Cinderella knows now, and I can't really do anything about it except to move on. But how am I supposed to move on, when he's always there.
I take my seat at the back of the classroom. Flounder is already there with his head down. His thin features are being hidden by his baggy blue sweater and his black cap that he's wearing, even though there isn't any sun outside, or especially, inside.
"Hey, " I tap his hat and he jerks up. "Sure, you can wear that indoors, inside a classroom?"
He laughs. I like it when he laughs or smiles. He's like an innocent fish that has been loved and cared for by a loving family and doesn't know that there are sharks out in the real world. He's like a reminder of all the good things.
"If they tell me something, I'll take it off, I won't argue. But so far, only an annoying redheaded girl has said something and I normally don't listen to those."
I dramatically gasp, acting insulted. We laugh, apparently attracting attention because a football player looks at us. He waves and am forced to smile. I don't even know him.
"So, what? Over the summer you started hanging out with the jocks?"
"Uh, what? What is that supposed to mean?" I ask, confused because Flounder almost sounded jealous.
He just stares at me and says nothing.
I look back at the football player. He has really dark hair but really light blue almost gray eyes. He's wearing a white shirt and a red belt to hold up his jeans. His style reminds me of Adam's. I guess all football players shop at the same store. I look at his feet, and see something different from the others. He's wearing boots, leather boots. I'd never seen any guy wear leather boots, especially a football player.
I decide to look at his face, see his really blue eyes... his blue eyes that are staring at me staring at him.
I quickly shift my gaze into my hands. I am forced to look at my bag that I had plopped onto the desk.
I look back and he is still looking at me. He smiles. I smile. We both smile, but his is sincere and mine is not.
...
"So then after we get ice cream, maybe we can check out the new restaurant. Or maybe we should go eat and then get ice cream..."
I'm not listening to Flounder, and I would feel bad if I could actually feel anything right now.
All I can focus on right now is Adam, who is there standing next to Belle in front of the exit.
"Hey! Ariel, are you even listening to me?" Flounder waves a hand over my face and follows my gaze. "Oh. I get it. You are checking out the Captain of the Football team." He nods his head as if it was obvious.
"What? No, Flounder! Why would you say that, no. He is not my type, he's..."
"Not your type, sure. I'll meet up with you at your place on Sunday to go to the restaurant. I'll text you, too...You'll probably forget." He waves as he walks away. His bright yellow bag highlighting his path.
After he's completely gone I walk over to Belle and Adam.
"Oh hey, Ari! Let me just say goodbye to Adam and then we can head to my place," she turns and says to him. "Call me tomorrow in the morning. We can go get coffee and a donut before school."
"Okay, maybe after school, then, we can go see a movie."
Belle turns red. She softly laughs and we turn to leave.
"Isn't he great?" She whispers to me.
"Yep. Just great." I say.