Chapter 6 The Growing Greeneyed Monster
1735 Words
The Last Day Before Winter Break – December 2010
Anonymous POV
The hallways of Grant Middle School hummed with energy, a mix of excitement and chaos as students buzzed about their Winter Break plans. Backpacks swung from shoulders, lockers slammed shut, and boots squeaked against the tile floor wet from melted snow.
Marco leaned against his locker, arms crossed, his jaw tight. Sadie stood beside him, scrolling through her phone, the bright pink case glinting under the fluorescent lights.
“Marco!” Sadie snapped without looking up. “Are you even listening to me?”
Marco didn’t answer. His attention was fixed down the hall, where Sade and Dre were walking side by side. Dre carried both his clear backpack and Sade’s on his shoulder, laughing with her as they made their way to her locker.
“Marco, you’re staring again,” Sadie said, her tone sharper now.
“I’m not,” Marco muttered, looking away for half a second before his eyes found Sade again.
Sadie groaned dramatically. “You’re impossible, you know that? If you’re so obsessed with her, maybe I should just stop wasting my time with you!”
“Maybe you should,” Marco snapped, before realizing how harsh it sounded. Sadie’s face twisted into a scowl, and she stepped back, crossing her arms.
Nearby, Isla stood with her books clutched to her chest, pretending not to watch Marco and Sadie’s argument. But her ears burned as she caught Marco’s words. She knew she shouldn’t care, but something about seeing Sadie drape herself all over Marco made her stomach twist.
“You okay, Isla?”
Isla blinked and turned to see Tamara sauntering up, one hand on her hip, the other holding a bright orange water bottle.
“Yeah, I’m fine,” Isla said quickly, shifting her books.
Tamara smirked. “You don’t look fine. You look like someone who’s about to pop off. What’s up? That dumbass Marco finally piss you off?”
“Tamara!” Isla hissed, glancing around.
“What? Don’t act like I’m wrong.” Tamara tossed her curly hair over her shoulder and leaned against the lockers. “Marco’s always in someone’s business. You should just tell him to shut the hell up and get over himself.”
“I’m not—he’s not—ugh, forget it,” Isla stammered, her face growing hotter by the second.
“Yeah, yeah, whatever,” Tamara said with a wave of her hand. She unscrewed her water bottle and took a sip before narrowing her eyes at Marco and Sadie. “Why’s he still with her anyway? Sadie’s basic as hell.”
“Tamara,” Isla said again, though this time she couldn’t help the small smile tugging at her lips.
Down the hall, Star was holding court near her locker, her phone raised high as she snapped selfies at rapid speed. Her glossy pink lip gloss caught the light as she struck pose after pose, adjusting her scarf and tilting her head just right.
“Star!” Tamara called out. “Yo, Star, you good?”
Star lowered her phone just enough to glare at Tamara. “I’m perfect, as always,” she said with a toss of her long braids. “Unlike some of y’all who don’t know how to moisturize in the winter. Seriously, do you not feel your lips cracking?”
“Girl, shut up,” Tamara said, though she couldn’t help laughing.
“Whatever,” Star said, raising her phone again. “Some of us have important things to do—like securing my followers. One day, y’all are gonna be begging me for shoutouts.”
“Yeah, sure,” Tamara muttered. “We’ll all be waiting on that.”
Meanwhile, Marco’s scowl deepened as he watched Dre gently set Sade’s backpack down next to her locker. Dre leaned in to say something, and Sade laughed, the sound ringing down the hallway.
“Yo, Marco,” Paul said, walking up with Jordan. “What’s with the face? You look like you just failed math or something.”
Jordan snickered. “It’s not math. It’s Dre and Sade.”
“Shut up, both of you,” Marco snapped.
Paul raised an eyebrow. “Man, you’ve got a girlfriend. Why you so worried about what they’re doing?”
“Exactly!” Sadie chimed in, crossing her arms. “Why don’t you ask him, Paul? Since he clearly won’t tell me.”
Paul chuckled, shaking his head. “Nah, I’m good. I’m just here for the entertainment.”
Isla, still lingering nearby, felt her stomach flip again as she listened to the conversation. She knew she shouldn’t care about Marco or who he liked, but the way he looked at Sade made her chest ache in a way she didn’t fully understand.
