CHAPTER 8:SLUT WHO?

MAYA.

"That will be all for today's class, everyone. Make sure you do your revisions because you'll all be taking a test when we meet again. Have a wonderful day, and I’ll see you all next week," Professor Kidd announced with a smile, his voice resonating in the lecture hall after an intense two-hour session.

As we gathered our belongings—books, notes, and a few stray pens—I noticed the lively chatter of my classmates filling the air. They exchanged thoughts on the lecture while the sound of chairs scraping against the floor echoed as they hurried off to their next classes. I waved goodbye to a few friends, knowing we would catch up during lunch or during our free periods.

But my heart skipped a beat as Professor Kidd beckoned me over. Hesitantly, I approached his desk, my mind racing with possibilities. "What's this about, Professor? I haven't done anything wrong again (or at least nothing I’m aware of), have I?" I asked, a hint of anxiety coloring my tone.

The corners of Professor Kidd's lips curled into a gentle chuckle, his eyes glinting with amusement as he regarded me thoughtfully...

"You're perfectly safe, Ms. Jones. I apologize for keeping you here a bit longer, but I assure you, there's an important reason behind it." His calm tone and the reassuring set of his shoulders helped me take a deep breath, easing the tension that had built up in my chest. The knowledge that I wasn’t in any real trouble was a relief.

"It's no trouble at all, Professor. So, may I ask why I've been asked to stay if I’m not in any sort of trouble?" I inquired, my curiosity piqued. He shuffled some papers on his cluttered desk before pulling one out and extending it toward me.

"Like I said, Ms. Jones, you’re not in any kind of trouble. However, I do require your assistance with this," he stated, gesturing to the stack of documents resting between us. I exhaled softly, a mixture of surprise and intrigue bubbling within me. Given my reputation, I hadn’t anticipated this request, but I figured that helping a professor might not be such a bad experience after all.

"What exactly is this about?" I asked, studying the paper in my hand, feeling the crisp texture of the page beneath my fingertips.

“Here are the study guidelines for the entire semester,” Professor Kidd announced, his voice carrying the weight of knowledge and experience. “I’d like you to make copies of this and distribute them to your classmates so that everyone can prepare in advance.” With a slight smile, I accepted the stack of papers, my heart warmed by the familiarity of his presence, and I bid him farewell as I stepped out of the empty lecture hall, the echoes of our conversation lingering in the air.

Professor Kidd has always held a special place in my heart. Perhaps it’s the bond we share, rooted in the memories of my childhood, or maybe it’s the countless times he’s witnessed my adolescent misadventures. His paternal demeanor might blur the lines between lecturer and family friend, but I find comfort in it. Despite his stern guidance, there’s an undeniable warmth in how he treats me, and I can’t help but admire him.

As I strolled through the bustling corridors, I quickly sent a text to Eric and Sasha, letting them know I was heading home since my classes had wrapped up for the day. The campus was alive with students chatting and laughing, but my focus was solely on the rhythmic crunch of gravel beneath my sneakers as I made my way toward the parking lot. Just as I turned a corner, however, my heart sank; there stood Andrew, the one person I’d been trying desperately to avoid all week.

"Hey, Hossein. What's up, pervert?" I declared, allowing a dramatic pause to hang in the air, relishing the moment before I added with a mocking flourish, "Slut," as I dipped my head slightly in the direction of their female companion, who immediately scowled at me.

Perfect. Her scowl confirmed she had definitely heard my little jab.

"Uh, it's Ella?" she responded, her voice tinged with irritation.

I halted mid-motion, my hand poised on the door handle of my car. I feigned a look of utter confusion, raising an eyebrow as I replied, "Huh?"

"My name? It's Ella?" she stressed, her tone agitated.

Bitch, is that a question or a demand?

"What did I say?" I asked innocently, pretending to be oblivious. She shot me a look that screamed 'Are you kidding me?' before retorting,

"You called me a slut. My name is Ella!"

I could see her struggling to keep her composure, a flash of anger in her eyes, while I reveled in the sheer enjoyment of the exchange. Adopting my most innocent expression, I continued with a teasing chime, enjoying every twist of this playful combat.

“No way… that can’t be right! I could’ve sworn that was your name, y’know? I mean, it has to be true considering all the guys in this school have seen you in your birthday suit and all,” I teased, my voice dripping with mischievousness.

Her eyes widened in shock, pupils dilating as she gasped—clearly unable to believe that I had just thrown such a bold remark her way. I couldn’t help but smirk, fully aware of the confident, daring persona I projected as I turned to strut away, giving her a playful little wave to signal that our exchange was over.

“Come on, Hossein. I’ll take you home. These two don’t look like they’ll be wrapping up their little rendezvous anytime soon,” I said, glancing back at Andrew and the girl wrapped up in conversation, oblivious to everything else.

As I maneuvered past them to hop into my waiting car, I could hear Hossein’s voice trail behind me. “You shouldn’t rile him up every time you guys meet, Maya. You know he’s being easy on you on purpose, right?”

His words surprised me. Andrew had never shown any inclination to go easy on me—never.

