Through the point of view of Beatrix
I don't think i've ever been frozen in place by something that someone has told me, and I'm fortunate not have experienced it.
Until now.
My mouth is dry as I swallow nervously, looking over in the direction of where the voice came from.
Hannah pauses with a genuine smile, resting her chin on Bailey's shoulder again. Her gaze is adoring as she let's out a happy sigh I deduce from her reaction that she's the one who asked.
Damn it, Hannah.
"We're just friends guys." Anthony speaks for us, his expression normal but slightly irritated at the question.
In response to the answer, Hannah visibly deflates and her response makes me genuinely curious.
Do we really seem like a couple?
Anthony and I..?
"Oh .. I'm sorry. I just .. assumed." She explains, her tone sincere as she apologizes to the two of us.
"What do you mean? You know Kali still has that ass on lock," Bailey interrupts with a joke and the table erupts into laughter at the words.
Though I'm curious at the mention of the name, and their supposed closeness to Anthony .. I don't even mind since the focus is off me for the time being.
"Fuck you Bailey," Anthony laughs the joke off, but when I do sneak a look at him, I can tell he's a little flustered at the mention of this persons name.
A couple more minutes pass and the bell rings, signaling the end of the lunch period. I gather my things and politely say goodbye to everyone before leaving.
I quickly head out into the hallway, not considering myself mentally ready for a conversation with Anthony after the exchange during lunch.
My hands twiddle around the necklace I'd worn today as I replay the events from a minute ago.
Who was Kali? Was she a girlfriend of Anthony's?
I try to tell myself not to be nosy, but I'm thinking about it even as I enter my next class. Sitting down slowly, I pull out my phone and the case for my ear pods as more students come into the classroom.
The bell rings and class starts.
I get to work almost instantly, and while it's hard to push away the thoughts I currently have about what happened at lunch .. I do and get to work.
After the period is over, I'm slightly more nervous than usual as I head to my spanish class.
When I enter the room, Anthony's already in his seat .. tapping away at his phone.
I take my seat in silence and pull out my materials for the class.
"Hey, B." He greets me, nonchalantly.
I open my notebook and give him a polite but short greeting in return.
"Hi."
The bell rings to signal the beginning of the period and that's when the teacher comes into the room. He greets the class and then begins with the lesson.
Today we're working on writing a short story in spanish about whatever we want. It sounds easy enough for me, since I've always enjoyed reading and writing.
Mr. Grimm continues by telling us that the story must make sense, have substance and an overall meaning at the end.
"I'll be handing out the requirements of the assignment and the grading rubric I will use for the assignment .. If you turn in any less, I will take half of your points." He announces to the class while placing a paper on me and Anthony's desk.
I examine it as he begins listing the genres that are acceptable.
"Can I talk to you after class?" Anthony whispers to me with a serious expression on his face as Mr. Grimm keeps talking, and I nod my head yes.
The rest of the period we talk minimally, and though it does feel a little awkward at first .. I'm glad ultimately that our shared silence allows me to work up a theme for my short story.
After the period ends and we are dismissed from the class, I lean on the nearby lockers to wait for Anthony to come out.
It doesn't take long for him to leave the class, but when he does, I feel anxious all over again just looking at him.
"Hey, B." He greets me softly as I join his side.
"Hey," I say back as we begin to walk down the hall.
Our journey is quiet, other than the usual chatter from all the other students in the hallway.
"Do you know what you're writing your short story on?" Anthony breaks the silence with a question, and I'm thankful for the break in tension.
"I don't know yet .. I'm thinking of writing a horror story? I have ideas, but nothing concrete." I explain, happy to express what little I did feel about the progress of my short story.
"What about you?" I inquire, curious myself at what he'd chosen for his.
"I think I want to do mystery. I'm thinking .. small town, lots of suspects and the classic buddy cop trope." He makes grand gestures with his hands as he explains, making me let out of small laugh at his dramatics.
"I like it, I think it's a good idea." I compliment as we arrive at my dorm. I unlock the door, but don't go in yet, opting to lean against the desk as Anthony responds.
"Why, thank you." He thanks me slyly, smirking in a way that's stupid but cute.
"Yeah well, don't let it go to your big head," I jokingly speak to him with a roll of my eyes while walking into my dorm.
I set my bag down near the sofa, and behind me, hear Anthony enter with a small laugh.
"You know what? I just might. Maybe this is the push I need to finally start getting my mystery fingers dipped into some mystery water." Anthony says and I turn to him with a disgusted look.
He leans against my kitchen counter with a smile, and I can't help but feel happy that we're talking like this again .. the silence earlier felt so tense and awkward.
"Don't ever .. say that sentence again." I sigh in fake disappointment, walking over and sitting down next to him.
Though it's the end of the day, it's only now that I actually get to see what he was wearing.
Anthony's outfit is simple but in a way that suits him.
He's got a graphic designed green t-shirt as his top and a pair of black cargo pants for his bottoms. Around his neck is a silver chain, and it dangles and glints in the light as he speaks.
The fact that people thinks he'd date someone like me is actually insane .. personally, I felt like Anthony was way out of my league.
Plus .. he's my friend, so there's that huge difference too.
"I'm sorry about my friends, and .. earlier." Anthony's voice is softer now, and I can't help but slightly tense at the mention of the earlier incident.
Just be mature .. and talk to him like an adult. It's not a big deal.
"No, no. It's okay .. I was just surprised is all. You don't have to be sorry for anything." I assure him and my smile is small while I say the words.
My eyes read his expression for any reaction but it's unreadable, for the first time. His brows are furrowed, instead of his usual teasing smiled his lips were set in a straight line.
Did he disagree?
I didn't particularly feel like he was at fault for his friends perceptions of us. They were his friends.
"I'm still sorry." He says, and I nudge his foot gently with mine in an effort to console him.
"Stop saying sorry. Or i'll kick you out." For my words, I get a bit of a smile from Anthony and I keep repeating the action with my foot until he breaks out into a small laugh.
After his laughter dies down, it's quiet for a minute before I shamelessly ask the question that'd been on my mind all day.
"W-who's Kali?"