moving her hair away from her ears. I got as close as I could to her ear and whispered, “I’m glad you trust me Remi. I will try my damndest not to hurt you and I’m going to be here for you no matter what.”
She leaned her head against my shoulder for a short time and nodded. Then we went back to eating.
The bell rang and we went our separate ways. I felt like an anvil had been lifted from my chest.
Remi
How could I look into those eyes and say anything less? He looked at me in a way that I’d never seen a boy look at a girl, and never recalled my dad looking at Mom that way. I was such a fool to think otherwise.
I stopped by my locker before I went out to Josie’s car and inside it was a note. It was folded up so little that I almost missed it. I smiled all girly to myself and opened it. I just knew it was from him. It wasn’t.
It wa s from the bad breath guy, Kevin . It had his phone number and said to call him after school if I wanted to hang out. Oh Lordy, the boy had no clue. I felt like Cooper knew me already and this clown was asking me if I wanted to hang out? Oh boy.
A throat was cleared behind me and I knew who it was without turning. I put the note over my shoulder. I knew he was jonesing to read it. What a nosey Rosey. He paused for a minute, reading the note and then he snorted. I rolled my eyes and turned around smiling.
“What was that for?” I asked with my hand on my hip.
“Did you read this? It’s a joke. What is he twelve?” He looked down to read it again.
“So, it’s a joke to want to hang out with me?” My turn to bait him.
He crumbled the note into a ball all the while staring me down. I tried to step back but my back was against my locker.
“ Spending time with you would be an honor for any person. But leaving a girl like you a lame note in her locker all folded up like it’s origami, is a joke. A girl like you needs to be cornered by her locker and asked out like a lady. You know, like I’m doing now.”
I knew there were words coming out of those lips but for the life of me I only caught girl, lame note, origami and asked out like a lady. I squinted my eyes at him.
“Are you asking me out Cooper Neal?” I said. Was it just me or was he getting closer? I could smell the Juicy Fruit gum in his mouth.
“Not yet.” He smiled and took off towards the parking lot.
I barely got a hold of myself before I groaned. “I’m gonna kill him.”
I got home and did some homework. Aunt Brenda went to some kind of Bible study and invited me to go but I declined. I just wanted to stay home.
My text ringtone whistle at me and I went to see who it was.
Cooper: U done with hmwrk yet?
Me: Not yet.
Cooper: Can I call you later?
Me: Not yet.
Cooper: Don’t make me come over there.
Me: Not yet.
Cooper: That’s it!
I didn’t answer the last one. I was laughing too hard for one and for another I was hoping to aggravate him enough to feel my pain. I went out the backdoor and walked around the house waiting for him. He passed me without even looking to the side of the house. He was so irresistible