The next morning, the familiar sound of her brother woke Tammy up. 'Well today is going to be interesting' she thought to herself as she headed toward first period. What was strange was that JC periodically looked back at Tammy during class. Sometimes their eyes would meet and he would smile and turn back. Soon lunch came about and Tammy met up with Kailie and Laney. Laney was also quite angry at Haylee. But you could say her reasons looked foolish next to Tammy's.
"So did JC call yesterday" Kailie asked with a hint of curiosity.
"Yes, he did." - Tammy
"Well? We need details." - Laney
"I am going to his house after school today to work on the project, that is all." - Tammy
"Suuure," Kailie said sarcastically.
"Look just because I am forced to do this dumb project with him doesn't mean we are going to get married or anything." Tammy was getting quite frustrated with Kailie always persisting that she went after JC. "Someone like him doesn't go for someone like me. Plus, he is way out of my league anyway. So whatever you are concocting in your brain, stop because it isn't going to happen." - Tammy
"Geez, ok I'll stop."–Kailie. Laney seemed to be spaced out and in her own world. She had a short attention span. The bell rang for the next period. Tammy had biology next. JC was also in this class with her as well. Out of seven classroom periods (excluding lunch) JC and Tammy shared four. In Tammy's eyes, she would have preferred that she didn't have any classes with him. JC on the other hand didn't know her very well except that she was extremely smart by the way things happened in the classroom. Then again, JC didn't really not like anyone -- for the time being anyway.
The bell rang to go home at 2:45 p.m. Tammy remembered that JC was supposed to find her after school since they had different classes 7th period. A hand being placed on her shoulder startled Tammy.
"Tammy you ready to go?" The voice belonged to JC. Tammy turned to find JC looking at her as well as a guy she had never formally met. ,p>"This is Chris. He is going to be coming too." JC said as he looked in Chris' direction.
"I have to go find Casey first. I will meet you in the front ok?" - Chris
"OK," JC said, "but hurry." Chris ran off in search of Casey. Casey was one of Tammy's friends. She was glad she wouldn't be alone with pretty boy partly because she didn't know him. They all met up in the front and headed to JC's house.
"Is anyone gunna be home JC?" Chris asked.
"No, parents are working till 7:00 and I got my sister and brother to find some place to be till 6:30."
"OK." The group of four walked onward. Tammy saw a group of people sitting around on the curb up ahead. There were about five people with skateboards. Tammy knew who it was. 'This is wonderful' she thought to herself as they came closer. Haylee and Bob sat next each other hand in hand while Jennifer and Goeff were arguing about something. There was a fifth. Tammy had seen him around school a few times but he remained a stranger. He glared at Tammy with a mysterious look.
"Robbie, don't you agree with me?" Jennifer yelled at him. He turned from his gaze at Tammy who was still yet to pass them.
"Yea, sure. Whatever," was his response. Haylee was beginning to get green with envy when Robbie wasn't paying attention to her anymore. Haylee seemed to think that all of Bob's friends (and everyone else she thought was good looking) had a crush on her. But Robbie had someone else on his mind. As they came nearer Haylee stared in disbelief as Tammy came walking next to JC and Chris behind her with Casey. Robbie was still hypnotized as they passed.
"Slut," Haylee said under breath. Tammy stopped and turned to look at Haylee. JC, Chris and Casey stopped as well.
"Excuse me?" Tammy said with anger in her voice.
"You heard me." she answered. Tammy turned and started to walk away. JC had a puzzled look on his face. "Haha, that's right. Walk away. You know it is true." Tammy stopped. She turned and walked slowly up to Haylee.
" Yes, it is true. But if I am slut what do you think that makes you? Something to think about huh? That is if you think at all." Robbie broke out in laughter as Tammy turned to walk toward JC. "Can we go now?" she breathed.
"Yea, sure." he said with an uncertain tone. They continued their trip to his house. After about five minutes they reached his house. The house was lined in pastel green and the body of the house was white.
"We can work in the living room, " he said leading them to a large room. He set his backpack down on a chair. The carpet was a soft blue and the walls were white with scattered portraits and paintings on them.
"Casey come with me so you can tell me what you and Chris need for your project and Tammy I will get some stuff that we can use." JC said signaling Casey to follow him.
"Ok," Casey sighed. Tammy was left in the room with Chris. A suspenseful silence fell over the room.
"Soo, what are you and JC going to do for the project?" - Chris
"I dunno. Whatever gets a good grade I guess." - Tammy
"Haha, right." he paused, then he spoke again. "What is up with you and uh what's her name, Haylee? - Chris
"Nothing, it's nothing. Don't worry about it." Tammy could feel her face start to flush as the questions got more personal.
"Ok. So uh, what kinda things do you like? Like music and movies and stuff." - Chris
"Um, I like rock music mostly." - Tammy
"Cool. What about movies?" - Chris
"I like the Star Wars movies but my all time favorite movie is The Matrix." - Tammy
"That movie is so cool. I first saw it like a week ago when it first came out in the theater." Tammy was beginning to feel a little more comfortable around Chris.
"I saw it the first day it came out too." - Tammy
"Lawrence Fishborne and Keanu Reeves are awesome." - Chris
"Not many people like Keanu Reeves but he not as dumb as some people think he is." Just then JC and Casey came in with armloads of supplies for their projects. For the next two hours they worked on their projects. JC’s mind was racing through everything that had happened, trying to make sense of it. He looked up and peered at Tammy. He looked in her eyes for a sign, a sign of distress. "There's something wrong. She is hiding something.' His thought was disturbed
"Yo, JC can we get some food?" Chris asked standing up from his chair. JC released his gaze from Tammy and looked over his shoulder.
"Sure but we will have to go get some cause we don't have anything good." - JC
"Ok." - Chris
"Is that ok with everyone else?" JC questioned as he turned back to look at Tammy.
"Sure." Tammy said going with the flow of things. So they set off in search of a pizza parlor. They entered the restaurant and sat down at one of the booths.
"Ok," he replied. Tammy started towards the restroom with JC following. They walked down a hall and entered a room that had two doors. Tammy placed her left hand in the door when JC grabbed her right hand. She froze. Tammy slowly slid her hand down from the door and turned to look at JC who was staring at her with intense eyes. JC grasped her fore arms and led her over to the wall.
"What's wrong?" he asked with a tone of concern.
"What are you talking about?" she said afraid of what he was getting at. He moved in closer.
"Tammy, what's going on? What happened with Haylee?" JC could see her eyes start to flood with water as she tried to blink the tears away. Her voice became stern as she spoke.
"Nothing, all right? Just leave me alone." she wiggled from his grasp and went into the lady's rest room. JC hit the wall with his fist. He turned and walked back to the table. She frustrated him. He didn't know what to do. There was something about her that intrigued him, made him want to learn more.
Tammy locked the door behind her as she leaned against the wall. She slowly slid down to a sitting position and began to cry. 'Why is this happening? He doesn't care about me. He just wants to spread rumors.' She buried her face in her hands. ' God, please help me," she prayed.
JC approached the table with a troubled look.
"What's wrong JC?" Chris asked.
"Nothing, just nothing." Ten minutes later Tammy walked up to the table and sat next to JC. He put his arm around her shoulder.