We walked up to the line where the other students stood waiting for their food. They were serving pizza and carrots today. What an odd combination I thought to myself. After Malum and I got our food I led the way over to a table in the corner of the room. I placed my tray down on the table and plopped into the chair.
Malum stood there with a blank expression on his face. Oh goodness, did I do something wrong? Or is that the smell of the food? Not everyone is a fan of the food here. So maybe that's what is bothering him.
“Malum is everything okay?” I asked him in a concerned tone.
“Yes I’m fine sorry. I was only curious, but, do other people usually sit with you at lunch?”
“Yes. This is where my friends and I usually sit, is that alright with you?”
“Yeah this is fine. No problem.” He gave a slight smile, placed his tray on the table and took a seat next to me.
A few minutes later I saw Autumn and Katy walking over to the table.
“Hey guys. Nice to see you today.” I said with a smile and a wave.
Autumn smiled back but Katy was too busy checking her phone to notice other human presence. They both sat down on the other side of me.
“I saw you leave class earlier. Are you feeling any better? Autumn asked.
Autumn was such a caring friend. Yes she annoys me often, but I’m grateful that our friendship has remained intact since our elementary school days.
My smile was sincere. “Yeah I’m feeling fine. Just a had a little upset stomach, but nothing too bad. Luckily Malum convinced me to go to the nurse or else I probably would’ve felt terrible for the rest of the day.”
Autumn’s face showed that she was relieved to hear this. Katy suddenly snapped her head up from her phone and looked at me. I could tell she was confused. “Who’s Malum?” asked Katy.
Who’s Malum? What does she mean whos Malum? Malum was introduced in our homeroom together this morning you dumby. How could she could so easily forget him only a few hours later? How could anyone forget him? Hes breathtaking. He’s like a Greek god. How dare she ask such a stupid question.
“Hi.” Malum replied, barely looking up from his food.
Katy gave him a weird look. “Oh...you’re the new kid. We have home room together. Now I remember.” she rolled her eyes and leaned over to me.
“He doesn’t seem very talkative. He also seems kind of weird. Are you sure you’re okay with him sitting here?”
My face turned bright red. But this time I wasn’t embarrassed. I was angry.
“So what that he isn't very talkative. He's my friend and I invited him to sit with us. If you don't like it then leave. I don’t care.” I snapped at her.
Katy was taken aback. She rolled her eyes and got up from the table to go wait in line for her food.
Malum noticed Katy leaving the table and looked in my direction. I gave him a wink and mouthed “Don’t worry about it.” He smiled in return and then continued to eat his food, the grin never leaving his face.
My other two other friends, Michael and Ella, were silently whispering amongst themselves while walking over to us. I looked at them and threw a napkin at Michael’s head.
“Hey! Watch where you are throwing things Grace! You know my head is delicate. I can’t afford to have it ruined by a dirty napkin.” he said with a displeasing tone.
I rolled my eyes, and then replied, “So sorry Michael. I know how much you just love your appearance. I wouldn't want a dirty napkin to go and ruin your day.”
Michael stuck his tongue out and took a seat at the table next to Autumn. Ella sat down on Michael’s other side.
“So, what were you two whispering about over there?” I asked in Michael’s and Ella’s direction.
They both looked at one another and nodded their heads in some sort of agreement before Ella spoke up. “Well, we were discussing a rumor that we had overheard at the end of history class earlier. Supposedly Laura and Scarlett are planning to throw a Halloween party next month. They are considering inviting everybody in our class to it. I don’t blame them since the party over the summer only had 30 people show up. But when the pretty committee had their party, over 60 people showed up. We all know that Laura and Scarlett don’t like being outdone by the trio.”
Malum looked up from his food at Ella with a slight smirk on his face. “A party eh? We are only in 10th grade and we are already having parties?”
