I Refuse to Fall in Love with Him *ch.21*
Sereya’s POV:
I had on my black “No Time for Haters” shirt, my white shorts, and I had covered my shoulders with a black jacket, prepared to hit the movies right after school.
“Hey girlie, are you ready for tonight,” Asia asked, as I opened my locker.
“Actually…yes. I’m really looking forward to it,” I responded.
“I’m so glad Sterling’s coming with you. Now I can enjoy my time with Jayden and not have to worry about leaving you alone.”
“Yeah, but still, if you guys are going to make out please promise me that you won’t get out of hand. I would like to enjoy my movie,” I teased.
“Whatever hun. Just make sure that you have some self control with Sterling tonight,” she laughed.
“Ha! You know I don’t do that crap. Plus, I don’t plan on absolutely anything happening tonight. We’re just two friends going to the movies to enjoy each other’s company. Nothing big, just buds hanging out.”
“Yeah okay,” Asia commented as we split up to head to our classes.
I lugged the poster board Austin and I had created. I struggled to open the door, and before I could knock for some help, Austin ran to the door and grabbed the poster for me.
“Good morning Sereya,” he chirped.
“Hello,” I said dryly. “Did you bring the thumb drive?”
“Yes I did. I have it in my pocket,” he confirmed as he placed the tri-fold next to his desk.
I walked across the room, escaping glares from Angel, and sat down. I tried to make eye contact with Janelle, but she was leaned over her desk, talking to Marcus.
“Okay class. This is the day we have been waiting for. As I call each partner group at a time, come up and present. If you do not get to present today, you will show us your project on Monday,” Mrs. Thomas announced.
I thought about how Mrs. Thomas always does everything by ABC order by our last names, so Austin and I should be safe to present on Monday.
“First up, Austin Jackson and Sereya Williams.”
Dang! So much for ABC order.
I trudged to the front of the room, and put the thumb drive into the computer. Austin smiled at me, and I rolled my eyes and put on my presentation face, serious and professional.
Might as well do a great job and get it over with.
“Our project is on a topic that is unfortunately very familiar with many American couples. About one in five female high school students have reported being physically and/or sexually abused by a dating partner,” I stated.
“Forty percent of girls from ages fourteen to seventeen have said that they know of someone their age that has been hit or beaten by their boyfriend. What may start off as a heated argument every once in a while, can be able to sadly turn into a case of homicide,” Austin addressed. “Here is more information on domestic violence and how you can be aware of the abusive signs in a relationship.”
* * * * *
“Mrs. Thomas sure did like our presentation. She basically gave us a standing ovation. I’m positive we’re going to get an A,” Austin said as he jogged up to meet me by my locker.
“Yeah, I know. You did well,” I said flatly.
“Thanks, you did a half as impressive job as me.” I rolled my eyes at his lame cockiness that would usually make me laugh.
He must have caught on to my tightness. “Look Sereya, like I said before, I’m sorry about yesterday. I didn’t mean to hurt you. I was being a coward and you have every right to be angry with me,” he explained.
“Thank you,” I said, as I fixed my hair in my locker mirror. “That means a lot,” I offered sarcastically.
“I just don’t want everything we had to fade away because of my stupid mistake,” he continued.
“Everything we had? You mean all those times you snuck behind your girlfriend’s back to lead me on? Yeah, that sure was something special,” I snapped, and topped it off by slamming my locker door shut.
“Sereya, it wasn’t even like that. The whole time I really wanted to please you. I didn’t want to have to sneak behind Angel’s back, that’s why I---”
“Just save it Austin. I have a class to go to,” I interrupted before walking away.
Sterling’s POV:
All day, I had been thinking about tonight. This would be the day that I made Sereya fall for me. No parents, no school, and especially…no Austin. I grinned when I saw Sereya standing by my locker, waiting for me.
“Hey pretty lady,” I greeted her.
“Hey! I thought you forgot about me,” she said as she turned around and attacked me with a hug.
“Never! Where are the others?”
“Oh yeah. Asia is riding with Jayden, and Marcus and Janelle are waiting outside,” she explained.
“Okay, you ready?”
“Yup.”
“I’ll take this,” I said as I reached over and grabbed her backpack. She smiled sweetly and I walked her to the car.
Marcus and Janelle were already standing nearby.
“Dang boy, where were you,” Marcus asked impatiently once he spotted us.
