I Wonder.

Him

LOCATION: LUNCHROOM

TIME: August/24/12:24pm

Pura:

"So you're telling me a so-called random guy."

"Malum." I corrected her, she rolled her eyes, not really caring about his name.

"Okay let me just get this straight, Malum ran into Liam causing your stuff to scatter across the floor then he talked s**t to psycho Liam and eventually Rando grew some balls that led him to mutter a blow job joke IN FRONT OF YOUR POSSESSIVE FREAK and he is still breathing?" I nodded my head and continued eating as her mind exploded. I had finally told Dawn the story and she was having trouble wrapping her head around what happened and so was I.

"Honestly I need him to be my boo." Dawn said with a straight face. "He's a legend." She concluded and went back to her yogurt. I laugh at the choice of words she goes with to describe Malum. I haven't seen him around all day and I think that's a good thing, but I really don't know if I’m set on that yet. "Anyways how are you and how was your break?" I looked up from my salad to find my best friend being concerned as always.

"I'm fine Dawn." She looked at me with a look that screamed 'I Don't believe the lies you're telling.' I guess I have to be more convincing.

“Really, everything went well this summer and I'm better he apologized and he's better." She gave me a nod and I could tell she still didn't believe me but whatever.

"Okay well I still think that you and Liam should break up, he's not worth your time anymore honey." I laughed at this. I Don't think I could ever break up with Liam. He's my rock. I love him and he would never let me leave him anyways.

"If it comes down to it, I will."

"No you won't and that's the sad part." I smiled at her and just kept eating my food. The islets took over and I knew I needed to change the subject.

"How was your break Dawn." With that the conversation totally shifted from me to here.one thing with Dawn is that she liked to talk about herself and I liked to listen. We were perfect like that. She liked to talk about herself so much that all of lunch had ended with her finishing up the last details of her story. As I walked out of the lunch room I realized this was the first year me and Liam had two different lunches and I feel like s**t for thinking this but for some reason, I'm not mad about it.

"What do you have next?" I asked her and she pulled out her schedule.

"Ugh, I have pre-calc. But it's with Ms.Wight so that's great. What about you Puri?"

I pulled out my schedule as well and read it. "creative writing with Mr.Mack, my favorite." I smiled. I truly loved this man. He was the best and I kept coming back just for him if I'm being honest. I didn’t care what he taught he just made it interesting.

"You have taken his class every year so far."

"I know he's great, kind of sad this is my last year with him." I smiled. I know this sounds like I have such a big crush on a teacher but, I'm not into him like that. He's married and is old and has kids. He's like a grandpa. No that there’s anything wrong with liking older men it’s just not for me.

"Okay well have fun I'll be off." and with that, we went our separate ways. I smiled as I saw the doorway to the class, this will be fun. I turned the corner quickly, excitement filled every fiber of my being and then I saw Mr. Mack's face lit up like mine and it was almost like a reunion of a long lost child with their parents after summer camp.

"How's my favorite student doing?" I flipped my hair behind me in a pompous way, jokingly of course.

"Good and how's my second favorite teacher." he put his hands over his heart and looked appalled.

"Who could possibly be over me gotdamn it.” He asked with a playful tone.

"The janitor of course we have to respect all walks of life." He laughed at me and shook his head.

"You almost had me going there Pura. I'm glad you came back for another year. We will talk after the bells about to ring." I shook my head and turned towards the stations. He didn't have your typical class setup. It was more fun and groovy just like him. At best this reflected his personality to a tea. The bohemian themed room was filled with couches; the only desk was his so everyone was handed a clipboard when work was assigned. The floor was carpeted and instead of the awful ceiling lights he had dim laps near ever work station. This room was made into a very good space to write for hours. He believes that a writer needs to be in comfortable conditions to write so he made it happen with the school board.

When I put my stuff down at one of the high top tables I waited for the bell to ring by staring at the clock and once it did Mr.Macks voice boomed through the class

"Hello I'm Mr. Mack and you are in- " The swing open cutting him off and the fact that he was standing in the doorway gave me an indescribable feeling.

"Sorry I'm late I couldn't find your class to save my life."

Malum.

I Don't quite know why the air in my lungs got hitched in my throat and made me stop breathing for a moment Or two when I laid my eyes on the boy I deemed to be crazy this morning but that's what happened. Everything just stopped when I saw him.

"It's okay you can sit anywhere." He nodded politely and scanned the room for a seat and his eyes found my curious ones within seconds. He didn't move, he just stood there looking at me with curiosity and another emotion I couldn't quite place. I hated that I couldn't place it. I always prided myself in knowing what others felt and him having an emotion I can't place is like a puzzle without one piece. And I knew I would do anything to find it. f**k me.

"Well son take a seat I got some teaching to do." Whatever thoughts he had slowly left his eyes and he began to walk my way holding all the confidence in the world on his shoulder it seemed.

Shit.

Do I want him to sit next to me? If he did, would I be polite or annoyed? Did I leave the toaster plugged in?

The chair screeched next to me. And Mr.Mack started teaching again. Or doing his little intro that I've heard every year so far. I tried to focus but that was damn near impossible with this boy sitting next to me because the smell of tobacco and strawberries hit my nose. Surprisingly I liked it. I think I liked it too much if I'm being honest.

"Nice seeing you again."