FATE

7. Maybe Idk

BROOKE

I place my hand on my stomach, sighing at the growling sound coming from it. This morning before school, I chewed on a granola bar and called it breakfast because I didn't want to run late.

My stomach growls again. "Can you at least not do that until lunch?", I mentally speak to it.

As I open my locker, Carmen watches me with a slight frown on her face.

"Is something wrong?", She asks.

"Nothing, I'm just hungry"

"I could go get you something to eat"

"Not now, classes are about to start"

She nods and watches as I take out a couple of books from my locker. I notice a tall girl with short curly black hair and glowing caramel skin, as shiny as home mahogany walk up to us. Her gaze rests on Carmen with a smile on her face. Carmen on the other hand doesn't seem to have noticed her presence.

"I'm back!", the girl yells, startling Carmen and gaining attention from a couple of students in the hallway as well.

Carmen turns around and a wide grin forms on her face. "Oh my God!", She screams jumping and hugging the girl in excitement.

"When did you get back?", Carmen asks as I place my books into my bag.

"Yesterday morning", the girl says, "I didn't tell you so I could do this", she raises her hands dramatically, "Surprise!"

Carmen laughs, "I'm so glad you're back Mandy"

I close my locker and the sound startles the two girls. Mandy smiles at me.

"You're pretty", she says.

"Thanks", I say softly, "you're very pretty too'

"Mandy, this is Brooke", Carmen says, "Brooke, this is Mandy, my best friend"

"Oh, nice to meet you", I say forcing a smile and adjusting my bag on my shoulder.

Carmen whispers into Mandy's ear and she frowns slightly. When she notices my gaze on her, she grins again.

"You're new", Mandy says, "allow me to introduce myself by myself. Nice to meet you. I'm Mandy and I'm more interesting than Carmen is"

Carmen shoves her lightly and the three of us share a short laugh.

A loud slam from someone's locker startles pretty much everyone in the hallway. I turn to find Hailee angrily shoving books in her locker. She's alone which makes me wonder where Jonah is. They always seem to be together.

Not that I've been watching.

A small smile plays on my lips when I think about my encounter with Jonah. I wouldn't know what words to use to describe him although the word, 'strange' comes close. He didn't maintain eye contact with me for too long, spoke like he was reading his words out of a book and he was rude.

Very rude.

"I'm not trying to be your friend"

Hailee slams her locker and I shake my head, pulling myself back to reality. She walks away quickly, holding tightly on to her bag while receiving stares from multiple people.

"That's odd. I saw her earlier and she was alone then", Mandy says, "where's Jonah?"

"You think that's why she's mad?", Carmen asks, "maybe they finally broke up?"

Finally?

"Maybe. I don't know", Mandy says shrugging.

The bell rings loudly and I look up at the fluorescent bulbs on the ceiling.