I looked around. Nobody else was around, so I decided to answer.
“No. I mean, maybe indirectly.”
“Sorry. I just remember that James took me home.”
We should seriously hit the brakes, Will, you scare me.But how could I tell him that without hurting him?
“I’ll try to apologize with the cappuccino I got you from the vending machine. I know it won’t be enough,” he whispered, handing me a cup.
“Thank you, Will. Look, I think it’s time to . . .” James walked into class and my throat instantly dried up.
“To?” prodded William, oblivious to his friend’s presence. I definitely wasn’t going to talk about it in front of him.
“Maybe we’ll talk about it when we’re alone,” I whispered. William nodded absentmindedly.
I watched him tousle his hair before glancing lifelessly at me. He looked tired. But I couldn’t pretend nothing had happened yesterday. Things were clearly getting out of hand. Last night he behaved like that, and today he wanted to act like nothing happened?
And then, he threatened Brian yesterday morning. He wasn’t drunk then. What’d they say to each other? I couldn’t let something like that slide or forget what Blaze had admitted to me. If it was a hypothesis before, now I was sure of it. They really did attack the principal. I couldn’t turn a blind eye to that.
“Will?”
I watched him rub his eyes, his face more tired than usual.
“What were you and Brian talking about yesterday? Does it have something to do with me, or . . .”
“No, no. Don’t worry, it has nothing to do with you. Are you two gonna do the history homework together?” he asked.
“Brian asked me to do it with him. His grade is pitiful. I think he needs someone who’s good at history.”
“Okay.” William shrugged it off and looked at the desk as if it wasn’t his business.
I started to think that the scene that morning had had nothing to do with me, given that he didn’t care whether or not I studied with Brian. If he was good with it, then why was it a problem for James?
The teacher walked in and told us we’d watch a projection in lab today.
“We’ll see you there. I’m going to the vending machine first. I’ll save your seat, June.” Will pointed at my paper cup then got up.
I watched him saunter out of class with Marvin.
The classroom started to empty, and I hesitated. I answered the text from my mom telling her everything was fine. It was a marvel.
“Goddamn.”
The complaint came from James, who was at the door. He’d accidentally dropped a spoon, splattering the coffee on his dark pants.
“Talking with Will, it seems like he doesn’t have a problem with me studying with Brian,” I said, before gulping down a sip of the now lukewarm cappuccino.
James put his coffee on the windowsill then came dangerously close to me. I backed away so much that I bumped into the desk.
“Do you think you can provoke me?” he asked.
“I’m just saying that you’re the only one bothered by it. It’s not a problem for Will.”
“Then call him when you need him. Because you will,” he snarled.
“You’re freaking out, chill.”
But all of a sudden I was the agitated one, because James slid his thumb along the angle of my lower lip to wipe away a little foam. I froze, and even the blood in my veins seemed to run cold. My eyes drifted to his lips. James licked them, then grabbed my sides with both hands.