“As entertaining as that little back-and-forth was to witness, don’t you think you might have been a bit harsh on her?” Hossein sighed, the weight of his words hanging in the air.

“I know, and a small part of me feels terrible for unleashing my frustrations on the wrong person. But you understand why I’m just so furious at him, right?” I stole a glance at Hossein as he nodded, his expression solemn.

“He’s so oblivious to everything, Hossein. It physically pains me to watch him with her like that,” he sighed, a hint of anguish creeping into his voice.

"You know, Drew is like the most oblivious person when it comes to these things," Hossein said, shaking his head with a mixture of exasperation and affection. "But you have to trust me when I say his heart is genuinely in the right place. He never intends to hurt you."

I groaned deeply, burying my face in my hands as frustration washed over me like a tide. Thank goodness Hossein had decided to drive us home; I was too furious to even think straight, let alone navigate the streets.

"I just don't understand how you two put up with him," I said, my voice muffled and muffled by my palms. "He's so... what's the word I'm looking for?" I asked, exasperated.

Hossein let out a soft chuckle, clearly amused by my predicament. "He's so... Drew?" he suggested playfully.

I couldn't help but smile slightly at that. "Exactly!" I replied, shaking my head.

"Well, you don't really know him like we do, Maya," Hossein continued, his tone turning thoughtful. "Drew takes his time with everything. He’s not exactly a genius when it comes to emotional intelligence, but when he finally gets it, it’s like a lightbulb goes off."

"So it's safe to say you and Min know him better than anyone else, huh?" I asked teasingly, a smirk dancing on my lips.

"I do, trust me," he said, the warmth in his voice reassuring me that there was more to Drew than I could see in my frustration.

"What's the story, Hossein?" I asked, intrigued and eager to delve deeper into the shadows of his past. Hossein shifted slightly, a flicker of skepticism crossing his face as if weighing the wisdom of sharing his memories.

"They were hurling all sorts of crude names at me, you know?" he replied, a bemused smile dancing at the corners of his lips. I gasped, my curiosity piqued.

"How did they even know?" I probed, astonished at the thought. He chuckled a warm sound that seemed to light up the moment.

"That's the twist—they didn’t know, and neither did I, at least not until I turned fifteen or so. But those little kids? They packed a real punch with their vocabulary, throwing around colorful curse words like confetti at a parade." He paused, a glint of nostalgia sparking in his eyes. After he finished speaking, I felt a rush of sympathy for him. Those mischievous little brats, clueless yet so bold. I found myself wishing I could have been there, ready to defend him against their taunts.

"That must have been awful, Hossein. I'm truly sorry you had to go through that," I said, my voice tinged with genuine compassion. He nodded slowly, the weight of memories in his eyes, before a smile broke through, softening his features.

"It was a tough time until Drew came into the picture," he replied, his expression warm as he seemed to drift back to the fond memories they had shared.

"Yeah... about that! I keep hearing whispers about how he saved your ass in the past, but I still don’t know the full story," I prodded, curious to uncover the details.

Hossein flicked a brief glanced at me, a spark igniting in his gaze, before returning his focus to the road ahead, the passing landscape blurring by.

"Alright, let me take you back," he began, a glimmer of nostalgia in his voice.

"It was during our first year in elementary school, right? I think it was around three weeks into the school term. I vividly remember standing there, watching this interracial couple as they dragged their son, who was kicking and screaming with all his might, onto the school grounds. It was quite the scene."

He paused for a moment, allowing the memory to take shape, and I nodded, eager for him to continue.

"In my little mind, I thought, oh great! Another wimpy kid who wouldn’t last, a day in this hellhole of a school," Hossein recalled, a faint smile creeping across his face as though he was lost in a cherished memory. Seeing him like that made me smile, too.

"Then the strangest thing happened," he continued, his eyes lighting up with intrigue. I leaned in, eager to absorb every detail of his story. "The moment his gaze locked onto mine, something remarkable occurred—just like that, he stopped crying. It was as if a switch had flipped. He suddenly started shoving his parents out of the school entrance with a surprising force, as if they were an inconvenience he could no longer tolerate. Just moments earlier, he had been clinging to them like a lifeline."

I couldn’t help but burst into laughter, my curiosity piqued. "Just like that?"

"Yep! Just like that," he confirmed with a chuckle, clearly amused by the absurdity of it all. "But wait, what happened next was even stranger," he said, pausing to build anticipation.

"He walked right past me, not even sparing me a glance or uttering a single word," he said, and by this point, I was laughing hysterically, thoroughly entertained and eager to hear more...

“Was little Andrew embarrassed when you saw him crying, by chance?” Hossein nodded, a warm smile creeping onto his face as he recalled the moment.

“I thought the same thing initially. So, I held back, keeping a careful distance while still keeping a close eye on him. He avoided any form of eye contact, which only made me worry more. But everything changed during snack time when the older kids began pestering me again.”

A spark of excitement lit up my eyes. “I have a feeling this is where things get interesting!” I exclaimed, unable to contain my enthusiasm, and he chuckled softly in agreement.

