The punishment wasn't horrible, but it still restricted my normal activities. All of the extra stuff I did (like the botany club, which I rather enjoyed) I could no longer do, and if I wanted to participate in the school talent show that took place later this week (which I did since I had signed up for it since the day the first flyer came out) then I had to help work backstage and only participate in one event (as opposed to the max of two). But if I acted out again or did something to effect another student's grade (God knows how I'd be able to do THAT) then I'd be expelled. Oh, and my grade in English would be going down a significant amount because of my dozing, thus making my B+ average a staggering C- average. Am I the only one to think that's slightly asinine?
So, for the next few days, I helped decorate the area where the show was going to take place and helped adjust the lighting. And who, of all people, was also working on the show was Kentin. He too, apparently, had been told that to lift whatever charges he was accused of, he had to work backstage for the show. He was the one that tagged me down first.
"H-hey!" he shouted, although we were a good mile away from each other. I looked over and waved back, not really wanting to initialize a conversation at the moment. But he took it differently however, and half trotted-half ran over to me. "Y-you're Bridget, r-right?"
"Yes." I agreed with a smile. "And you're… Kentin, right?"
He blushed heavily.
"Yeah…" he said, rather dreamily, as if he liked the way I said something. Then it hit me; did he… like me?
"See you around." I said, too cheerfully to be truly nice, as I picked up a box with strung lights in it. Immediately, he reacted and got the other end of the box. I quickly inched my fingers back from his as he put his hands on the box to avoid any 'accidental romantic' moments. I've read one too many romance novels in my time to NOT to that, which Kentin apparently wanted so when our fingers didn't touch. He seemed a bit disappointed that his plan didn't work.
"I want to help you." He insisted.
"I don't need help carry this weightless thing." I told him, fibbing at a bit (the box was heavier than it looked, trust me). "I think someone would need your help over with scenery."
"No they don't, I already asked." Kentin informed me. Inside my head I cursed at my luck. So, then Kentin and I moved the box to where it was supposed to go and carefully placed it on the ground.
"Are you going to do something in the talent show?" Kentin then asked. I blinked in surprise.
"Yeah, a dance number," I confirmed. "Ever hear of Jennifer Lopez's Hit the Floor?"
Kentin thought about this for a moment, then nodded to show he understood.
"Cool." He said in approval. "I can't do anything for the talent show; Mr. Simmons decided it would be part of my punishment."
"I'm… sorry to hear that?" I said, not sure how to combat that since he seemed rather glad he wasn't allowed to.
"Don't be," he said, growing rather chipper, "I didn't want to be in a talent show any way. Don't really have a talent I wanna show off, you know?"
I couldn't think of anything to say in response, so all that came out was a very dumb sounding "Uh…" which Kentin took to mean I was falling for him or something, because then he gushed;
"I think you'd be pretty good on stage. You'd have all the guys after you when you when you win first place."
"Well… I…" I stammered, making the poor kid think I WAS falling for him, "You can watch an early performance this Thursday, the day before the actual talent show."
"I… I will!" Kentin said happily. I smiled back, but I bit my lower lip later as he left. Did I… just create a monster? Or encourage a love sick puppy, if that? Well, I knew one thing that was certainly going through my head; what just happened?!