"I want you.."

"What?"

"I mean, I want you to help me with Math." My voice was a mere whisper.

"Oh, my help, is it?" I looked at his face under my eyelids and he was grinning. "Well, if I'd be honest, I don't know how I solved this equation. But if you still insist which I'm sure you will, I can help you with a few topics in Math." He shrugged.

"Oh that'll work." I sighed in relief. "Thank you."

As the class proceeded, we were bombarded with different equations and questions. As easy as linear algebra may seem, it gets complicated over time. Linear systems, vectors, maps, determinants and similarity make it a whole lot of mess. Everything alien to me right now.

During the whole class, I tried to hide away from his evil eyes--the one who was sitting in the back seat. Although my intention was to stay away from him, still I don't know why my mind of full of his thoughts. Every now and then, I would turn around and peek at him. His gaze was fixed on his notebook while the girl sitting next to him was fixed on him like a glue.

"Okay, guys, that's all for today. Remember, you've gotten only three weeks for your semester exams, so brace yourself. Practice as many questions as you can." Professor Jay stated before exiting the room, leaving everyone to scatter like thermocol balls.

"Hey, where can we---" Before I could ask for a place and timing from Tyler to have a chance to learn his math solving skills, he jumped to his feet and ran after that blonde.

Great! Was she the one he had been waiting for all this time?

I looked around and when I realized no one was around---especially him---I stood up and left the classroom. I couldn't wait to get away from this silly place.

"Sorry, sorry, sorry." Brittany appeared before the main door, her hands joined together. "Sorry, Ivory. I know I fucked up but--"

"Yes, Brie, you fucked up. How nice of you to finally realise it after fucking it up so fucking amazingly. Fuck, yes." I gave her a sly leer, sarcasm evident in my voice. I hope she noticed the anger camouflaged in my fake excitement.

"Something happened." She looked at me in surprise. Glad, she noticed it finally. "Something did happen. Tell me. Everything. I want to know it all."

"First, you tell me, what took you so fucking long?"

"Well, the credit goes to him." She points to a guy who was standing on the other side, busy chatting in a group.

We looked at each and simultaneously uttered, "Evan." He was Brittany's boyfriend.

He looked exactly like the photo Brittany had sent me of them. He was an inch or two taller than her. He looked like a stud in a blue hoodie, white trousers and a pair of expensive shoes that he was wearing. He was definitely Brittany's taste. I had seen the kind of guys she had dated in high school and to be honest, he was no different in looks.

He looked at me and his smile slipped off his face. Then he turned his eyes to Brittany and his face became even more pale---like a squeezed lemon. He kept looking back and forth between me and her like a robot.

Brittany grabbed my hand and pulled me towards her boyfriend whose face looked like he had seen a ghost.

"Ivory, this is Evan." He smiled at me as though he was forced to. "Evan, this is my first love, my best friend, my heart, my soul--"

"Brie." I gave her a glare as she was clearly exaggerating our friendship.

"Yeah, whatever, she's Ivory. Well, you know all about her." She shrugged, rolling off her eyes.

"Oh, yes, Ivory. Ivory, I know. Ivory, she talks about you all day and night. So glad to finally meet you, Ivory." He simpered. Was I overthinking or did he really repeat my name a few times?

"Likewise, Evan." I replied, nervously.

"Fuck off---where were you? We have been--"

We all turned around in sync to the voice that sounded very familiar to me--perhaps to all of us.

And then there he was--right before my eyes--grinning ear to ear the moment he noticed me. His face was still beaming in bliss, yet this time it looked a little too natural.

"Hey, where have you guys been? Meet my best friend, Ivory." Brittany exclaimed.

God must really be laughing at me right now if somehow Brittany happened to be his friend.

"Oh, Ivory, she is." His light brown eyes moved to my lips and his smile turned lopsided. Jerk!

"Ivory, meet Kendrick and Jordan."

For a moment, I tried to ignore him--apparently his name was Kendrick. I focused on the guy standing next to him. He too looked like he had seen a ghost or something. What the heck was this happening around me?

