As the bell rings to go to 5th period, marking the end of lunch, I stand up and wave goodbye to Andy, "I'll see you at practice!"
I start to head towards my upcoming hour-and-a-half class, feeling my stomach churn just at the thought of it.
It's because Jullian is in it you idiot.
As I begin attempting to block out the flooding thoughts in my mind I walk in and look around to see a few empty seats in the front, thankfully. I take the one closest to the door, farthest away from the one in the back corner. I begin working on the task given on the board, taking out my laptop to get the notes.
"Yeah whatever, I'll see you at practice," someone says, almost yelling as they walk in the door. I don't even need to look up to tell who the voice belongs to.
And it always seems to send chills down my spine.
"Jullian please lower your voice when entering the classroom, it'd be greatly appreciated," Mrs.Dandre, the English IV teacher mumbles from her computer as Jullisn makes his way to his desk, scoffing.
"Yeah yeah, got it."
I see out of the corner of my eye him taking the seat in the back as I had assumed, being that he's been sitting in the same place all year, along with all of his rotted friends.
・・・
After over an hour of working the teacher stands from her desk, getting everyone's attention, "Okay, you're going to check your assignment now on your own," Mrs.Dandre speaks up, turning on the projector and lighting up her screen as everyone turns their pages to begin checking.
"I can't see the board," Jullian says, getting everyone's attention, including my own. I turn towards him to see his eyes beginning to burn holes into my own, making me turn away.
"Then move to the front," she says, observing the open desks. As she does so I look to the one next to me and scowl, knowing what's about to hap- "look there's an open seat next to Eleanor," she points and I internally groan, wanting out of this hell hole.
Suck a toe Mrs.Dandre.
"Can I go to the restroom?" I ask, giving a glance to Jullian as he begins to get his things from the back.
"There's only 15 minutes left, can you wait?" She asks and I go quiet before sighing.
"I suppose." I mutter as Jullian sits beside me, making me turn the other way, ignoring his eyes burning holes into the side of my head.
A few minutes of peaceful silence go by before I hear the asshole begins to speak, "Hey," he whispers and I begin to ignore him until he continues to pester me, like a fuçking bug buzzing in your ear at night. "psst." "Hey." "Hello." "Can you hear me?"
"Yes I can hear you what the hell do you want?" I snap, making sure nobody could hear me through their own conversations.
"Can I talk to you?" He asks, making me almost begin to laugh at his pleading eyes. I stay quiet before looking at the time, seeing the bell isn't going to ring in another 8 minutes.
"What's there to talk about? As I recall we were done talking 3 years ago, correct?" I scowl and see his eyes flash a tinge of hurt, making my stance almost falter before I turn away, ignoring the feeling.
He's the one that hurt you, remember?
I begin to quickly grab my things, ignoring the time left in class. I force myself not to turn around, taking a deep breath as I stand up, walking toward the door.
"What do you think you're doing?" Mrs. Dandre says with curiosity as I open the door, quickly turning to her.
"Leaving your class, looks like I do need to go to the restroom after all," I say bitterly before turning back around, slamming the door shut.
・・・
Messages:
Eleanor || Anthony
Storming out of Mrs.Dandre's? What caused the change of heart for English IV?
Jullian Wilder, that's what.
Oh...
Yeah, exactly.
What'd he do? Embarrass you in front of the whole class? Do I need to beat his ass?
Thanks for the offer but no, he tried talking to me.
???
He wanted to actually, talk. He wouldn't leave me alone until I answered him and then proceeded to ask "Can I talk to you?"
what'd you say?
That there was nothing to talk about and how I thought we were done talking to 3 years ago...
I don't know if I should be proud or disappointed in you lol
Why was I too harsh? Too honest?
idk, maybe you should've listened?
You can't seriously be defending him right now.
No way in hell I would. I'm just saying maybe he had something interesting to say, something worth hearing?
And here I thought I was the poet.
Hey, I'm just trying to live up to your writing standards
Yeah yeah okay, I'll have to go so I'll see you during your practice?
For sure, see you then :)
・・・
I put my phone back in my pocket as I get up from the cafeteria table, waiting for my free period to be over. I start walking through the hallway, looking for something to do. I'd usually be out with Jaime passing the time but she had an appointment so I couldn't be with her, and I know nobody else with their 7th period off.
I started walking down the main hall, scrolling through my social media. I start to take out my headphones as I start blasting my daily playlist on Spotify, lightly humming with the song that plays.
As I walk into the athletic corridor I feel somebody grab my forearm, pulling me into what feels like a locker room, the force making my earbuds fall out of my ears.
Before I can yell, I look to the person who dragged me here, locking my eyes with someone I talked with not too long ago.
"Jullian?"
・author's note・
wow, who could've guessed who pulled her out of the hallway right? Nice unpredictable writing 2017 Kristin, 3 claps for you. Did you enjoy my sarcasm there?
Tad-bit shorter... okay, a LOT shorter than what my chapters should be... sorry 'bout it.
What'd you think about the messaging part? I'm trying out a new technique that was used by another author that I read and thought it'd be easier to read and understand :)
2017 me wrote: "I wanted it to end on a "cliff-hanger" note, making you want to keep reading haha, enjoy!" so, yeah, enjoy :)