The music in my ears picked up a bit, and I started to hit my stride. I had been in track in high school, and I was actually quite decent in distant running, I had the medals to prove it.
As I rounded the corner of the track, I saw him again. Hollis had decided to practice early today. I tried my best to suppress a blush, but most of my energy was being used for running. So, I just smiled and waved.
He smiled but kept walking.
The guys had joined into a circle near the edge of the track, and it looked like they were discussing something important, so I lowered the volume on my music so I might listen in. Their words rang out as little pricks of sound in an otherwise empty space, and I could hear just about everything.
“Coach says I gotta get my grade up, or I might be benched,” Hollis said.
“Dude, you need to play. If you’re not there, then we’re goin’ to get killed. The second string doesn’t have the same arm you have.”
“Yeah man, I’m working on it. I was up late last night trying to finish up this math for extra credit. But, it was hard since Sandy was over. I maybe work on it for ten minutes before she was all over me.”
“You with Sandy now? What is that, three girls this weekend?”
“I don’t know if I’d count the other two. Beth was amazing, we had this hot moment when I had to hide her under the desk. I was trying to talk to Gus, and she started going down on me while I was talking. After that, she had to split. I wouldn’t count Angie either; she kept asking me if I liked what she was doing and it was just weird. Sandy was crazy, and kept me up all night.”
I started running a little quicker; I felt a little angry and more than a little jealous. I was much more upset at myself for feeling jealous of a couple cheerleaders. They spend all day around football players; I think they get become cheerleaders just so they can flirt. I couldn’t picture myself as that kind of girl.
They continued to talk.
“Anyway, Coach said that my academic advisor has been watching my grades close, and I’m about to fall under the minimum GPA I need to keep playing.”
“That’s what you get for spending more time with girls than studying. You should really get a tutor, or maybe find someone that’ll just get your work done for you. It’ll give you more free time.”
I rolled my eyes thinking about being a tutor. It’s a good thing they didn’t think I could hear them.
“Man, if I could find a smart chick that would do my homework in exchange for sexual favors then I’d be set for life.”
They all laughed; it bothered me to think that they would even consider something like that. I slowed to a stop nearby.
“Are you kidding me? You want to have sex with a girl who will do all your homework? No wonder I’ve been avoiding men my age.”
They turned to me with shocked faces. Hollis looked at me with a slight smirk.
“Are you sure you’d say ‘no’ to that?” He paused. “ You’re the girl from the office the other day, right?”
I nodded.
“You know, you’re pretty cute without your glasses on. Are you sure you wouldn’t like to take me up on that deal? Seems like you need to get laid.”
I couldn’t even comprehend words at that moment. All my work in debate club, and now I couldn’t think of anything more than expletives to shout back. But, I was, at least, cool tempered enough not to yell.
“I wouldn’t even dream of dating you. I could think of many better ways to disappoint myself.”
He laughed, but my frustration was still boiling over.
“Aren’t we in the same class?” he asked.
“We are, as a matter of fact, Chemistry on Tuesday and Thursday,” I proudly stated, “I sit in a seat that allows me to actually listen to the teacher while you enjoy staring at your phone in the back, if memory serves.”
“Ah that’s right. You’re the Firecracker in the front row. Aren’t you the top of the class right now? You should come tutor me at the party this Friday?”
Now I couldn’t help but laugh. His friends were already giggling in the back. “You’re hopeless,” I said. I started to run again, but I could hear him yelling out from behind me.
“You don’t have to answer now; I can wait for your response!”
It bothered me to think that I was a bit attracted to him the other day; and at that moment, I wish I had taken up boxing at a young age.
3.
“Alright Class, this week we’re going to be working on chemical bonds and their different types. Now, this is going to be a very experiment heavy week. You’ve already worked on molar equations, and we’re going to step it up and put those equations into practice. I have assigned pairs for this lab, and the two of you need to find an example of each chemical bond.