“I know. Best freaking day ever. I wonder why Cassandra isn’t here.”
“Who cares? I never thought one person was the sole reason for high school being such a nightmare for us.” Elle loved seeing Chloe like this.
“Yeah, me either.” They walked in the cafeteria and looked at their choices. They still picked the line that was less intimidating, not wanting to push their luck. Chicken patty day it is.
They grabbed their lunches and sat at their usual table, and then Elle leaned over the table and said, “I have to tell you what happened when you left me this morning. By the way, what the hell? Why did you do that?”
“Because Mr. Evans said he needed to speak with you, not me. I knew it was about you not turning in your essay. He wasn’t going to talk about it in front of me, you know that.” Chloe picked up a fry and tossed it in her mouth. “Oh, and why didn’t you turn in your essay? It was the first assignment of the semester.”
“I was sick. Listen, I have to tell you something. You’re not going to believe who talked to me and didn’t want me dea—”
“You were sick? Really, that’s the excuse you’re giving me? I hope you didn’t use that on him.”
“Uh, yes, I was sick. That’s the truth and he believed me. Why can’t you?”
“Probably because not once have you not turned in an assignment, and you get sick all the time. You practically stay sick. There isn’t anything that goes around that you don’t catch.”
Elle stared at Chloe. She was right; she was always getting sick. Her friend wouldn’t take the sick card. However, Elle couldn’t tell her that she had seen a man get whacked last night. She could never tell anyone she had seen what happened. Elle had watched the movies—the less you knew, the better. They couldn’t hurt you for information you didn’t know.
“Well, this was a different kind of sick.” Elle hoped Chloe would take it. She wanted to move on to something she could tell her.
Elle looked over at Nero’s table. He wasn’t there.
Hmm, he’s always right there.
“Hey, babe, can I sit here?” Elle turned her head and saw Nero standing there, holding a tray.
Did he just really ask that, and did he just really call me ‘babe’?
“Are you serious? Sit here?” Elle pointed to the chair beside her.
“Yes, I was talking directly to you, wasn’t I?” Nero was definitely a smartass.
Elle looked at Chloe, whose mouth hung open. Elle knew right away she didn’t want anyone around her; Chloe didn’t like new people.
Besides, the moment ‘babe’ had come out of his mouth, she had solidified her decision. I don’t care if it is a handsome mouth.
“No, you clearly weren’t because my name isn’t ‘babe’. I bet you don’t even know my name. So, no, you cannot sit here, Nero.” That was the first time she had ever spoken his name, although at least she knew it. Elle was sure he didn’t know hers.
She could tell Nero was shocked by her answer. He must think he can call a girl ‘babe’ and get what he wants.
“All right, babe. I’ll eventually be sitting right there. I can wait.” With that, Nero walked off. Elle didn’t even have time to think of a remark back.
He just said what? As Elle saw him go back to his usual table, she noticed almost everyone was staring at her, mostly the girls.
Elle glanced back at Chloe, whose mouth was still hanging open. Once she was finally able to swallow the food in her mouth, she let the questioning begin. “Don’t you think I deserved a little warning?”
“Jesus, Chloe, I tried to tell you twice, but you kept interrupting me. I said you weren’t going to believe who talked to me.”
“Well, tell me already!” She thought Chloe was going to shake her if she didn’t spill.
“When you left me, I went in the hall and he bumped into me. I tried to tell him sorry, but he told me to not apologize for something I didn’t do. He actually talked to me and wasn’t mean.” Elle suddenly felt a little bad for talking to him like that, but then she thought better of it. I mean, what if he is trying to pull a prank on me or something?
“I can’t believe it. Nero is… nice?”
“No way. He is…” She looked over at him. He was perfect, at least on the outside. However, he had never talked to her a day in her life. She was positive he had slept with half the girls at school; therefore, he didn’t lack for companionship, which only left two options. He either wanted to sleep with Elle or do something horribly mean to her.
Either way, he isn’t going to fool me. “He wants something, but I’m not going to find out what it is. I know exactly who Nero Caruso is, and ‘nice’ is the last word I would use to describe him.”
“Yeah, but aren’t you just a little curious?” Chloe raised her right eyebrow. It was missing a patch of hair from her scar. Elle noticed her black hair was swept behind her ear. “I know I am.” She hadn’t seen her this happy in a long time. She hated the fact that Cassandra would be back tomorrow to ruin it. Chloe deserved to be happy.
“No, I’m not.” Elle didn’t even notice she was lying to herself at that moment.
When Elle and Chloe finished their lunch and went to Spanish, Elle still couldn’t believe the audacity of Nero.
‘All right, babe. I’ll eventually be sitting right there. I can wait.’