“My teacher had to find my paper before I could leave,” I explained. “Let’s hit the road, I’m ready now.”
“I’m sitting next to my girl,” Janelle screamed.
“So that’s how it is,” Marcus teased.
“Boy, you know she would pick me over you any day,” Sereya laughed.
I opened the door for Sereya as Marcus did the same for Janelle. The girls climbed in and handed us their backpacks so we could put them in the trunk.
As we stepped inside the car, the girls quickly silenced. “You guys are too quiet now. You must have been talking about us as soon we left earshot,” I accused.
Janelle and Sereya gave each other questioning looks before bursting into giggles, as if to confirm my suspicions. I turned on the radio, and we jammed out of the student parking lot.
“Oh snap! Oh snap,” Sereya screamed as I heard the start of a song faintly fill in the air.
“What did I miss,” I asked, confused.
“Wait for it,” Janelle answered.
After a few seconds, Janelle and Sereya erupted in song to the first few sentences of “Roll Up” by Wiz Khalifa. After a while, Marcus and I caught on to what song it was, and joined in.
Sereya’s POV:
By the time we arrived at the movie theater, Asia and Jayden had already bought their tickets.
“Wait, what movie are we seeing again,” I asked, as the rest of us stepped into the ticket line.
“Never Say Never,” Asia joked. This resulted in a loud disapproving yell from the boys.
“She’s kidding. We’re seeing Little Red Riding Hood,” Jayden spoke.
“Oh okay good. I’m sorry, but I was not gonna pay to watch that,” Marcus said.
I took a step up in the ticket line. “Oh Sereya, don’t worry about the ticket. I got it,” Sterling informed.
“Oh no it’s cool. I can pay for my ticket,” I suggested.
“Nope, I’m sorry. I can’t let you do that. My momma taught me better. I’m a gentleman, I want to pay for you,” he insisted.
“Okay Mr. Gentleman,” I teased as I stepped out of line and walked over to Asia.
“Dang, does that mean I have to pay for your ticket, too,” Marcus joked with Janelle.
She hit him on the arm.
“Ouch! I was just kidding. I got you mami,” he grinned.
After we got our tickets, we made our way over to the concession stand.
“Baby do you want anything,” Marcus asked Janelle.
“Umm…no. I’m good,” she answered.
“Whew! Good, because I’m starting to get broke,” he laughed.
Janelle rolled her eyes as Marcus slung his arm around her. “We’re gonna go get a seat,” Janelle told us.
“Asia, what about you,” Jayden asked. “Do you wannna share a large popcorn?”
“Yeah, sure.”
“Now for my turn. You know, since you’re such a gentleman,” I smiled turning to Sterling.
He chuckled, “I got it. Don’t even tell me your order. I already know what you want,” he replied.
“How,” I asked confused.
“Don’t worry about it pretty lady. You can walk with Asia; I’ll be there in a little bit.”
“If you say so,” I responded and started walking to Theater Nine with Asia.
Once we were a safe distance away from the boys, Asia spoke up.
“Out of all the candies in the concession stand, Sterling’s not going to be able to pick which one you like,” she squealed.
“I know right! I’m just going to let him have his little fun and eat whatever he buys me. I don’t want to make him feel bad,” I said. “Anyways, how’s everything going with you and Jayden so far?”
“Wonderful! On the car ride here, we just…talked. It was like we had a connection. You don’t even understand. I mean like, I didn’t even have to act all giggly-flirty to impress him or anything. We just…clicked,” she said through a cheesy smile.
“Awww…look at you! That’s so cute, you’re smiling from ear to ear,” I cooed.
“I know; tonight is going to be amazing,” she whispered, as we stepped inside the theater.
We searched for Marcus and Janelle, who were sitting in the middle of the theater making out.
“Yuck! At least wait until the movie starts,” I yelled. They pulled apart in laughter.
I took a seat next to Janelle, and Asia sat on the other side of Marcus. We talked across Marcus until Jayden and Sterling came back. Jayden walked over to sit on the end, next to Asia, and Sterling sat next to me. I looked up and he handed me Raisinets and a Sprite. As he put the popcorn between us, I sat there, staring at him dumbfounded.
Impossible…he knows me so well.
*** Disclaimer: The domestic violence statistics are from: http://www.dvrc-or.org/domestic/violence/resources/C61/#hom ***