High School Algebra

Numbers…hmmm, I thought while chewing on the top of a pencil. Well I know that if I had fifteen dollars, I could buy about fifteen hamburgers off the dollar menu and I had this strange feeling that I could get them all eaten and still be hungry. Our teacher, Mr. Nakumora, was busy writing on the board about Algebra. I can only spell one word out for you Y-A-W-N.

Fortunately, I had Fang in this class and no Brigid.

Don't get me wrong- listening to a middle-aged, Chinese man talk about Pythagoras is so exciting that I'm like one of those cartoons with the eyes popping out of my head. But, with Fang, I was one of those other cartoons with the heart beating out of the chest. Which is just as bad as not paying attention in class because he has a girlfriend, who just happened to not be in this class.

A note was tossed over to me from my right. I instantly looked up and my eyes connected with Fang's for a slight second before he stared forward. There was a hint of a smile on his lips which made me blush. After he held my hand, even if I ran away from that, it was constantly on my thoughts. Did he seriously like me or was he just a player? Did he even mean to hold my hand or did he lie about it?

I unfolded the note and stared at the words. Even on paper, Fang wasn't much of a talker. I had grown use to his notes since he started passing them to me on Monday and today was now Friday. Hey, he had scribbled across the lined paper. I sighed, just hoping for once he would be more elaborate. I wasn't a conversation starter here.

I picked up my pencil as Mr. Nakumora wrote something with letters and numbers that wouldn't make sense unless you were a mathematical whiz. I bet Iggy was understanding all of this even though he couldn't see. I wrote down Weekend plans? I do like knowing when people are going to sneak into my house. I don't hit them and call the cops on them that way. I folded back up the paper and passed it back to him.

I stared at my notes, trying not to watch the way he smiled as he read my note. Luckily we were in the back so no one could really see us. There would be major gossip going around if the most popular girl's boyfriend was constantly passing notes to the new girl even though nothing was going on.

When I got the note back I stared down Party- my place. Figured you should sneak to my place. I rolled my eyes, I don't do parties- never. I had never been to one but I knew they weren't my kind of thing. I shouldn't go anyways. There would be a lot of people which would make me panic a lot and Brigid would be drooling all over Fang which is what I don't enjoy seeing.

I don't do parties. How is it you're throwing a party? You are very…unsocial is the closest and nicest word I can say. I flicked it over, watching as Mr. Nakumora adjusted his glasses as he stared down at a book. Are all teachers that oblivious? He began telling us the meaning of the quadratic formula when he turned around and the note reappeared.

You're very…psycho is closest and nicest word I can say. Come- please. I need you there. Well, I thought pleasantly, if he needed me than all right- I was there. I covered my mouth to hide my smile and blush.

Fine- but I'm bringing Ella and I'm allowed not to talk to anyone and be considered very rude. Also, if we're attacked by flying robots, you have to let me get a piece of them first. I felt kind of childish- flying robots, like that would ever happen, ever. But, I folded up the paper before I could scratch out what I had written and passed it to him.

I heard a muffled laugh from Fang and I casually glanced at him. He rolled his eyes at me seconds, the paper was tossed back over to me. I quickly unfolded it and stared at the words. As long as it means you'll be there, Deal.

Only the bell ringing got me to think of anything other than the words. When I stepped into the hall, Fang casually slipped into the open space next to me and gave me a small smile. "Tonight?" I asked casually and watched as he nodded his head. "Please tell me you don't have those dress theme parties or what not. I will not go if it is." Fang laughed under his breath. Our conversation was so private, no one could hear it, but it didn't matter if they had because it was a pointless conversation. Well, it seemed pointless but it fell important. "No football today?"

"Nope," Fang whispered, his eyes focusing on looking forward while taking the occasional stare at me. I, however, was completely fixed around him. I was slightly disappointed that we wouldn't have football like we had all week. Playing Fang was amazingly fun but not as great as the first time because to my disappointment, Brigid had started showing up after the Fang in his underpants incident. Which, I realize now in that sentence seems really bad but it wasn't at all like that.

I had to step into my Civics class whereas Fang was heading towards a music room. He stopped with me as I stood at the frame of the doorway. He stepped at a certain angle that blocked my entire view of the rest of the hall. I could only see him, literally, but most of the time, my eyesight just blurred everything else around him.

My head tilted up as if expecting a kiss and Fang noticed. He leaned in slightly and I remembered in gym class when this had happened. My eyes fluttered shut as his breath lightly touched my chin. My lip quivered in excitement. "Max," I heard his amusement and I opened my eyes feeling so embarrassed. We were only inches apart.

One of his hands swiped a piece of hair away from my face and he held my cheek for a moment. "You're going to be late for class," I whispered not really wanting him to leave over some stupid class. I saw a look of disappointment for a moment on his face as well until it went back to the emotionless face.

I felt him step back and the world suddenly felt colder without his heat right there in front of me. "Yeah, see ya." I had to lean against the wall and watch him leave. Shouldn't this be what he was doing with his girlfriend and not me? I stepped reluctantly into my class room and sat beside Ella. I filled her in on the party and she said she'd go. Then, for the rest of the day, I stared out the nearest window and thought about how close I had been to kissing Fang and how gently his hand held my face. Shivers circulated all over my body, staring from my heart and then spreading across, which made me feel happier.

Was I in head over my heels or what?