My phone beeped a few times. I pulled my phone from my jeans’ pockets, and saw the texts from Ned.
Ned: Our meeting today
Ned: Can’t wait to meet up
Ned: Hello?
Ned: Are you able to meet today?
Ned: Celia?
Me: Hi
Ned: Hey!
Me: I don’t know
Ned: You don’t know what?
Me: That if I could meet you today
Ned: But this is important
Ned: We only have one week left
Me: I know
Me: I’m sorry
Me: Can’t you take charge until things get better?
Ned: You’re dropping the project for now?
Ned: A hot girl uses a nerd’s talent scenario :)
Me: No, I’m not
Me: It’s just I’m under a lot of pressure
Me: I can’t deal with projects right now
Ned: Next, you’ll tell me that you gonna pay me
Me: Can I?
Ned: This is my fault
Ned: I kinda expected this to happen
Ned: I mean you’re a hot girl
Ned: A hot girl wouldn’t team up with a guy like me
Me: That’s not what I meant!
Me: Ned?
Me: Hello?
I closed the chat room and tucked my phone in my pocket. I went downstairs, and got ready to call a cab. My day couldn’t get any worse.
****************************************
In the art class, while Mrs. Jensen asked us about the progress of our projects, and many hands were raised in the air. I guessed a lot of students were already working on theirs. Ned and I were behind on our schedule. He had the right to get mad about my pulling myself from the project and I felt bad about it. Ned was one row away from me, and he was scribbling something on a paper. He had not turned his head towards me, but I bet he knew I was there. I wished I could apologize, but I had no reason to. I had my own struggles at home and in my love life.
Then each student discussed with Mrs. Jensen their progress with their projects, and finally Ned raised his hand.
“Yes, Ned,” Mrs. Jensen called.
“Can you postpone the project deadline to next week?” Ned asked.
“Sorry, Ned, I can’t do that. I already gave you two weeks to work on your projects.” Mrs. Jensen explained, “I want to see your project complete by the start of the next week, on Monday.”
Ned huffed, and glanced at me. A look of disappointment on his face. A look I wished I never witnessed. I looked at the time on my phone. The class was over, and Mrs. Jensen gave her final words for the day, “Let your creativity flourish into art.”
The students got on their feet and walked through the door. I picked up my pencil and notebook from the desk, and got up from the chair. I stopped when I saw Ned standing in front of me.
“Hey,” He said.
“Look, I’m sorry if you got me wrong, but I need time to…”
He titled his head to the side, “I get it,” He interrupted, “I heard about your break up.”
I slightly shook my head, and licked my lips, “How did you know?”
He scratched the back of his head, “It’s all over the campus,” He explained.
“Shit,” I muttered.
“Anyways, I’m sorry, I misjudged you,” he said, and I really looked into his deep blue eyes for the first time. He looked not so bad, actually, quiet handsome.
“Never mind what happened yesterday,” I calmly said, and shrugged.
“So, we’re cool?” He smiled.
I laughed, “We’re cool.”
I walked out of the classroom, and bit my lower lip.
****************************************
After everyone went to sleep at night, I was awake, texting my girls, while laying on my belly with my PJ’s on. My hair was pinned high above my crown, and a hot coco drink in my other hand.
Max: So who’s Ned again?
Me: He’s a nerd in my art class
Max: Ooh ;)
Jane: Another one, huh?
Me: He’s just a colleague
Me: We’ve been working on a project together
Max: And?
Jane: :D
Me: But something happened this morning
Me: When I told him I pulled myself from the project temporarily, he got pissed
Me: He thought I was using him
Max: Did you?
Me: I don’t think so
Me: I only wanted more time
Me: I don’t know
Jane: You’re still hurt
Me: Yes, I am
Me: Since the breakup I can’t see straight
Me: Everything is fucked up
Me: I mean I can’t even talk to Dad
Max: Wait
Max: You haven’t told him yet?
Jane: No way!
Me: I couldn’t tell him
Me: Mom is sick
Me: Do you think it’s okay to hurt him more?
Max: Oh, no
Jane: :(
Me: I don’t think so
Me: I should keep this to myself
Me: Until I find the right time
Max: Until when?
Max: Forever?
Max: Celia, you know your mom is not going to suddenly get okay
Me: I know
Max: I’m sorry
Max: Shouldn’t have said that
Jane: Do whatever makes you feel better
Max: Don’t do drugs though
Me: Yeah
Max: Hey, so what about Ned?
Me: What about him?
Max: Do you like him?
Max sent a winky face
Me: I don’t know
Me: I don’t think so
Jane: He seems like a caring person
Jane: Since he apologized
Me: I was surprised
Me: Even though he was vocal about it
Me: But he forgave me
Me: He even felt sorry for my breakup
Max: Why don’t you try and talk to him?
Me: Are you serious?
Max: YES
Jane: Try
Me: You gotta be kidding me…
Me: What should we talk about?
Max: Whatever interests him
Jane: What does he like to do?
Me: I saw him wearing a Pokémon shirt once
Max: Pokémon then
Max: I’m not laughing at this
Jane: Pokémon!
Max: Okay, maybe I am
Max: LOL
Me: Girls, please
Max: Yeah, sorry
Jane:
