

Ever so slightly, his body brushes against mine. My heart flutters and flies, as I catch a whiff of his sweet-smelling cologne. Suddenly, I turn, as Kayla approaches, and cup my hands around my mouth towards Caleb, whose long legs carried him halfway down the hall already.

"Hi, Caleb Truman, the best singer...in the world!" I shout, mimicking Kayla's introduction.

Caleb turns around and I hear his laughter echo through the high-ceiling hallways. He stops, jumps up a few times, waving around crazily, at being called at.

"Nice to meet you!" he yells.

I hear the laughter fill my voice as I repeat it back to him.

Kayla fangirls next to me but I don't hear her anymore. All I focus on is a pair of sky-blue eyes that scream "MINE!" in the middle of the lunch crowd.

Oops. What did I just do? What did I just get myself into?