Chapter 30

Before long, class was out and fifth period was next. I bid my farewells to Sarah and Jordan. English class was always a quieter, more comfortable class for me. The atmosphere that the teacher laid out for us was really laid-back and usually he gave us easy work.

Our classwork for the day ended up mostly being us taking turns reading aloud from Homer's Iliad. Though I knew I could probably never write something as epic as Iliad, I still enjoyed reading it. After all, reading is fun. Don't you agree?

I found that I read faster than most in class, so I usually liked to read on ahead from where everyone else was reading. Well, I would usually do that when I, of course, wasn't feeling bored or distracted by the thoughts of Ms. Adanna after having left her class. I know the teacher was on to me, watching me as I was turning pages while keeping my finger slipped between the ones the class was still reading.

At the end of class, the teacher gave us our homework assignments and let us know what we'd be doing tomorrow. He then gave us a few minutes before the end of class. While I'd talked to some of the kids in class the last time I was there, they were pretty flippant about whom they talked to and so they paid me no mind. I really wasn't upset about it, given the number of new faces I'd been talking to lately. I felt like I was starting to make a name for myself with all the new people I was getting to know.

Once class ended, I managed to get myself out into the hallways as the bell rang and beat the crowds. The day was almost done. Just one more hour and one more class, which was of course Driver's Ed.

I headed into the annexed classroom outside and greeted my friends as they came in after me.

"So," Brandon started as he sat down behind me, "how'd it go with that girl? You two gonna go make out under the bleachers yet?"

The others chuckled, as did I.

"I told you, it's not like that," I replied with a slight grin. "Eve already has a boyfriend."

"Yeah, but she's looking good," Frank said. "You can't tell me you're not tempted."

"Of course I am," I unabashedly admitted. The other guys all 'ooh'ed at each other. "But I want to respect the fact that she's in a relationship."

"You ask me," Brandon spoke up, "you should totally get in there, man." The other two laughed as they all shared fist-bumps with each other. My grin slightly faded as I actually gave some thought to his suggestion. Jennifer's remarks about girls in relationships replayed in my head once more. I wondered if I actually should try to, I don’t know, charm Eve the same way I did with Jennifer and Talia. She was incredibly hot and I wouldn't have thought twice about it if she'd hit on me.

Then again, guys and girls tended to have different mind-sets when it came to sex.

I was slightly disappointed when the majority of Driver's Ed was, what a surprise, taking notes from our driver's handbooks. As if I didn't get enough of that already. For the first time that day, I found myself getting distracted at points. Eve was really sticking out in my mind. I played back the fantasy of her and Lila making out at the picnic tables and I found myself starting to dissect the clothes off of her gorgeous body.

I groaned, rubbing my forehead as I tried to get myself back into my work. I exhaled sharply, focusing back on my task and getting it done as quickly as I could. Once I had, I put my pencil down and sighed as I shook off the stinging in my wrist before I leaned back in my chair. I stared up at the ceiling for just a moment and soon found myself connecting the dots in the ceiling tiles to make the shape of Eve's face.

This was getting really ridiculous. I quickly looked away and rested my elbow on the desk with my head in my hand.

Although I was mentally kicking myself for being unable to get her out of my mind, there was just so much about her that was admirable. She wasn't just gorgeous on the outside, but she was also open-minded and understanding. I enjoyed her interest in wanting to learn about others. It made me realize how accurate I was when I told her that her boyfriend was a lucky guy. Any guy would be an idiot not to get with her.

Not long after, the final bell rang out and school was done for the day. I slung my backpack over my shoulder and departed from my friends.

"Get in there, man!" Brandon called out, causing the others to laugh as I walked away with a grin.

I hopped on the bus and let my backpack fall to the floor, taking my usual seat near the back. Again, I sprawled out on the seat like I owned it and for the second day in a row, got no complaints by the time the bus started to depart and take us back home.

I kept my gaze forward, staring out the windows on the opposite side as I pondered to myself. Eve was still the biggest thing on my mind. She was seriously hot, and it was safe to say I would have sex with her in a heartbeat. But what would I even say to her? How could I possibly go about seducing a girl like her? She was a leader, not a follower. She carried herself with such confidence and stride like Jennifer, only without the quick temper and cockiness.

The bus came to a stop and I made my way off of it. Once I'd crossed the street, I waited there for Sofia to catch up with me. I remembered how she expressed interest in my offer to walk home with her.

"Hey," I greeted her with a smile.

"Hey!" she happily responded, placing a friendly hand on my arm before the two of us began to walk together. "So, how was your day?"

"Pretty good," I replied. "I'm being more personable like I said and getting to know some new people—like you, of course."

She softly laughed. "That's awesome. I wish I could branch out to more people, but... when guys take one look at me they end up with only one idea in mind."

Her words hit home with me and made me feel guilty. "That sucks," I remarked as I kept my gaze forward. "I mean, I will say that you are very pretty but..., you know I've realized that there's more to a person than just how they look."

She seemed genuinely surprised by my remark as she looked over at me. "Glad to hear you say that," she said with a gentle smile.

"Now, show me these guys and I'll punch them in the face for you."

She laughed. "Come on. You know you wouldn't punch them in the face."

"I'd give it my best shot," I said as I held the building's outer gate open for her and looked at her with a grin, "Just for you."

She smiled at me as I caught up with her again. "Have you always been this respectful towards girls?"

"What can I say?" I replied as we walked past the outside fountain. "I like girls. I think they should be treated respectfully. Maybe that's pretty corny and old-fashioned but... that's just how I was raised."

"I like it," she said. "Not a lot of guys I've met feel the same way."

"Yeah, well, that's just who they are. I am who I am—I don't feel like changing that."

She looked at me with an intrigued smile. "That's good. I'm glad."

We were then buzzed in through the front and I held the door open for her. We both smiled as we waited for the elevator to arrive, stepping inside and pressing for our respective floors. The doors closed and, almost in unison, the two of us looked at each other.

"Well, see you tomorrow," I said as the elevator opened for my floor and I stepped out.

"Bye, Anthony," she said with a polite smile.

"Bye, Sofia," I replied with my own smile and stood there until the doors closed.

That night, I'd finished with my homework and gave a sigh as I looked out the window. Sofia's remarks about the way guys see her really made me give pause to my own unabashed lechery. I was being honest when I told her I was starting to recognize there was more to girls than how they looked—that was obvious. However, I couldn't exactly 'turn off' the switch hardwired into my brain when it came to the opposite sex. Women were always going to be attractive to me and always get my juices flowing. But if I could take anything away with my interactions with Sofia, Jennifer, Talia, Eve, Tamara and Nora it was that there was more than just wanting to rip off their clothes and fuck them. Although, that was still a pretty hot fantasy.

Fantasies were just fantasies. It was how I treated those young women and respected them in real life that actually mattered. I had to admit, getting close to and bonding with Jennifer and Talia felt just as good as sex—if not better. Still, the sex was really awesome.

Ah, well. That was just how life was, I suppose. I was still on my path to turning a new leaf, living my life to the fullest and enjoying every minute of it. I was tired of being tired all the time. I wanted something more, something new, fresh and exciting. I really felt like after making new friends with Eve and Sofia that I was definitely getting there.