Chapter 5 Biology of attraction

If that first class was any indication of how the rest of the school year will be. I will be right in my assumption of already knowing all of what they will teach and then some. I was already bored before biology even started. I found myself spacing out the window, wondering what I would be doing if I did not fake my own death. A male voice sounding next to me startled me so badly that I almost flipped him over in a defensive move, but I stopped myself at the last second when I realized it was just a classmate wanting to sit next to me.

“Oh my god, I am so sorry!! You scare me!” I managed to get out realizing even though I did not pin him down I knocked over the chair and tossed all his stuff on the floor. I bent down to help him collect his things as Ezra walked by and kicked one of his books away from us picking things up.

“Watch out little mouse,” he said as he walked to a desk at the back of the room.

“What an ass,” I mumbled as I got up to fetch the guy’s book. I handed it back to him. “Again, I am so sorry!” I apologize further, feeling so embarrassed for what I did.

“It is cool! Mind if I sit with you? As long as you do not try and toss me out of the seat again?” He laughed. He had the most amazing smile and laugh I ever heard.

“Of course, you can. My name is Elizabeth.”

“I am Bartise.”

“Nice to meet you!”

“Same to you Elizabeth... You must be new? I have not seen your pretty face before.” He said smiling and sliding close to me. I felt my face get hot from his words.

“Uhm, Yeah, I moved here just before summer break....” I stuttered out feeling all sorts of nervous sitting next to him, not out of fear for my safety. I could easily defend myself. I have never had a boy compliment me in such a way. Especially after making a fool out of myself.

“Aw, you are blushing. So cute.” He said, smiling and leaning even closer to me.

“No!! I am not,” I said, a bit too defensively to be anything flustered by his words, but he kept smiling even more so at my expense. Then he leaned in closer and whispered so softly into my ear as my face burnt hot. “Liar.” He pulled back, locking eyes with me then smiling at me, then leaned in close again this time even closer than before.

“It is cute to see you get all flustered, but it is also amusing because you have no idea that it is bothering someone so bad in this room that they cannot do anything about it.”

“WHAT!!” I exclaimed a bit too loud and everyone who was not looking was now looking at us. Oh, man! How embarrassing. I felt my face burn even hotter as everyone looked at us and whispered. Bartise just smiled even more flirtatiously at me.

Then the door opened, and a dark-haired woman walked into the room. She must have been the teacher. She stood in front of the classroom and announced,

“Alright, class time to get started!”

The second period went by quickly. Unlike my first class. That was due to Bartise flirting with me and teasing me making me all sorts of flustered and laughing at my expense. Yet again, I knew everything they were teaching in the class, so it was not that big of a deal. Even when the teacher would call on me to see if I knew the answer because I was clearly not focused, I still knew it. I am pretty sure the teacher grew very annoyed with me for always answering correctly. It also seemed to make Bartise want to tease me more and see how flustered he could make me and still be able to answer the teacher's questions. Thankfully for me, he did not win. When class was over, he just got up and said.

“See you around beautiful,” and with a wink, he was gone. Finally, away from Bartise and his flirting, I felt like I could think clearly, and then it came to me. Bartise mentioned that he was also flirting with me because it bothered someone else. Who would that have bothered, and why would my flirting with Bartise be a problem and him flirting back at me? Unless he already had a girlfriend or something and he was trying to make her jealous? What a jerk if that is the case. I went from feeling flustered and giddy to furious within minutes. Cindy was waiting for me by my locker. She looked so happy until she saw the scowl on my face.

“What is wrong?” She asked, concern written all over her face.

“Nothing just boys are gross jerks.” I slammed my locker shut and walked towards the cafeteria. She caught up to me and asked what happened. I explained what happened. She began to belly laugh! Like bend over and crack up. She was laughing up a storm and I felt my temper rising.

“What is so funny!” I gritted my teeth, so I would not scream like I wanted to.

“Nothing bad, I promise. Just next time you see him ask him if he is single or not.” she said in between giggles.

“Fine!” I grounded out. I do not know why I had to ask. If he was trying to make someone jealous, why would he have to use me? That is just wrong. So, we walk to the cafeteria together. I just realized I did not pack a lunch and I did not have any money on me to buy lunch. Ugh, I’m such an idiot. Oh well, I will just eat when I get home. Cindy goes to get in line to buy herself lunch.

“I will go get us a table over here while I wait,” I said as I walked over to an empty table. I sat there looking around at all the students eating and talking to their friends. At least I seemed to make one friend today, not sure about Bartise but I will cross that bridge when I get to it. I sat there picking at my nails waiting for Cindy to come back. When a male voice caught my attention, it was like nails on a chalkboard at this point.

“Aww, poor little waitress can’t afford a phone and now can’t afford to eat lunch.” Luke laughed and pointed at me sitting all alone, with his group of friends. They all joined in with the laughter.

“At least I do not have to worry about paying people to like me and laugh at my dumb jokes because I have such a terrible attitude and personality.” I chimed in.

“What did you say, poverty girl!?” Luke stood over me like I would fear him getting in my face. I stood up and pointed my finger at his chest.

“I will say it slowly so you can understand my words... No... One... Likes... You... They... Only... Like... Your... Money...” I said not backing down a step. Instead, I even got closer to his face. “So back down garlic breath before you regret it,” I said meaning every word. I was getting so sick of his dumb poor jokes and disrespectful attitude. Someone had to knock him off his pedestal and bring him back to earth.

“Oh, you are just as dumb as you are poor!” He was mad. He even tossed his dumb baseball hat on backwards like that would show me he was serious. I prepared myself for a defensive move that would flip him on his back in a split second.

“BACK OFF LUKE.” A male voice behind me said, and a slight shiver went down my back at his menacing tone.