“Yo, Isla!” Paul called out, snapping her out of her thoughts. “Come save Marco from himself. He’s losing it over here.”
“I don’t think I can help him,” Isla said, forcing a small laugh.
“Yeah, no one can,” Tamara muttered, earning a glare from Marco.
The bell rang, cutting through the noise and signaling the start of first period.
As the group began to disperse, Star snapped one last selfie before tucking her phone into her pocket. “Y’all are too much,” she said with a grin. “Catch you later.”
“Later, superstar,” Tamara said with a mock salute.
Isla turned to head to class but glanced over her shoulder at Marco one last time. He was walking beside Sadie, but his eyes were still on Sade and Dre.
Why does he have to be so stupid? Isla thought, frustration bubbling in her chest.
And why do I care so much?
---
The bell signaling the end of first period echoed through the halls of Grant Middle School. Students poured out of classrooms, their chatter filling the air as they moved toward their next classes. Marco stood in the stairwell, leaning against the cool concrete wall. His heart pounded in his chest, though he wasn’t entirely sure if it was from nerves or the frustration that had been boiling inside him all morning.
He wasn’t supposed to be here. He was supposed to be heading to history class, but instead, he waited, scanning the hall through the small window in the stairwell door. And then he saw her—Sade.
She walked with that easy confidence she always had, her backpack bouncing slightly on her shoulders. Her braids swayed as she laughed at something Dre said before they parted ways at the corner.
Marco’s jaw clenched, his fingers twitching at his sides. He waited until she was just about to pass before he opened the door, stepping into her path.
“Sade,” he said, his voice low and urgent.
She blinked, startled. “Marco? What the hell are you doing? I need to get to class.”
“Wait.” He reached for her arm, his fingers brushing against her jacket sleeve before he gently pulled her into the stairwell. The heavy door swung shut behind them, muffling the noise from the hallway.
“What the f**k are you doing?” she demanded, her eyes narrowing.
“Just... listen for a second,” Marco said, his voice tight. “I need to ask you something.”
Sade folded her arms across her chest, clearly annoyed. “This better be good, because I’m already late.”
Marco took a deep breath, his eyes searching hers. “Why the hell are you dating Dre?”
Sade blinked, caught off guard. “What? What kind of question is that? Why does it matter to you?”
“Because—” Marco paused, running a hand through his hair. “Because it f*****g does, okay? I just don’t get it. He’s... I don’t know, he’s not right for you.”
Sade laughed, a sharp sound that made Marco wince. “And you think you know who’s right for me? Marco, you’re barely even my friend. Why do you care who I’m dating?”
“Because—” He stepped closer, his voice dropping. “Because I like you, okay? I’ve always liked you. Ever since I first met you. It’s... it’s like something pulls me to you. I don’t know how to explain it, but it’s real.”
Sade’s eyes widened, and she took a small step back. “Marco, what the hell are you talking about? You have a girlfriend.”
“I don’t give a s**t about Sadie,” Marco said, his voice firm. “She doesn’t matter. Not like you do.”
“Marco—”
Before she could say another word, he leaned in and kissed her.
It wasn’t planned. It wasn’t thought out. It was a burst of emotion he couldn’t hold back any longer. His lips met hers, soft and hesitant at first, then more certain as he felt her freeze in place.
For a moment, everything seemed to stop—the noise from the halls, the cold air around them, the racing thoughts in Marco’s head. It was just them, suspended in time.
Then Sade pulled back, her eyes wide with shock. “What the hell, Marco? Why did you do that?” she demanded, her voice trembling.
“Why not?” Marco said, his own voice quieter now.
They stared at each other, the air between them thick with unspoken words.
“Marco...” Sade began, her voice softer this time. But she didn’t finish.
“I like you,” Marco said again, his eyes locked on hers. “I’ve always liked you. And I think... I think we could be something. What do you think about us?”
Sade blinked, breaking the spell. She stepped back, shaking her head. “There is no us, Marco.”
Her words hit like a punch to the gut, but Marco didn’t move.
Sade turned and yanked open the door, stepping back into the hallway without looking back.
Marco stayed where he was, staring at the spot where she had stood just moments ago. His lips still tingled from the kiss, and his chest felt heavy with regret.
“There is no us,” he whispered to himself, leaning back against the wall.
But even as he said it, he couldn’t shake the feeling that she didn’t entirely believe it.
- Writer
