Two Steps Behind

CHAPTER 11

"Good morning, Blythe!" As usual, the cheerful Lexie greeted me with a toothy grin while placing the plate of ham she prepared on the table. 

I smiled at her then greeted back a "Good morning." 

"You look stunning on your dress. No wonder why lots of men drool over you," she joked. I rolled my eyes at her and chose to continue my steps towards the dining table. 

I know that already. I am beautiful and a lot of men fancy me. They tend to leave love letters and flowers on my locker with chocolates on it which I usually hand over Lexie. There are a lot of them, seriously, my teeth would break before I could finish eating all of those. Sometimes, a car would stop and block my way to offer me a ride but I used to decline because I have my own car. I can't be fooled by their old and common acts. Not anymore. Never again. Once was enough because twice would be foolish stupidity. 

With a smile plastered on my face, I positioned myself on the chair and stabbed my fork on the reddish ham from my plate. Eating heavy breakfast was not my thing. For the past years in my life, morning coffee and a piece of sandwich was good for me already. My stomach would flip every time I ate heavy breakfast early in the morning but I have set a weight gaining goal so I have to eat the most important meal of the day. 

"Here's your coffee, Blythe," Lexie spoke, placing the cup of coffee on my side. 

"Thank you! Join me here now," I replied before taking it to its original place. 

The aroma of the original brewed coffee beans filled my nostrils which flows down to my entire system together with its adventurous smoke. It gives me chills whenever I smell a coffee, making my throat feel dry and thirsty. I don't know why, I must be addicted to it. 

"Blythe, let me just remind you of your napkin. The coffee might stain your dress," My oh-so-caring housekeeper and friend, Lexie, reminded me again. I shrugged my shoulders then placed down my coffee to fix my table napkin. 

Yeah, I don't want to get this stunning ocean blue sleeveless dress with cute laces on the hem got dirt and would make me look like an unkempt baby girl lost on the school campus. Raven would surely laugh at me on that. Wait… why do I care if he would laugh at me? What's new about that either way. 

I took a deep breath before standing up and dusting my dress off. I have to deal with another boring day again. 

"Lex, I'm going now." She took a glance on me then waved her hand in the air dismissively. 

She laughed when I burped out loud which was very rare to happen. It was either because I consumed too many acids or I was full. Whatever. I rolled my eyes and grabbed my bag on the seat in the same minute then I stormed out. My baby car was the only thing that excites me everyday. I immediately hopped in and started the engine. Still got 30 minutes, enough time to travel to school. 

"Gosh, Khassie! If you would meet my tutor, you would surely agree with me." Khassie burst out into laughter the moment I told her the story. 

I was silently walking along the hallway when Khassie saw me. Since we are in the same building, she decided to leave her classmates on their own and chose to walk with me. That was sweet of hers as she said that she wanted to be with me rather than her classmates. They would probably switch faces one of these days if she'd continue mixing with them. I laughed when she said that it was really horrible to switch faces with them and she would be glad if she would switch mine either. She was really rude at some of her not-really-true school friends. 

"Though I haven't seen him yet, it seems like he is fun. And… a lot of confidence in letting a Martinez down." I frowned at her. 

"Oh, so you mean, you found him fun and interesting?" I groaned, "Khassie, he's not! Just wait for this exam to pass and I'll look for another one. Or… I will bug Peachie again to teach me," I said convincingly, making her release a hiss. 

"As if you could learn something from her. For all we know, your tutorial lessons turn out into a movie marathon, chitchat, eating, fitting dresses and everything." She rolled her eyes up to the sky with a chuckle. She was kinda right on that but at least I had fun with her. 

"We would make a change this time. I will make sure that we will study first before entertaining other stuff," I told her with full assurance. 

She tapped my shoulders while shaking her head. "I would pray for that thing to happen. You fool, I know the both of you," she replied. 

I narrowed my eyes at her. 

"You don't believe me?" I asked with an exaggerated voice that I was hurt. 

