Chapter 4

'Hey. It's Ray.'

'I can see that, you know...'

'You added me as a contact!'

'Yeah, wow, right?'

'Yeah WOW.'

'What do you need?'

I look around the classroom. We aren't exactly supposed to be texting in class and if I'm caught, my mom will kill me. But Mr. Smith isn't paying attention. He's at his desk putting in grades.

'Do I always have to need something? I'm bored. Mrs. Cole is super boring today.'

'Yeah, I'm supposed to be reading right now, but that's not happening. At least ten people are asleep right now.'

'Then you have plenty of time to text me!'

'Suuuuurrrreeee...'

Mr. Smith turns around and looks at all of us. He notices some of the people sleeping and he frowns.

"Hey. Hey! You're supposed to be reading," Mr. Smith says.

'Ask to go to the bathroom.' I read it over again. What on earth...?

'Why?'

'I'm lonely. You're not doing anything anyways.'

So, instead of following what my brain is telling me to do, and common sense is telling me to do, I get up and ask to use the bathroom. As I walk down the hallways, I'm starting to get a little nervous. I've never gotten in trouble before, and I'm not going to start that today.

I see Ray approaching with that crooked smile on his face. I can't even help myself from smiling back.

"Hi Jordan," he says.

"Hi," I say. "What now?"

"Absolutely nothing."

"What?" This dude really confuses me.

"We are going to stand here awkwardly."

I would laugh, but he looks completely serious.

Then he stares at me. With a totally straight face. This is really weird, especially since he doesn't go a minute without smiling. His eyes are so wide, and I look into them, pretty confused. If we're having an abnormal contest, I (surprisingly) wouldn't win this time.

I don't know how long it's been. He is still looking at me with that face, though. Its starting to make me think he has some issues. I raise my eyebrows at him.

"Makes you uncomfortable, huh?" He asks, opening his eyes wider.

"Sure does," I say. "You can stop that now."

"Fine." He smiles again.

A teacher walks by us. I hold my breath as they leave.

"I swear, if we get in trouble, I will cut out your rib and beat you with it."

This just makes Ray smile wider.

"What?" I ask.

"Oh, just thinking its funny when you get mad," he says. Then he laughs. I feel my face get red. I look away a little in hopes that he won't notice.

"Avoiding eye contact now, eh?" He asks.

That makes me snap a glare at him. But just as I do, it cracks into a smile. I laugh with him for a minute. Or more than a minute. My laughs drastically get louder, and then I cant even control them. Then someone approaches us.

************************************

Ray and I have been sitting in the waiting room by the office for about five minutes now. I keep shooting him death glares, but they aren't whole-hearted because I am panicking too much.

What if the principal calls my mom? What if this goes on permanent record? Oh my gosh...

"Well, gonna beat me with my own ribs yet?" Ray breaks the silence.

I am still too panicky to answer the question. I am just staring at the wall ahead of us.

"Ms. Green, Mr. Pearson. Inside, please," our principal, Mr. Parks, gestures us inside. We follow him inside and he puts his fingers on the bridge of his nose.

"Care to explain?" Mr. Parks asks.

"I asked her to come with me, sir. It was my fault," Ray says.

"No, really-" I start.

"Stop. I don't want to her the sappy 'It was me, oh it was me.' Just don't let it happen again, hear me?" Mr. Parks asks.

"Yes."

"Now go to class."

We get up and leave the room. I let out a sigh of relief. Ray turns to me with a smile.

"Told you we wouldn't get in trouble," he says.

"Yeah, right."

"Hey, it's true!" He says.

Then we start to laugh again. Only not that loud, since we only just stepped out of the principals office.

***********************************

"Hello, Lizzie. Nice to see you again," I say. Lizzie smiles up at me and then fall into her regular chair. She picks up a new book and begins reading.

It is only us two in the store so far. Sheryl is out because her son is sick. So, I am in charge of the store today. It ha already been about an hour and a half, but business is slow today.

I begin to hum a song. I tap my foot. I drum my fingers on the counter. I begin to sing.

"If that's what you wanted, If that's what you wanted. I'll put your poison in my veins. They say the best love is insane. I'll light your fire til the last day. I'll let your fields burn around me. I that's what you wanted. If that's what you wanted," I sing.

