- Hello - I say smiling politely to the girl who accompanies you. - Can I talk to you?
- Now you want to talk to me? - Ryder asks with a debauched smile. - If you haven't noticed, I'm pretty busy right now.
The girl next to you smiles with a smile, crossing her arms in front of her chest. I swing my head in a gesture full of grief. Ryder was an annoying person at times and I wasn't in the least bit of patience. Still...
- It's a little urgent, so if you can... - I say in a low voice, but the brunette interrupts me.
- Haven't you heard? He's busy, nerd! - the girl says growling.
Snarling with increasing irritation, I close my eyes to try to contain myself, which has become impossible. I punch the wall next to me and the jumpy girl's scared.
- Listen, I'm not gonna stand here arguing with you like I'm a schoolgirl fighting for some asshole's attention. - I say between my teeth, looking at the girl in anger. Before she opened her mouth to say anything more, I'll keep going. - Even because I'm not really a schoolgirl and I know very well how to impose myself as a woman instead of a bitch's representative.
The snitchy girl opened her mouth to talk, but I interrupted her again, turning in the direction of Ryder who laughed sarcastically, but stopped to contemplate my gaze.
- As for you! When he decides to grow up and stop showing off to this bunch of dead flies, which if he wants to, will form in the next two years, he tells me. I'll be ready to start working on our project. - I mean ironically. - But don't delay, because I have until Monday to register and I can be busy helping someone else.
He's silent, amazed at my attitude. Waving my head, I turn around and go home. I fix my glasses when I hit Jake's chest, one of the boys on the basketball team.
- Well, if it isn't Brooke Evans, the hollow stick saint! - he smiles with disdain. - I heard Aron left her. If you want a shoulder to comfort you, mine's available.
I swing my head breathing deeply. Ignoring Jake seemed to be the right thing to do, but my tongue was too sharp today and I refused to take defiance home.
- Thank you so much for the offer, Jake, but I really like challenges. Judging by his tiny brain and the comments I hear... - I mean in a debauched way, taking a break and looking at him from top to bottom. - Your dick is too small to bring me any comfort.
The hallway explodes in a loud laugh. He widens his eyes, but I smile as I walk past him and say goodbye heading towards the exit.
- You bitch! - he shouts. - I don't have the little dick, nothing! One day you'll still beg to be with me.
- Dream on! - I mean, waving my back and putting my headphones in my ears.
Putting my hands in my coat pockets, I go to the nearest Starbucks, where I make a snack to the sound of Imagine Dragons. Yeah, I love rock bands, but no one ever asked me to know. When I put those headphones on, my world changed. Everything got better and I had to control myself so I wouldn't go dancing.
The day went by slowly. I caught up on my studies and relaxed watching several comedy films at Netflix. Aron decided to call me and made several calls that I ignored. Already Ryder, no sign of life all day. I felt that I was lost for the first time, but I tried anyway to abstract the fact that I depend on the most selfish and stupid person in the world. On Tuesday, I wake up early for a race before class. The bump on my head doesn't hurt so much anymore. To my surprise, no one makes jokes about me or my status as Aron's ex. On the contrary, they decide to ignore me. That was like a relief and I thanked Ryder for the embarrassment in the cafeteria that, in the end, had worked.
The class went dynamic as usual and sometimes someone made a joke, but nothing out of the ordinary. I tried to concentrate because the following Monday I would be teaching one of Keller's classes. I was very happy with the opportunity and would not accept anything to get in my way. At the end of the lesson, I put my headphones back in my ear and, picking up my things, I head for the exit of the room and continue to the dance class in the attached building. As always, I was the last to arrive because of my schedule, but Leon, my partner and teacher, always waited for her. We were getting ready for a presentation that didn't have a date or place yet, so I trained every day we could. I studied contemporary dance, taking advantage of the ballet classes I took as a child. For some reason Leon hadn't been there that morning and couldn't warn me, so I decide to make some moves on my own. To the sound of Say You Love Me (Jessie Ware), I make the final stretch, in a distracted way. When the music ends, I hear some applause. Surprised and scared, I look towards the door of the huge dance hall and see Ryder leaning on the door with his legs crossed.
- Ah! It's you! - I say taking a deep breath, trying to contain the pierced beats of my heart.
-
