CHAPTER 4:THE HOODIE BOY
1409 Words
DENNY'S P.O.V........
I walked into the house and the first thing I saw was Mum.
She was on the couch watching a movie. The TV was loud but the house felt quiet.
"Hey sweetheart, how was your first day?" she asked, pausing the movie.
"It was okay Mum," I replied, dropping my bag and sitting beside her on the couch.
"So nothing happened?" she asked. And then she gave me that look. That i want gist eye. The one that means tell me every single detail right now.
I laughed and shook my head.
"No Mum, nothing happened. And I’m too tired for this okay," I said as I stood up.
"Okay darling. Freshen up and come down for dinner," she said, already unpausing the movie and lying back down.
"Okay Mum," I said.
I went to my room.
The day had passed so fast. Too fast. I took a shower, ate dinner with Mum, and we talked about small things. About her new job. About the neighbors. Nothing important.
After that I went back to my room.
My room was quiet. I lay on my bed and just stared at the ceiling.
First day of college was done. And it was just... okay. Not bad. Not good. Just okay.
Then my phone rang.
I picked it up without looking.
"HEY GIRL!!!"
It was Maya. And she was loud.
"Whoa, calm down," I said, laughing. "Hey Maya."
"Don’t ‘hey Maya’ me," she said. "You PROMISED to tell me everything about your first day! Don’t you dare say ‘it was okay’ and hang up."
I smiled. "Fine. But actually nothing really happened. It was just okay."
"Just okay?! Denny! First day of college! New campus! New people! New lecturers! You’re telling me nothing happened?"
"Nothing Maya, I swear," I said. I sat up on my bed. "The classes were fine. The students were fine. The lecture hall was big. The lecturer talked too much. That’s all."
"Ugh you’re so boring," Maya groaned. But I could hear her smiling. "At least tell me if any cute boy was in your class."
"Nope. Nobody," I lied. I don’t know why I lied. Maybe because nothing really felt important yet.
"Fine," Maya sighed. "How’s Mum? And the new house? Is it peaceful?"
"Mum is good," I said. "She’s tired because of the new job but she’s happy. The house is peaceful. Too peaceful sometimes."
"That’s good. You deserve peace after everything," Maya said softly.
There was a small pause.
" And Jay I haven’t heard from him," I said quietly.
"Oh," Maya said. She sounded joyful . "Jay is good, Denny. He told me he promised to call you today. I don’t know if he forgot or got busy but he will call. You know Jay. He’s like that sometimes."
"Yeah," I said. "I know."
But I didn’t know. Not really.
"Don’t overthink it, okay?" Maya said. "Just focus on school for now. Make new friends. Have fun. And update me if he calls, alright?"
"Alright," I said. "I will."
"Okay good. I have to go now. My mum is calling me. Bye girl. Love you."
"Love you too. Bye Maya."
I hung up and put my phone on the bed.
The room was quiet again.
10 minutes later, my phone rang.
Unknown number.
I stared at it for 2 seconds before picking up.
"Hello?"
"Hey Denny."
It was J.
My heart did that small jump.
"Hey J," I said. I tried to sound normal.
"I’m sorry I didn’t call earlier," he said. His voice was calm, like always. "I got busy with some stuff."
"It’s okay," I said quickly. "I understand."
"How was your first day?" he asked.
"It was okay," I said. "Just like I told Maya."
He laughed a little. "Just okay? No drama? No new friends?"
"No drama," I said. "No new friends yet."
"That’s my girl," he said. "Take it slow."
We talked for about 15 minutes. About his work. About my classes. About random things.
He didn’t say "I miss you."
I didn’t say "I miss you" either.
But it felt nice hearing his voice.
"Get some sleep, Denny," he said before we ended the call. "You have school tomorrow."
"Okay. Goodnight J."
"Goodnight."
I have always liked Jay but to shy to say it and Maya knows. she's told me to tell him but I insisted on not spoiling our friendship and besides I'm pretty sure he doesn't see me that way and my feelings are not that serious. so........... it's better this way.
The next morning came too fast.
My alarm rang at 6:00am and I wanted to die.
I groaned and hit snooze. Then I forced myself to sit up.
The house was quiet. Mum had already left for her new job. There was a note on the kitchen table: _Have a good day sweetheart. Ate breakfast. Love you._
I went to the bathroom.
Brushed my teeth for a long time. Washed my face with cold water.
I looked at myself in the mirror. Tired eyes.
I applied a little makeup. Just lip gloss and eyebrow pencil. Nothing much.
I wore my uniform. Packed my books. Ate 2 slices of bread with tea.
Then I left for school.
The bus stop was full. People everywhere.
I got on the bus and sat by the window. I put in one earphone and played music. Soft music.
The bus started moving.
I watched outside. Shops opening. People running to work. Students in different uniforms.
At one bus stop, the bus slowed down.
And that’s when I saw him.
Outside.
Running.
He had a black hoodie on. The hood was up so I couldn’t see his face.
He was running so fast. Like really fast. Like he was late for the most important thing in the world.
He ran past the bus. For one second I thought he looked in my direction but I wasn’t sure.
"Wow," I whispered to myself. "he's so fast" I thought
The bus moved again.
I forgot about him after 10 seconds. College was in 10 minutes and I needed to focus.
School was crowded.
I found my class and sat down. The lecturer came in and started talking. I wrote notes but my mind was somewhere else.
After class I walked out into the corridor.
I was looking at my phone, trying to check my next class, when BAM.
I bumped into someone hard.
My books fell to the floor.
"Ah! I’m so sorry! I’m so sorry!" I said quickly, bending down.
Another hand reached down to help me.
I looked up.
Black hoodie.
Hood down this time.
It was the same boy from the bus.
The boy who was running.
He was tall. Taller than me. He had sharp eyes and messy hair. His face was blank. No expression.
He looked at me.
And then I remembered.
"I saw you running past me this morning," I said before I could stop myself.
He blinked.
No expression.
"Yeah, okay," he said. His voice was low. Flat.
That was it.
He picked up his own book, stood up, and walked away.
No "sorry."
No "what’s your name."
No "are you okay."
Nothing.
I stood there holding my books, watching his back.
Rude, I thought. So disrespectful.
I shook my head and walked to my next class.
Classes ended at 2:00pm. I was tired.
I walked out of the school gate with other students. The sun was hot on my skin.
I was standing at the bus stop waiting when I saw him again.
The hoodie boy.
He was across the road with 2 other boys. as they rest their backs on a black car.
They were laughing and talking. But he wasn’t.
He had his hands in his hoodie pockets and he was just standing there. Looking bored. Looking cold.
Then he looked up.
And he saw me.
Our eyes met.
For one second.
He didn’t smile. He didn’t nod.
He just looked at me like he remembered the corridor. Like he remembered me.
Then his friend tapped him and he turned away.
My bus came and I got in.
I sat by the window and watched the road.
My heart was beating fast for no reason.
Why do I keep seeing him?
And why does he act like I don’t exist?
I didn't know why I was over thinking it , but for some reason I can't stop myself
- Writer