"I believe in your fantasies." She chuckled and gave me a short hug before she raced her feet in her classroom. 

That woman! 

She looked back at me and showed a toothy grin. I weakly smiled back then she shooed me away. What a rude friend I have. 

In the afternoon, I isolated myself in the library. The whole morning session exhausted me so much, especially Mrs. Khant's subject. She kept on throwing us mathematical problems and a complicated solution the whole time then decided to give us an exam tomorrow. Plus, our marketing professor assigned me a report due the day after tomorrow. So, I ended up here. Thorough searching and analysing. My head almost exploded about everything and would make my brain splatter on the ground. It sounds gross but it was literally what I felt today. 

"Hey, Blythe!" I jolted to the sudden greeting on my side. I am now heading my way to the parking area to ride on my baby car and go to my tutorial session. 

"Oh, hey!" I greeted back to the man that I forgot the name. He was one of those friends of Peachie in the library if I'm not mistaken. 

"How are you?" he asked, joining my pace. 

"Exhausted," I replied with a short laugh. 

"Cheer up you beautiful lady. You can do it!" I smiled sincerely at him and mouthed a thank you before we parted our ways. 

How nice of him to cheer me up though we are not that close. I hope all people are like him who cheers up every exhausted person they meet in the hall. Surely, I would see no drop faces here in the school. 

I was rooted on my stand when I realised that the sky was getting darker. Droplets of rain began to fall following the howling wind and dancing trees. I made a facepalm while battling over running the five meters away to the parking area or waiting for the rain to stop. 

It tooks me a few minutes before I finally decided to run over there. I tightened my grip on my bag and ran as fast as I could toward the area. Good thing, I wore comfortable flat shoes today. 

The raindrops slowly kiss my skin as I race my feet. My hair was getting wet and shaggy, I don't know if they are standing, waving and knotting like a tumbleweed now. My dress went wet as well as my shoes. I should probably have gone straight at home before going to the coffee shop. I wiped away my wet face using my bare not-so-wet hand making my light make up to scatter all over my face. I groaned as I saw a hint of my eyeshadow on my palm. 

What pissed me off more was when I saw muddy water which blocked my way to the parking area. I can't just soak my feet and walk along the dirty water because I have a sensitive skin and it irritates me so easily. I stomped my feet and groaned loudly out of frustration. 

Now, I have to walk around the campus and go to the other exit with this ugly disappointing face! I would not wonder if I would wake up and see "Blythe Adrie Martinez, looks like a zombie while walking along the campus" tags on social media. Horrible. But, I won't give a damn. 

"Planning to stay here all night and shower yourself with rain water?" I heard a voice from somewhere then smiled secretly on the thought that I am not the only fool standing under the rain shower. 

"I'm not stupid to do that," I mumbled. 

"Then what?" he asked. 

"I can't skip there and ride my baby car, skin irritation," I answered as if the person was really talking to me. At least, intruding their talk eased my annoyance. 

My eyes suddenly widened in surprise when I saw my-oh-so-good tutor appear on my side. "Come on," he said. 

"Oh, hey," I replied then instantly looked away when I remembered how horrible my look was. Sometimes, you have to look away to avoid seeing the person laughing at your face. 

I waited for a few moments to hear his mocking laugh but I heard none. Instead, a cap landed on my head. 

"What are you doing?" I asked in furrow brows while holding the cap when he kneeled down, facing the dirty water. 

He turned his face at me with a blank face. "Come on, ride on my back or I'll carry you going there," he replied causing my pulse rate in a riot. Droplets of rain streamed down to his rugged face which made him more hotter, added by his messy hair which was waved by the blow of wind. Oh, wait… correction, he has the looks but I'm not attracted to it. 

I looked away before he would notice me watching over him. 

"No, I'll just take a taxi." Then he stood up. The facade of goodness has broken. 

"Leave your baby car here and tomorrow morning, you'll see it if not broken, totally disappear."