“Right you are! They started their usual routine, poking and tugging at my hair. One of them even had the audacity to stick gum in it—all while the teacher feigned ignorance, pretending she couldn’t hear or see the chaos unfolding right in front of her. That’s when a small, calm voice broke through the ruckus, saying…Leave him alone."

“It was Andrew, wasn’t it?” I interjected, knowing intuitively that it had to be him. Hossein nodded, a hint of admiration in his eyes.

“The other kids erupted in laughter and hurled insults at him. But Andrew did what any sensible kid in that situation would do: he reported them to the teacher, thinking that maybe, just maybe, she would finally intervene. But such methods never work you know?”

''She told him the kids were just fascinated by my hair and looks. That, they meant no harm.''

WTF? What a dumb bitch! You'd think people who were paid to look after kids would take their jobs more seriously.

"What did he do after that?" I inquired, my curiosity piqued. I knew Andrew had a way of making things memorable and wouldn't let any slight go unaddressed.

"Drew began striding purposefully out of the classroom. When she inquired, her voice was laced with confusion, 'Where are you going?' he replied, a hint of defiance in his tone, 'I'm off to find someone who can actually handle the bullies, since clearly, the teacher doesn't know how to do her job.'" He chuckled lightly, the sound carrying a mix of amusement and frustration, as he recounted the moment.

I gasped in shock, my eyes darting toward Hossein, who let out a laugh tinged with disbelief. “I don’t know how, but he managed to sneak into the headmaster’s office and report the issue to him. Then, it all spiraled out of control.” No way!

“Believe it or not, he said, and I quote, ‘They’re just kids acting like kids do; you don’t expect me to punish them for being kids, right?’” Hossein shook his head in frustration, his tone dripping with incredulity.

“What the actual hell? How did someone like him even qualify for that position?” I shot back, my anger bubbling to the surface. Hossein continued, “All I can vividly remember after that chaotic scene was the sight of my parents standing outside my classroom, their faces twisted in fury. I was freaking out so much; my heart raced like a hammer against my chest.”

“Why? What happened?” I pressed, eager to unpack the unfolding drama.

“It turned out that Drew had the audacity to call our headmaster an ‘old fart’ who was wholly unfit for his role," Hossein explained, incredulous.

“He even had the nerve to claim he couldn’t be punished because, get this, ‘he was just a kid acting just like kids do.’ To this day, I can’t wrap my head around how he pulled off something so audacious.”

I completely lost it, laughter bubbling up uncontrollably as I doubled over. It was so quintessentially Andrew! I couldn't believe he had turned his own words back on him. It was utterly classic!

"Oh my gosh! He didn’t!" I exclaimed, my laughter joining his as we came to a stop at the traffic light. He shook his head, a big grin on his face.

"Oh, but he did! And it grabbed the attention of the entire school!" I couldn't help but gasp, "Oh my God!"

"The ripple effect of Andrew's actions was fascinating. Some kids idolized him, drawn to his boldness, while others kept their distance, wary of his audacity. Parents were split down the middle; some labeled him a troublesome brat who threatened to lead their children astray, while others praised him as a fearless champion for what was right. It made the prospect of expelling him so much more complicated." He said laughing.

Despite the chaos Andrew often stirred in my life, I had to admit that what he did was undeniably cool.

"Not long after, Min joined our little crew, and we became inseparable. Little kids literally worshipped our small band of misfits, admiring us with wide eyes and bright smiles." I chuckled as Hossein boasted about their legendary childhood adventures filled with laughter and mischief.

"You guys were so adorable'' I remarked and he laughed.

"More like adorable little shits! Did you know we were nicknamed the 'terrible three' right from elementary to middle school and even to high school?''

"Really? Oh my gosh. That's terrible!" Hossein laughed at my flabbergasted expression.

''Yeah, pranks and all. Drew was a pain in the teacher's asses, and we all loved him for it, especially the girls for his bad-boy vibe. If you get what I mean" I bet they did.

“Lucky fool even managed to snag his first kiss from the most popular girl in school before any of us had a chance, and yet he still insists that wasn't his first kiss,” Hossein remarked, a bemused smile spreading across his face as he shook his head in disbelief.

“What… what do you mean?” I stammered, my curiosity piqued. He glanced at me momentarily before refocusing on the street as our car glided to a stop in front of my apartment building.

“Drew has this wild notion that he kissed someone else a whole year before that—saying she was his first love or maybe the love of his life or something ridiculously dramatic like that. Honestly, the details escape me,” he continued, his voice laden with incredulity. When I remained motionless in my seat, lost in thought, Hossein raised an inquisitive eyebrow.

“What's wrong, Maya?” he asked, concern flashing across his features. I forced a small smile, trying to mask the swirling thoughts in my mind.

“Nothing. Don’t worry about it,” I replied, my voice light but my heart heavy with unease. What could I possibly be thinking? Surely it couldn’t be the same kiss, could it? I reminded myself that Drew had been a notorious charmer for as long as I could remember, flitting from one girl to the next like a bee to flowers. It could have been any of those girls he’d paraded around with. As I walked into my apartment, with Hossein trailing close behind, I tried to shake off the nagging thought that wouldn’t leave my mind.