4. Death By Stare

"Okay and how do I say... I like you?" I watched as Jerome signed the words, causing a big smile to appear on the girls face as she flipped her blond hair over her shoulder, trying to do the same action.

Hm.

"If looks could kill, she'd be dead." I looked to my left as Emily took a seat beside me, opening the milk carton to her school lunch and speaking. "Yea.." I sighed.

If only they could.

"Don't stress about her.. shes been trying to get with Jerome since we were all in elementary.. everybody knows he's not stunting her." She tried to assure me, and I nodded my head, slowly looking away.

I then shrugged, opening my brown paper bag and pulling out my peanut butter and jelly sandwich, leaning back against the cafeteria wall. "I don't care what Jerome does.." I shrugged, speaking those things but for some reason my eyes kept going back over to the way her hand was rubbing all up on his sleeve and how she just kept doing that irritating ass giggle.

"Yea.. totally." Emily spoke with true sarcasm as I smacked my lips. "Girl forget you." I smiled and she laughed a bit. "Im just saying, you don't have to hide your feelings from me. Me and you both know im the only other friend you have besides Jerome, and theirs only one thing I know about you that he doesn't, and that's the fact that you like him." She exposed my truth to me and I sighed.

She's not lying.

Emily is a cool lil light girl. Even though she's mixed, I can say it dont seem like she'd care too much about color even If she didn't have a little bit in her. She's been nicer to me than anyone of these otha' kids round hea.. and im grateful to have someone to talk to when them otha folk steal Jerome away from me.

It was really hard for me when I first got to this school, I felt like Jerome was my friend and my friend only.

When I met Emily was actually after getting into an altercation with another little girl for taking my class materials and moving them to an opposite seat so she could sit by Jerome.

The girl had told the teacher that I spazzed on her for nothing, but Emily spoke up and told the truth about what happened, and from that day, she's been telling me off and telling me the truth about the things I hide since.

She's been an amazing friend.

"Next topic please." I bit into my sandwich and she nodded before getting excited. "So im having a pool party this weekend!" She reminded me and I looked away as if she wasn't talking. "Nooo Troy you're not backing out on me this time!" She pulled at my shoulder and I groaned.

"Come on nie.. you know I don't do functions for real." I shrugged her off, placing my sandwich down.

My parents barely have the money to afford me clothes to look half as decent as these kids when I come to school, so stepping outside in the clothes I wear and trying to hang out with them is only setting myself up.

"What kind of friend am I, if all these other people be showing up and not my real friend?" She pouted and I sighed, smacking my lips. "I'll think bout it Em.." I told her, actually going to consider it.

I don't even own a swimsuit. In the summer time me and Jerome just do shirts and shorts and then turn his fathers sprinklers on in that great big lawn of theirs.

"Ahhh yes!" She squealed and I laughed. "I said thank bout it girl! Not a definite yes!" I reminded and she waved me off.

"You're definitely coming." She nodded and I shrugged as my eyes went back over towards where Jerome was, only to see his eyes were already on me.

The girl was just a talking and talking in his face, but he wasn't paying ha' no mind as we stared into each others eyes.. only this time i didn't have the stare of death, because he was giving me the look of all things light and life.

"You're gorgeous Coco" His bottom lip ended up between his teeth before he smiled that amazing smile, making me want to melt right there as he winked.

I was in a literal trance before none other than the girl, the same girl that's been yapping his ear off all lunch and the same girl that moved my class materials back in grade school so she could sit by him, looked at me, and then looked at him, moving his chin with her finger so he was looking at her, and continued talking!

Oh this bitch.

"Let's go T." Emily stood up, noticing the tension and knowing that I'm on limited amounts of strikes before I'm expelled from the school, she picked up her lunch tray as I rolled my eyes, standing to my feet as well.

Hearing footsteps behind me as we exited the double doors, I felt a pull on my arm and I was soon spun around to face him. "Wassup? Don't you got somebody to be talking to?" I irritably asked and he slightly deflated. "Come on Co.. you know her peoples paying my father for me to help her with signing."

"Ok Jerome." I shrugged, turning around again, noticing Emily had walked down the hall, probably trying to give us some space.

"Coco.. don't be like that." He stood in front of me, walking backwards as I continued to walk forward, not looking at him until he stepped directly in front of me, stopping, causing me to bump into him and his hands to grip my waist. "Jerome!" I groaned and he smiled.

Not being able to help but smile back, I shook my head, backing up as his tongue glazed over his bottom lip with him pushing his curls out of his face as he looked me up and down from head to toe. "This is nice.." He complimented the skirt my momma had sewed fa' me.

It was a little tight but she tried.

"I think it's ok." I shrugged as he started walking around me, nodding his head and I couldn't help but to do one of dem annoying ass giggles. "Would you stop analyzing me like a damn creep!?"

"You love it." He smirked and I rolled my eyes. "Boy bye." I looked away from him and he turned my face back towards him, standing way too close for me not to lose my mind. "Hello." He looked down into my eyes before his eyes fell to my lips with my heart beat quickening just before the bell rang, starling us both as I moved back, clearing my throat.

He stared at me for a couple seconds, biting his bottom lip before smiling and shoving my shoulder. "You were about to knock that girl out huh?" He wrapped his arm over my shoulder causing me to laugh as we began walking to class.

"I ain't sweating ha." I lied and he knew it, which caused us both to laugh again.

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Thoughts?