"Hey, Ivory. Nice to meet you. And pI'm sorry for what happened--"

"Ivory. Nice name. Nice to meet you, Ivory." Jordan was interrupted by Kendrick.

How did Jordan know about what happened earlier? Was he there? Were these people the ones who were laughing in the back? Was Evan also--

I suddenly turned around to look at Evan's face and he looked like he was indeed there. He apologized to me in gestures while hiding from Brittany. His lips were silently forming the word 'sorry' over and over again.

Seeing his puppy face, I thought I could forgive those whose fault was a little less.

I looked back at Jordan, "Nice to meet you too, Jordan and---" Then I met Kendrick's eyes. "Ken-dick, is it?" I smiled, cheekily.

"Ouch!" Evan giggled followed by Brittany and Jordan. "Told you, she is savage."

"Well, it is Kendrick." He came so close to me that for a moment I thought he was going to collide his lips on mine again but instead he just whispered, "But you can call me Ken unless you have some business to do with my dick." He winked at me. Fucker!

"Ken--watch out." Brittany warned him.

"Hey--my friend here," Evan stepped forward and placed his hands over Kendrick's shoulders. "I know, you are very good at comebacks. Just so you know, she is my girlfriend's best friend. And that makes her my responsibility."

"Fucker, that word doesn't even suit you to begin with. 'Responsibility', my ass." Jordan laughed at Evan before he added, "Anyways, let's go. Coach called for a meeting. Maybe our big announcement is awaiting us."

Three of them eyed each other. Their faces lit up with joy as if they knew something we didn't know--like their own little secret.

Kendrick glanced at me for the last moment. His eyes traveled from my eyes to my lips. He didn't smile this time though he looked like he wanted to say something. A lot of things. It seemed like the words he wanted to tell didn't escape his mouth. Finally, he turned around and left with his friends.

"Would you please explain to me what is going on between the two of you?" Brittany had her hands on her hips and her eyes squinted at me. She looked like my granny. It almost made me crack up.

"Between me and...?" I could play dumb but I knew very well who she was referring to.

"For fuck's sake, Ivory, between you and Ken. Even a blind man would notice it."

"Then, I'd say you've crossed your limits of blindness because there is clearly nothing going on between the two of us." I spoke nonchalantly, taking a heavy breath before adding, "Christ, what could possibly happen between us when that maniac thought of crashing his lips on mine at the very first sight.. Or fight.. whatever it was.." I was pissed that I had to explain it to her.

"What the--really? Are you sure it was Ken--Kendrick? This Kendrick?" She looked like I had told her the earth was flat.

"I guess so. Unless he has a twin brother."

"Fuck, no. But why would he...?" She looked like she was in utter disbelief. "Are you sure it was him?"

Really? Now I had to convince my friend to believe me? My best friend not believing in me would be the last worst thing that could happen in my life right now.

I simply glared at her.

"Oh, yes, it was him. Indeed, it was him." She said as a mischievous smile spread across her face.

"I'm fucking going to report him to the management. He can't---"

"I'm not sure if it's gonna help you even in the slightest," Brittany said in low voice.

"What do you mean?"

"His uncle is the dean of this campus and his father is one of the sponsors. I don't think they'll even consider your complain..." She held my hand as she continued, "But if you still want to report him, I'll support you."

"Fuck, I want to. He deserves a punishment. But I don't think there's any point of screaming when nobody's going to hear your voice. Besides, there are many things that need my attention right now. Guess what, I'll have to forget the whole incident like a bad dream."

My shoulders slumped, as I tasted defeat in my mouth before setting my foot on the battlefield.

"Iv, but I'll make sure he apologizes to you for whatever he did. I promise."

She took me in her embrace. "I know my love. But tell me how it happened and..." She grinned ear to ear, adding,
"and I want to know all the juicy bits."

"You aren't serious, are you?" I started walking forward, ignoring her and her question completely. "There are no juicy bits."

She turned around and started walking backwards facing me. "I'm sorry to say but if it is the Kendrick we are talking about, there can't be a case without those juicy bits being involved. Now, stop acting and spit it out."

She smiled and wiggled her eyebrows up and down, curiously waiting for an answer.

Somebody please send help.