Between Classes
1260 Words
We stayed in the cafeteria until the bell rang.
Maya looked at the clock on the wall and immediately stood up.
“Oh, we’re going to be late.”
“You said that ten minutes ago,” Lena reminded her.
“Yeah, and now I actually mean it.”
Sophie laughed as she picked up her tray.
“Come on before she starts blaming us.”
I grabbed my bag and followed them out of the cafeteria.
The hallway was already filled with students heading back to their classrooms. Maya walked beside me, still complaining about how short lunch breaks were, while Lena and Sophie walked a few steps ahead of us.
“I swear they make lunch shorter every year,” Maya said.
“They don’t,” I said.
“They do.”
“You just spend half of it talking.”
“That is not the point.”
I laughed.
By the time we reached our classroom, almost everyone was already back in their seats.
We slipped inside just before the teacher returned, and I took my seat beside Maya this time
The rest of the lesson passed quickly. Before I knew it, the bell rang again, and everyone started packing their things.
Maya turned to me.
“Locker?”
I nodded.
“I need my English book.”
She grabbed her bag and stood up.
“Then let’s go before the hallway gets crazy.”
We walked out with the rest of the class, making our way through the crowded hallway until we reached the lockers.
I spun the combination, and my locker clicked open.
“Do you have your history book?” Maya asked.
I checked inside.
“No.”
She stared at me.
“You’re joking.”
“I thought I put it in here.”
“You thought?”
“I was tired this morning.”
“You’re always tired.”
I gave her a look.
“Are you going to help me or judge me?”
“Both.”
I laughed and started searching through my locker.
“Here.”
Maya reached past me and pulled the book from the bottom shelf.
I took it from her.
“You’re actually useful sometimes.”
“Sometimes?”
“Don’t get too excited.”
Before she could answer, a voice came from behind us.
“Can you two move?”
I turned around.
Three girls stood behind us, clearly waiting for us to get out of the way.
I recognized them immediately.
They were the kind of girls everyone knew, even if you’d never actually spoken to them.
Chloe stood in the middle, her arms folded as she looked at us.
Beside her, Madison was checking herself in the small mirror attached to her locker, while Brooke scrolled through her phone.
Maya glanced at them.
“We’re almost done.”
Chloe looked at my open locker.
“Clearly.”
I ignored her and started putting my things away.
Maya wasn’t as interested in ignoring her.
“You could always use the other lockers.”
Chloe raised an eyebrow.
“Excuse me?”
Maya shrugged.
“There are plenty of other ones.”
I closed my locker before Maya could say anything else.
“Come on.”
I pulled her away.
She followed, but not before giving Chloe one last look.
As soon as we were out of earshot, Maya muttered, “I can’t stand her.”
“You can’t stand anyone.”
“That’s not true.”
“You didn’t like the cafeteria lady yesterday.”
“She gave me the wrong change.”
“You were off by fifty.”
“Exactly.”
I laughed.
“You’re impossible.”
“I prefer entertaining.”
We turned the corner, and I nearly walked straight into someone.
“Sorry.”
I looked up.
Ethan.
He stepped aside with a smile.
“It’s okay.”
For a second, I forgot what I was supposed to say.
“Hi,” I finally said.
“Hey.”
His eyes dropped to the book in my hands.
“History?”
“Unfortunately.”
He smiled.
“Good luck.”
“Thanks.”
He walked away.
I watched him for a second before Maya bumped my shoulder.
“Don’t.”
“I didn’t say anything.”
“You were about to.”
She grinned.
“I was just going to say that you suddenly became very interested in history.”
I rolled my eyes.
“Let’s go before I leave you here.”
“You wouldn’t.”
“Try me.”
She laughed as we continued down the hallway.
The next bell rang just as we reached our classroom.
Maya pushed the door open.
“We made it.”
“Barely.”
“Still counts.”
I smiled and followed her inside
The rest of the afternoon went by without anything particularly exciting happening.
Which, honestly, was exactly what I needed.
By the time the final bell rang, I was ready to go home.
Students poured into the hallways, talking over each other as they made their way toward the exits. Maya caught up with me outside the classroom, already putting her books into her bag.
“You walking home?”
“Yeah.”
“Good. I’ll come with you.”
“You live in the opposite direction.”
“I know.”
I looked at her.
“Then why are you coming?”
She shrugged.
“Because I can.”
I smiled.
“You weirdo.”
“And yet you keep me around.”
“Unfortunately.”
She bumped my shoulder.
“Rude.”
We walked out the school gates together.
The sky had changed while we were inside.
The bright afternoon from earlier was gone, replaced by a thick gray clouds hanging over the city.
Maya looked up.
“Looks like rain.”
I followed her gaze.
“Hopefully not before we get home.”
“You didn’t bring an umbrella?”
“No. Duh. Do I look like a weather forecaster? Of course I didn’t know it was going to rain,” I said, rolling my eyes.
She shook her head.
“You never learn.”
“I thought the weather was supposed to be nice.”
“And who told you that?”
“My imaginary weather expert.”
She laughed.
We continued down the street, talking about everything and nothing.
A few drops landed on my arm.
I looked down and quickened my pace.
“Great.”
Maya looked at me.
“What?”
“Rain.”
Another drop hit my cheek.
Maya grinned.
“I told you.”
“You really don’t have to remind me.”
The rain started falling a little harder.
We picked up our pace, laughing as we tried to avoid the puddles forming along the road
After a few minutes, we reached the corner where we usually went our separate ways.
Maya stopped.
“See you tomorrow.”
“See you.”
“And don’t be late.”
I groaned.
“Here we go again.”
“I’m serious.”
“You say that every day.”
“And one day you’ll listen.”
She turned and started walking away before calling back,
“Text me when you get home!”
“I will!”
I watched her disappear down the street before turning toward my own house.
The rain was still falling as I continued walking.
I pulled my bag closer to me and hurried home, already thinking about a hot shower and getting out of my damp uniform.
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