"Don't forget there's a SLT class today afternoon so I'll need you with me."
"Yes, mum, I know."
"I know there's been word that it might got cancelled but it's gossip. And make sure to spread the word around with your classmates."
"Okay, mum."
The last thing I cared about right now was SLTs. Since the concert, Amerie had been down. Actually, she went through all the stages when we were talking on the phone last night. At first, she cried and then she started screaming insults at me to finally end the call with being angry.
"Have a nice day Justine."
"Bye."
I took a detour to make sure people wouldn't see me get out of my mother's car and went through the front gates as if I had been dropped of by the bus. I walked towards the school's entrance.
"Hey look it's our new best friend!" Quinni exclaimed as I walked towards Darren and her.
"Ready for today?" I asked.
"Ugh we have SLTs this afternoon." Darren groaned in disgust. "I wonder what slightly inappropriate activity or video Mrs.Jones has prepared for us today."
"Am wouldn't miss it right? I mean I haven't seen her since..." I asked them since they knew her a little longer than me. Maybe they had some insights on how she handle harder situations.
The bell rang before they could answer me so we all walked towards our respective classes. The went by quickly, classes were as usual and I didn't have the unlucky opportunity of crossing paths with Spider, even though I thought about our moment all weekend. Having a free period, I thought I would try to find Amerie before SLTs. After a few ins and outs of different corridors, I finally found her... and Darren and Quinni in classroom 5C
"What the fuck are you guys doing?" I exclaimed, surprised seeing them all snuggled under their table.
"Someone made a 2.0 version of the incest map!" Quinni excitedly said, sitting up and hitting her head on the table.
A bit shocked, I immediately got down on my knees and approached the group.
"Wait." Amerie drastically said with a frigid tone that made me stepped back.
"That person wrote something about you." Darren continued.
All three of their faces had that same worried look. It couldn't be that bad. Darren and Amerie scooted to the sides to make space for me to join them. I went and we all laid there. I spotted my name, besides Sasha's and Quinni's in heart. I remembered finding it so cute. There was also Harper and Dusty's names that were connected with a mauve line. Justine was written in bold black letters and a fine line travelled to the other side of the table to his name. Spider.
"They said I gave a blow job to Spider!?" I shouted. "What the fuck?"
Before any of them could say something reassuring, the bell rang meaning SLTs was starting any seconds now. So we quickly got out of under the table and took our usual places. Me in the front, them at the back. All a bit in our heads, waiting for class to start. The room was soon filled with the same horny students. I just couldn't believe he had the audacity to invent such lies about me. About us.
"Afternoon class, hope you all had a great weekend."
Silence filled the room as everyone felt the awkwardness between Harper and Amerie.
"Remember how, a few class back, we talked about boundaries and getting to know your partner's desires. Well, today we will do a workshop to really help you get this whole concept."
All groaned. I noticed his empty seat. Weird, I thought.
"So we'll start by moving all of the tables and chairs to the sides of the class. Then, take one cushion in the bag and sit on the floor with your assigned partners." My mother continued.
"What is it teaching us when you're forcing us to be with a partner we didn't choose eh?" Missy exclaimed while others cheered her, agreeing with her.
"It's also a way to make you explore beyond appearances. I want you guys to connect with people you wouldn't originally hang out with."
People then proceeded to execute the instructions my mother had just given. They all stood in line, waiting for their names to be assigned with someone else's.
"Now that we have a safe space to work with, let's get to it. Now Dustin with Sasha, Missy with Douglas, Darren with Anthony, Malakai with Quinni, Harper with Amerie."
She continued to assigned names but her voice had already faded in my ears. Amerie looked at me, her eyebrows frowned and proceeded to stare at both Quinni and Darren with the same helpless expression. All the class felt it too, nothing good could come out of this. Amerie put her hand up.
"No, Amerie you can't change partners."
She sighed and put her hand down. They all went sitting with their assigned partner, facing each other.
"Sorry I'm late Mrs.Jones! Coach kept me for training. I have a note." Spider walked in the classroom and handed the note to my mother.
"Well since you're late Spencer and everyone is assigned, I'll have to pair you with Justine."
I froze.
"Or I could just be a threesome with these two." He replied pointing to Amerie and Harper. Most laughed at his distasteful comment.
"That's not up for you to choose. Justine, up. Go sit with Spencer by the window for today's class. Thank you both."
We did as she said. At that moment, I had a mixed feeling about my mother. I knew she didn't mean anything by it, she didn't know the whole story. She was just being logical as always. We were a person short, so of course I would be paired with him. But on the other hand, I was furious with her, forcing me to participate in this class. Especially with him after everything he had done. Furious about that new map, only he would be toxic and dumb enough to recreate this map. Even as a joke. Sitting in front of each other, it was hard to ignore him. There wasn't much to look at besides him. After everyone was sitting on their cushion, my mother continued to explain the workshop. I just turned my head and fixed my mother, thinking it would make him disappear.
"Hi."
I ignored him.
"Giving me the silence treatment eh."
"Shhhh" I finally responded, annoyed.
"Step one of this activity is to face each other. In silence. You'll place your hands before you so that both of your palms are facing, but they cannot touch." My mother explained.
I closed my eyes, took a long breath and turned my head in his direction. I put out my hands and finally opened my eyes. He was already staring. I glanced down at our hands, they weren't steady and the space in between couldn't be assured.
"She said we have to look at each other."
"And she said we had to stay silent."
I raised a brow, cocky of my response even though it wasn't that good. He smiled. For the first time, I really took the time to look at him. I noticed some things I've never had seen about him before. He had a dagger earring on his right ear. He had a tiny white scar under his bottom lip. I wonder how he got it. He always had that rosy tint on his cheeks and nose that made him look sunburnt. I don't what he was thinking at that moment and it intrigued me. Our hands finally connected, steady and holding each other's. A tiny shrivel travelled his body, making his golden front piece of hair fall onto his face.
"Spider, we can't touch." I whispered trying to get my hands out of his grip. His thumb starting to caress the back of my hand. I looked down, I couldn't believe how soft Spider was at that moment. The Spider I had encountered that night. It also made me forget about that stupid map under the table. Almost.
A big tumb and ooohhh's snapped us back to acknowledging where we were. We both broke our hands out from each other's grip and turned to see where the sound came from.
"Amerie Wadia, you can immediately pay a visit to Mrs.Woodsy's office. Now!" My mother shouted pointing the exit to Amerie.
She had slapped the shit out of Harper. Harper was now being consoled by Sasha and Dusty, blood was dripping from her lips to the floor. Everyone was so shocked, the room was deadly silent after that. The rest of the class was watching the sequel to that stupid video about the sharing noodles. Finally, the bell rang. Neither I or Spencer looked back at each other.