I hear clapping. I look up, and there stands Ray. I feel my face going bright red.

"You're really good," Ray says.

I smile a little. "Thank you."

"What's up?" Ray asks, leaning against the counter.

"Oh, nothing. Just the usual."

"Singing songs when you think nobody's around?" He asks.

"Well, duh"

"I see."

"Why are you here?" I ask.

"Once again, I had nothing better to do," he says.

"Once again, is the television or computer not entertaining enough?" I ask.

"For one, I hardly ever watch TV or get on the computer. And for two, I like talking to you. And I also just got very entertained listening to you sing beautifully," Ray says.

My cheeks get warm again. Of course. What else would I do in a situation like this? Talk to the guy like a normal girl, flirt even? But no. I stand and stare at him. And knowing me, I'm probably wearing some ridiculous face right now.

"What? It's absolutely true," he says.

"Thank you."

"Of course."

************************************

The store is supposed to close around eleven, so I get up from the counter. Lizzie left around eight. Ray told me that he had nowhere to be, so he stayed and chatted with me.

At the moment, Ray is asleep in the chair. I walk over to him and scream in his ear.

"Whoa! What was that?" Ray asks.

I laugh. Not one of those fake girly laughs that I hate, a real laugh.

Then I stand him up, grabbing his hand and pulling. I take the key and lock the door behind us. I look over at him and he looks at me.

"I'll walk you home," he says.

"No, just go home. It's getting late. Really," I say.

"Nah, I would rather walk with you."

So we walk to my house through the cold together.

"Do you have Mrs. Cole?" Ray asks, breaking the silence.

"No, I have Mr. Suntrail. Pretty fun guy, I guess. Compared to Mr. Smith, anyways," I reply.

"Ah, yes."

Silence once again grows between us and I don't know what to say. So I just admire the stars glimmering in the sky, and I smile at the sight.

"You know, I know nothing about you," Ray says.

"And?" I raise an eyebrow at him.

"And, I want to know you better."

"So...?"

"So, hm, what's your favorite color?" Ray asks.

I ponder the simple question for a moment. Such a hard choice, I mean the red and orange are so fiery and the blue is so oceany and the yellow is so sunny....

"Purple. It's pretty neutral. Not a blinding purple. Lavender," I finally decide. "And yours?"

"Blue. A dark one, not a blinding one," he winks at me. "Favorite animal?"

"Cat." Easy one.

"Mines a flamingo," Ray says.

"Why exactly?" I ask, stopping to stare at him.

"They're just so cool. And pink."

"Isn't that swell..."

"Tis."

"What's your favorite TV show?" I ask him.

"I don't watch much TV..." Ray says. "How about you?"

"You're not gonna believe me, but it's legitimately, Barbie Life in the Dreamhouse. Like, legit."

Ray starts laughing. "That is so awesome. Seriously, you are so cool."

I raise my eyebrows. "Really? I'm pretty sure I'm nerdy..."

"Do you know how many girls would have been like, 'oh my favorite TV show... I watch the fitness channel.' Or, 'Definitely America's Next Top Model.' But you, no, you don't care if I think differently of you. I think that's awesome."

**********************************

"Good. That one was right," I tell Jack.

"Thank goodness. Gosh, it's been a while since I heard that," Jack says.

"I told you that yesterday."

"Yeah, well, other than that I don't hear it," he says.

Then he just stares at me. I look away, feeling more uncomfortable than I did when Ray and I 'awkwardly stood there staring at each other.'

"What?" I ask.

"You have beautiful eyes."

I don't even respond. There is no way that came out of Jacks mouth. What did he eat for breakfast?

"Excuse me?" I ask. "I'm pretty sure I heard that wrong."

"It's a compliment. Take it or leave it," he says. Then he picks up his backpack and leaves.

I follow him out the door.

"What's that supposed to mean?" I call out to him.

"What do you think? You know, for a smart person, you can be really dumb."

I really don't like Jack in that way at all. I don't even like him, period. No way. Nope. Never. But I can't help but be glad somebody thinks of me that way.