Chapter Four

RHONDA

Three days have gone by. No longing looks, no phone calls, no weird shenanigans or outbursts of insanity, nothing. It was like Thaddeus Gammelthorpe ceased to exist, until I look at the corner of the class and see him frowning at everything. It was like there was a gloomy presence that was not to be discussed.

He didn't speak nor did he respond when people talked to him. Believe me, Arnold tried. It was fourth grade all over again, only this time it's worse, none of us knew what was going on in that crazy mind of his.

Now that I have cooled down and actually had plenty of time to think, I actually feel sorry for Curly. I was the one who put him in such a state. It was my fault. But then I think about what he did and the boundaries he overstepped and how after so many years the nerve-wracking torture continued, he got what was coming to him so I flipped my hair and forced myself not to think about it.

It didn't work. I thought about it a lot. I couldn't sleep because of it. I'd lay awake in bed pondering and contemplating any other course of action I could have taken to make him stay away. The guilt was making me sick and I knew that sooner I was going to have to do something drastic, like talking to him. It happened at lunchtime.

"So… I guess we're never going to discuss that fateful night even though you said you were going tell me the next morning," Nadine casually said before biting her tuna sandwich.

I shot her a look. The one that meant she better keep quiet or I will maim her.

"No, Nadine, we will never talk about that night. Ever."

She looked at me expectantly just as Lila sat down with as with the same kind smile on her face. I may be a bitch but the people I hang out with certainly belong in a convent. Lila has nothing but kind words and smiles for everybody, sometimes it can get annoying but mostly I just admire someone who can be nice to even the most infuriating people.

She must have a lot of patience to deal with me. I know, I am aware that I can be a bit… challenging sometimes.

Then there's Nadine, the lover of animals, even starting an Environment Club and helping at the shelter during the weekends. Next to them, I look like the spawn of Satan.

"Hi! The line was ever so long and I was already ever so hungry that my stomach rumbled while I was in the line. Luckily, Arnold was there to give me some tapioca pudding while I waited to get my tray. He is such a nice boy," she said,smiling with immense cheer.

You see? Ain't she like a living Scarlett O'hara except she has red hair and isn't a conniving little bitch. Other than that, they're almost identical.

"Yeah, that is fo-" I forgot what I had to say because right then Francis entered the cafeteria. His wavy, blonde locks glowed under the lights, high blue eyes sparkle and his wonderful, knee-weakening smile showcased his perfect teeth, he is perfection. He sauntered in confidently, his eyes scanning the room, his stride full of grace until he glanced to the left and saw me. He stopped with horrified eyes then… he turned away. It has been the same for every day since our date.

I bit my lip and looked down so that the girls wouldn't notice, Lila did anyway. She notices almost everything, very astute, that girl. She turned to see Francis and his basketball buddies and gave me a knowing look. I smiled to wave it off, to show that I didn't care, but inside my heart was breaking.

Nadine was reading her Biology book, which I was thankful for, the disgusting pictures kept her occupied. Occupied enough to not see that my crush just ignored me and had a face that said, "Where's your psychotic little boyfriend?"

Lila smiled reassuringly, I had the weird feeling she knew what the deal was. I stood up to get away from them. I couldn't deal with more problems right then.

Nadine got her nose out of her Biology book and stared at me questioningly. I gave them a very hurried and lame reply, "I forgot about this thing I've got to do so see you later."

Nadine seemed confused but Lila just nodded. I packed my things, grabbed my Louis Vuitton handbag and left my half eaten taco on the table. Nadine opened her mouth to say something then closed it again, her brows furrowed.

I walked away from the busyness of the cafeteria, overheard Nadine saying behind me, "You didn't finish your lunch, Rhonda!" but I didn't turn. The girl already thought I had an eating disorder, things can't get any worse. She was worried about me, I knew, but right then I just really wanted to escape. I didn't care where, just a place where I would be alone.

Why did it hurt? It wasn't like the date went great and I expected him to act like this. But it didn't soften the blow.

After a bit of walking, I realized I was in the abandoned part of the school. It was perfect. A place where I could bawl my eyes out and no one would care. I waited but the tears didn't come. Was I all cried out or did I just didn't care? The pain was there but surprisingly, no tears.

It wasn't long before I sensed I wasn't alone. I heard a noise to my left.

There, sitting against the wall, was a boy with black hair and lanky frame listening to music with his eyes closed. I needed a distraction so I could stop feeling the pain.

I approached him by ripping the earphones from his ears, his eyes opened and he looked up at me startled. Those black eyes were penetrative, it was as if it saw what was inside me, my soul, my thoughts, everything.

"What are you up to, Curly?" I snapped. While my eyes narrowed into slits. To anyone this question might seem casual, like, "What are you doing?" but when used between Curly and I it has whole different meaning. It means, "What else are you planning to do to ruin my life?"

He did not respond for a few moments. I glared at him. He shrugged. "Nothing."

"What do you mean 'nothing'?" I asked hotly.

"Exactly what I meant, nothing. I am not up to anything as you so kindly asked and that's that," he replied. He looked pretty annoyed with me already.

Him, annoyed, with me? Hah! There really is a first time for everything, isn't there?

"I do not believe you," I growled.

He stood up and I realised that I wasn't taller than him anymore. In fact, quite the opposite, he has the height advantage now.

My throat tightened so I gulped. Loudly. And took a couple of steps back.

He grinned at that. Grinned! Stupid freak, as if he had any right to grin. It wasn't a grin of amusement. It was a smug grin. My stomach started to flip. Am I actually intimidated by Curly? Him? Of course not!

Am I?

He took a step towards me and I had to look up at him. He was so near that I could smell his breath, not that it's the first time I smelled it, seeing as how he always like to get so damned close to my face in the past. It was how it always smelled, like mint-flavored gum.

By the time we were face to face the grin had disappear and in its place was a grim frown.

He spoke calmly, "Look, Rhonda, I have not spoken to you unless you have spoken to me first nor have I been following you around. Neither did I leave any gifts in your locker or talked to you during classes we have together."

He paused but still gave me that dead on stare. "I'm doing all the things that you want me to do, what more do you want?"

He was right. What more did I want? He already left me alone and that's what I wanted but there's something off with Curly and I feel the need to talk to him although I really don't want to.

"Do you know that you're my tutor?" I asked. I was still outraged by that fact but it seems that I don't have to be so nervous about it. He certainly seem like he doesn't want to tutor me.

"Yeah... English Lit and Math, right?" he said without any emotion, as if us spending hours together would not be awkward and weird.

"Right," I whispered while I touched my elbow. It was one of my annoying mannerisms when I get nervous.

He took his bag, turned and gave me one last glance.

"Don't think about it too much. It's going to be fine," he said.

I almost opened my mouth to say sorry but I stopped at the last moment.

I watched his retreating back and thought about how things between us had changed so much. Two weeks ago if we ended up together in a room alone he probably would have harassed me until my patience ran out and I beat him to death. But now... well, it was hard to explain.

One thing was for sure, things were changing, but I'm not sure whether I like it or not.