Chapter 11
26 days to go...
"Everyone pay attention. Jomar stop!" the teacher warned
"Loosen up old man" Jomar who was behind me teased
I giggled
I was in chemistry class and this Jomar guy kept joking about nearly everything in class.
The teacher was so fucking annoyed but I found it rather entertaining. Jomar is definitely someone I would want to hang with.
"I will assign you partners to make reading easier" the teacher said "you and your partner will be expected to study together and teach each other of course"
"Like a reading partner" Jomar snapped his finger
The teacher stale faced him
"That's exactly what i said"
He brought out a long sheet of paper and started calling out names. I wasn't paying attention till he got to my name
"Ruby Adams and Jomar Kingston" he looked at me pitifully "I feel so sorry for you Ruby"
"I don't" Jomar snickered
"Thanks Mr Sean" I said
The bell rang signalling the end of class. I stood up and started packing my belongings.
"So....partner" Jomar trailed off
"I am not in the mood for your shenanigans. Don't start"
He raised his hands up in surrender
"I just wanted to know what topics we should get started on"
I looked at him to see if there was any hint of playfulness but there was none. He was actually serious.
He was a very good looking guy with piercing brown eyes and a million dollar smile. That is, when he's not being annoying.
"Alright then" I said "How bout we both read one topic then we meet at the library this evening to discuss it" I suggested
He nodded in approval
"Sounds like a plan. What time?"
"By 5"
"Cool" he shrugged
"See you around"
"See you"
"I'd watch my back if I were you" Mary told him as she casually walked out of class "she's bad influence"
Who does she think she is?
I was about to go give her a piece of my mind but Jomar blocked me with his left hand.
"Leave her alone" he said "she isn't worth it"
"She's so infuriating!" I stomped my foot "I just wanna strangle her so bad"
"What good would that do?"
"Teach her a lesson?"
"You've got to cultivate the habit of ignoring people. Hurting them back will only give you temporary pleasure"
Those were his final words before he left class
I stood there for at least seven seconds taking in what he said. I was beyond shocked.
Wow. Who knew Jomar could be so........ Mature?
I made my way to the girl's restroom and entered one of the stalls to quickly empty my bladder before heading out to the cafeteria for lunch. Annabelle is probably waiting for me at our table already.
When I was done I came out and went over to the sink to wash my hands.
Cindy came out from one of the stalls. She rolled her eyes when she saw me through the mirror. She washed her hands at the sink beside me.
What's her problem?
When she was done she brought out lip-gloss from her bag and applied it
"You think you're so cool huh?" She smacked her lips "just because you're cool with Mr Henderson. Sorry to break it to you sweetie he's about to be a priest"
I laughed loudly. Where is all this coming from? I don't even know her.
She looked at me confusedly
"What's funny?" She asked
"You, you're a fucking joke"
"What?"
"I should be telling you that because you're obviously the one who can't take a hint. I heard about the challenge you guys are doing by the way. Good luck with that Oh and one more thing; Take your own advice baby"
I left the bathroom and strutted down the hallway in my Ralph Lauren heels like I fucking owned the place.
She wants to be a bitch. Two can play that game.
I walked into the cafeteria and looked around for Annabelle. She was sitting alone at a table not too far from me
"Hey babe" I told her as I sat on the chair across her
"Hi"
"What's up?"
"Nothing. All my classes were boring as hell. What about you? Anything interesting happen today?"
"Well for starters, Jomar and I are chemistry partners for the rest of the semester"
She gasped
"What?"
"Wait till you hear the rest of the story. Mary told him to be careful with me cause I'm bad influence"
"Bitch"
"Tell me about it. I ran into Cindy in the restroom and what did the trick have to say? Some shit about me thinking I'm so cool cause Mr Henderson is cool with me and I shouldn't get my hopes up cause she's about to be a priest"
Her mouth hung open
"No"
"Yes"
"Who the hell does she think she is? You don't even talk to her"
"My point exactly. I didn't even know she existed until two days ago"
Could it be obsession? It seemed more like a crush to me.