“Of course there aren't any drugs or alcohol involved in these parties. Well, to my knowledge. Laura and Scarlett are usually pretty good about keeping that stuff away. Besides, even if people wanted to bring that stuff a majority of the parents would not let that happen.”
Malum stared at Ella for a brief moment with a puzzled look on his face. “A party without drugs and alcohol? Now where's the fun in that?’
What did he mean “where’s the fun in that?” Drugs are bad. Alcohol is bad. Especially since we are so young. A few of the other students in my grade already have themselves mixed up in that kind of stuff. I could tell that their lives were slowly but surely going downhill. And we are only in 10th grade. Malum doesn’t know what he is talking about. I’m sure he is only joking. I’m sure he knows that nothing good comes from using or drinking. He isn’t stupid.
I shot Malum a dirty look. “Malum, what are you saying? We are too young to be doing any of that stuff! Don’t be silly.”
“Jeez Grace, I’m just kidding.” He said with a wink.
He was only joking. Just like I thought. Good. I’m glad he isn't interested in joining up with that kind of crowd. It could ruin him. I couldn’t stand to see his life take a downward spiral. That’s the last thing I want to see happen...because I know that it would ruin me too.
---------------------
Science class was the only other class that Malum and I shared. Unfortunately that was the last class of the day and two other classes had stood in between. Being separated from Malum for two full hours was weirdly painful for me. I had only just met him and yet I was already growing so attached to him. The hour we shared together in our secret room kept replaying over and over in my mind. I had felt something in there, something I had never felt before.
Was it happiness? No, I have felt happiness before obviously. If not that, then what is it? What is this feeling?” I sat in deep thought for the entirety of the two other classes without Malum. After what seemed like an eternity, the bell rang, and I raced out of the door to my last class of the day. The class I shared with Malum.
I was the first one to enter the science room. I hurried to my seat and got my notebook out of my bag. Shortly after the other students started to trickle in. Autumn walked through the door and took a seat on my left.
“Hi Grace. Autumn said with a slight tone of annoyance. “Why did you rush out of English so quickly? You didn’t even wait for me.”
My eyes were still glued to the door and I was barely paying attention to her.
“Sorry Autumn. I just really wanted to get here first. I always feel like we get here last and end up with bad seats. Sorry. I will wait for you next time.”
She seemed unconvinced by my answer. I don’t blame her. Autumn shook her head and turned back in her seat to face the whiteboard.
As Ms. Leona was walking towards the front of the classroom to start class Malum rushed in through the door and took a seat next to me.
“Hey.” he managed to let escape, obviously tired from running.
“Hey, why were you almost late, again, might I add.” I said with a little poke to his arm.
“Sorry, sorry. I had gym last period and I took a while to change back into my normal clothes. I’ll have to start keeping track of time better.” he replied with a poke to my side.
Luckily, today’s class was only a note taking day, which meant I didn’t really have to pay too much attention to copy down everything Ms. Leona was writing on the board. Instead, I focused my attention on passing notes back and forth to Malum. He had scooted his seat closer to me so it would be easier for us to pass the notes in secrecy without Ms. Leona catching us.
Is this class always so boring? I wish we could choose what classes we took here. Science would definitely not be one of my choices.
I read the note and laughed silently in my head. Pulling a pen from my bag I wrote underneath his message to reply.
I like this class. It’s actually my favorite thank you very much. But we each have our own opinion I suppose.
I slid the note back towards his direction. After taking a moment to read, Malum scribbled on the piece of paper and slid it back to me.
What are you doing Friday? Want to hangout?
I read the message and blushed. Of course I wanted to hangout. I thought for a moment about what to write to him in response.
Yes. That would be cool. I just have to ask my parents and see if they will let us. I’ll give you my number and we can talk about it more on the phone tonight if you want to call me.
I slid the note back in his direction and he swept the paper up from the desk. A wicked grin appeared on his face and he wrote his reply.
Alright. Sounds good. Give me your number and I’ll call you this evening then. Can’t wait -M
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