Separate But Not Equal

Chapter XXXV

Stuffing my book inside of my bag, I pull it up my back bag then speed up unconsciously scurrying after the shadow in front of me.

Again.

He's avoiding me.

Again?

Like he has been the whole of today and each lesson I tried to talk to him.

Sitting in the furthest seat for everything, occasionally grunting an answer when the teacher picked on him to speak, but overall staying much more silent than usual.

No voice in English lit constantly whispering my name or foot kicking my chair to complain about how boring 'The taming of the shrew' is, every time I actually try to pay attention.

No one to trade notes with in Science or talk to during lunch.

It was strange.

Like an empty presence.

Someone I really wanted to be near but someone who I didn't want to annoy.

So I had just spent the whole day with my head down, and my arms wrapped around my bag.

I would have managed to blend in perfectly with my smaller than average body, but with my darker than average skin I stuck out like a sore thumb.

A week and vulnerable target.

Both the twins happen to be absent today and whenever I see Alex it just reminds me of what Mark told me the other day.

Mark.

The only person who's willingly spoken to me today.

"Come on, Christopher, please just don't ignore me, hear me out," I plead.

His pace slows down considerably.

"Hm, So now you want to talk?"

Ugh, slow down, my legs are burning.

"I-I never stopped wanting to talk to you. I was just panicked."

"You were panicked? Sure, good excuse," he turns, his voice getting deeper.

With a distance of about 10 metres between us I start jogging forward.

"Okay listen I just have to tell yo-"

"Christopher?" a high pitched voice calls.

"Lauren?" Christopher replies.

"What are you doing here?" Lauren walks out of the school entrance with confusion plastered on her face. Her dress cascading around herself while black locks of hair fall down her shoulders. "What is she doing here?"

Seriously?

Can Lauren not leave Christopher alone for more than five minutes?

"I only need Christopher for a few minutes, please, it's..."

"Wow, you really find it impossible to mind your own business, don't  you?"

"Yes, Lauren, I guess I'm just like you."

She stares at me for a few seconds before walking towards Christopher.

"Yeah, just like me, except from the fact that I'm more superior than you, in every way."

"That's quite contradictory," Christopher speaks out after staring into the sky.

"What?" Lauren snaps.

"You just said yes. So you agreed with Jones and then you said that you are superior to her in every way. How can she be just like you but inferior to you?"