"Wow. You've only been here for three days but you already got girls on your neck" she clapped her hands "I applaud you Ruby"
I chuckled
"I got Sebastian Butler as my reading partner. I can't believe you got Jomar freaking Kingston"
I arched an eyebrow
"What's the big deal about him?"
"What's the big deal? He's gorgeous, smart and his parents are fucking rich"
"Really?"
"Yes really. His dad owns an oil company while his mom owns a fashion empire"
"Whoa. I thought he was just a lame boy who loves to cause trouble"
"There's a lot under his troublesome exterior trust me"
After lunch, my classes passed by smoothly. I was glad once school was over.
I was making my way to go to my dorm room when a voice called my name
"Ruby"
I turned around to see who it was. It was John. I smiled impulsively.
"Good day sir" I greeted
"Good day. How were your classes?"
"Pretty good. Thank you"
"I just came to check on you"
Aww. How sweet of him
"Thank you" I said
"Everything okay?"
Nope, everything is not okay
Mary is getting on my nerves
I want to strangle the hell out of Cindy
I badly miss my brother
"Yes" I nodded
"If you got problems or you need someone to talk to you can always come to me"
I smiled
"Thanks. I appreciate that"
He gave me a smile then we went our separate ways.
*
"What's your answer for number three?" Jomar asked
I checked my notebook for confirmation.
"I'm torn between electrolytes and electrolysis, I'll check the textbook just to be sure"..
"Oh"
"What about you? What did you get?"
"Michael Jackson"
I closed my book and blinked at him in shock.
"Jomar....this is chemistry we're doing. How the hell? What the hell?"
"I'm sorry. I guess I'm just distracted" he said running his fingers through his perfect hair.
We were at the library reading, at least I was. Jomar is out of it. His mind isn't in the right place.
"Maybe we should take a break" I suggested
"Yup" he agreed instantly closing his book
"Lazy much?"
"I prefer the term 'selective participation''
I scoffed
"Unbelievable"
"So tell me, who is Ruby Adams?"
"I said let's take a break, not do an interview"
"You do those a lot at home, huh?"
"Yup due to my bad ways. People wanna know what the notorious Ruby Adams is up to next"
"And why is Ruby Adams so notorious?"
"Because I want attention!" I half shouted
I've never admitted this to anyone before. He looked surprised.
"Whoa. I should have guessed that"
"Ever since my brother died, my parents have always been fucking busy like he never existed. They leave me home with servants who are strangers. I just feel that if I do something bad they get angry but at least they'll give me attention just for that moment. I'm not a bad person Jomar. I'm just sad"
He sighed. His eyes were full of pity
"I'm sorry about your brother" he stated "I know your pain"
"Sure you do" I replied sarcastically
"No, for real. Why do you think I'm so troublesome?"
"Uh cause your dumb?" I joked
He looked offended
"I'll have you know that I'm the smartest student in our year"
My eyes widened in surprise
"Really?"
"Check the statistics at the head office if you don't believe me. I've won multiple awards for this school"
"I don't get it"
He seemed so goofy and not serious in class. I never took him for a smart guy. I thought he was one of those guys that couldn't be bothered with school.
"My dad owns an oil company. He's consumed by the love of money. My mom owns a popular clothing line
All she does is design, read magazines, host tea parties for her friends, travel round the world and go on shopping sprees. My nanny said my mom didn't even care to breastfeed me when I was a baby. She just gave birth to me and dropped me with my nanny the next week"
I gasped
"Oh my God"
"I'm all alone battling with my demons. My parents don't care Ruby. I get into trouble so the principal can call them and I get the chance to speak to them even though they're shouting at me"
This is so sad
I wiped away the tears from my eyes. This was an emotional moment for both of us. I've never poured out my heart to anyone before and I'm sure he hasn't either. There's no one to talk to. The only person I could talk to was Rainer and now he's gone.
He wiped away a tear from my cheek with his thumb
"We're broken Ruby and that's why we're so much alike. Talk to me if you need anything"
"Of course. You can talk to me too"
"We'll be alright. I promise"
I sniffed and nodded
"Okay"