“Okay, okay,” she says, raising her hand. “Save your spiel for the debate team.” Her words linger in the evening air, hanging like smoke between them, before she quickens her pace once more, her silhouette shrinking into the darkness ahead.
He shakes his head, smiling before doubling his strides to catch up with her.
“I’m sorry,” he says after several beats of silence. When she doesn’t say anything, he clears his throat, continuing, “About your ex. Those are some really …shittythings he said.” His lip curls, thinking that if he were to ever cross paths with him, he wouldn’t think twice about hurting him in the worst kind of way.
“Not your fault,” she says, keeping her gaze ahead.
“And for that guy in class the first day,” he says, rubbing his arm.
Her shoulders drop through a sigh. “Yeah, that’s pretty normal.”
“It’s pretty fucked. I can’t imagine what that’s like.”
At this, she does meet his eyes. “No. You can’t.”
He wets his lips, sending a small, hopefully sympathetic smile her way and her gaze falls to his mouth before she blinks, turning away.
“So, how was your Fourth of July?” he says, trying to defuse the tension.
“Fine.”
“Justfine?”
“Yup.”
“You’re not going to ask about mine?”
“Nope.”
“Ouch.”
They round the corner where only one bus remains, but he knows they’re too far to catch it. She must too because she slows her pace until she stops altogether.
“Was that your bus?” he asks.
She pivots to him, pointing an accusing finger. “This is your fault.”
His eyebrow arches. “Mine?”
“Yes,” she hisses. “If you hadn’t?—”
He takes a step closer. “Hadn’t what? Caught you before you ate dirt and forced you to hydrate yourself?”
“I—” She blows out a breath, starting to walk down the row of benches. “What, no snippy comeback?” he asks, his laughter loud.
“Whatever,” she calls over her shoulder. “Go write about it in your diary.”
“Oh, I will,” he says, and feigns writing into a notebook. “Dear Diary … today was a great day. I, the charming, sweet …” his eyes flit to hers and watch as she rolls her own, “devilishly handsome, Roman Hayes rendered the indomitable Jahlani Jones speechless.”
Jahlani sighs, falling onto the rusted bench. “You forgot to add egotistical and arrogant to your description.”
He laughs, folding his arms over his chest as he sinks down next to her. “True, but you didn’t oppose the others, so that’s a win in my book.”
“What are you doing?” she asks through wide eyes.
He blinks. “Making sure you get on safely?”
He should leave. She clearly didn’t want him around, but for some reason, he settles his bag in between his legs, patting his knees.
