Dissonance | ✓

07 | Bouquet of Jasmines

     "I am expecting those lab reports next lesson. Any later, and your grade goes down," Ms. Jenkins wrapped up the chemistry lesson. The bell rang right after she spoke, and I moved towards the door with Josh.

     "Miss. Baker," her voice was sharp. I froze. "Come here."

     I turned and went to her desk. Ms. Jenkins wore an indigo peplum dress below her lab coat. Maybe a tad much for school, but she definitely rocked it. I would have been lying if I said her body was not to die for.

     "On Wednesday, you missed my lesson. I know this because I checked your attendance for other classes that day and you were present."

     I pushed dirty blonde strands away from my eyes. "Yeah, I'm sorry for that."

     "Don't apologize. You will catch up tonight with others who think it's okay to skip class."

     I groaned, but did not protest. That was expected.

     Outside class, Mason waited for me. His face glistened with sweat and his chest rose and fell a little faster than usual. Although his personality did him no justice, Mason was quite a slice of beefcake.

     "Hi," I greeted, then gave him a quick peck. "You had P.E.?"

     He nodded. "I feel great. I have to go get cleaned up, but do you wanna hang out tonight?"

     "Maybe tomorrow? I have to come back here tonight."

     "Man, tomorrow's no good. I'll just see you on Saturday night, then." He kissed my nose and jogged off.

     'Bad date night: Part III' was officially on.

    There are a few different types of people in the typical high school; the topic; those who 'try so hard' to stay out of gossip but are somehow always the topic; the gossiper; those who indulge in gossip; those who could care less. I figured people at Riverdale were yet to understand where I had fit.

     Passing through hallways and across the campus always invited stares. I was never usually bothered (because I just regarded those staring at me as low-lives who had nothing better to do), however the instance when Ximena grabbed my arm and took me to an empty class, got more people intrigued than I was used to.

     The room was dark, windows tinted and shut, lights off. Dust coated instruments stored in the back and danced in the air. I sneezed a time or two.

     "I have to tell you something, Colleen." Ximena was pulling a scarf out of her bag and laying it out on a desk, then planted her butt on it. Neat freak.

     I leaned against the wall. "Ximena, I'm getting tired of this. Just...what is it?"

     "Well," she fidgeted with her nails. "I know that you weren't spreading stuff about me. I know it was Rana."

     "So?" I checked my watch: was there something I did not know so I could leave?

     Ximena snapped her fingers in my face to grab my attention and I shoved her hand away. She went on.

     "Anyway, she was never supposed to say anything to you. But it wasn't only you; she told quite a few people those lies." I rose an eyebrow at her. She crossed her arms tightly. "They are lies! Of course they are!"

     "Okay, okay, if you say so," I said, half-laughing.

     "I just want to say sorry. I know I seem like this really bitchy person, and I can be, but...I don't know. I'm sorry." Ximena got up from the desk, leaving it rocking, and hurried out of the room. I put my hands on the desk to stop its motion, and took the scarf Ximena left behind. It smelled like a bouquet of jasmines and dust.

     I appreciated Ximena apologizing to me; for somebody like her to do that was considered major. At least, that was how Miranda put it when I retold my encounter to her. Although it was short, I knew she was being genuine. Maybe I owed her an apology, myself.

     That evening, I was in need of alone time. At that time, the library came in mind first. After my evening detention with Ms. Jenkins, I took my sketchpad and lead pencils with me. I jogged up the flight of stairs to the second floor of the store. At the first table from the entrance, a boy I vaguely recognized from chemistry balanced a marker on his nose. Across from him was a couple spooning in one seat, and beside them was none other than Ximena. It was becoming a trend to see her everywhere. She was no more happier to see me.

     "Are you following me?" She had the audacity to ask.

     I was so frustrated, there was no response I could give that excluded all the swear words I knew. I dropped my things on a table on the opposite side of the room, then focused on a sketch I started before detention. It was the profile of a girl with prominent cheekbones, hugging herself. There was something about it that differed from my usual flora sketches. Whatever compelled me to draw it, I did not know, but I went on with it; I felt a connection to the girl.

     I left the library not long after, too bothered by Ximena's presence to concentrate on my sketch. I returned to any empty dorm; it was unlike Miranda to not be there at that time, but I did not think much of it. Not wanting to be alone, I left the dorm building in search of Carter and Joey. As I crossed the campus, though, I stumbled into Josh, seemingly distressed. He repeatedly mumbled Miranda's name and he stared at his trembling fingers, as if something missing was supposed to be there. I sat him down by the water fountain near us and patiently waited for Josh to get himself together before he explained what was going on.

     He explained to me the reason as to why I did find Miranda in my dorm earlier: it just so happened that she had gone to Josh to pick up a gift she gave him when they were together (I thought that was a poor excuse to go and see your ex. Once you give a gift, you cannot take it back, together or not). Josh and I seemed to have thought the same, and their meeting erupted into an argument as fast as it began.

     "What did I do to her, Colleen? She asked for space and I gave her space!" Josh croaked.

     I went back and forth with myself, wondering if I should let him know what Miranda thought. He was suffering over a simple misunderstanding; a loss in translation. Against my better judgement, I told him everything Miranda had told me. Josh's face lit up when I was done and I could see the worry leave his body.

   That, I quickly regretted.