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She squints her eyes at me, trying to find the right words to fight me with. “Alright, I’ll tell you what, hot shot. You’ve got the drive to school to convince me that heavy metal is worth listening to.”
The level of laughter that leaves my throat surprises me. “Yeah, okay. I feel like that’d be as easy as convincing your dad to root for the Packers.”
“All I’m saying is that if your taste in music is so superior, then convince me to like listening to it.” She raises her eyebrows in challenge, pandering to my competitive side.
“Game on, Miss Andrews — time for the student to teach the teacher.”
Chapter 17
“Dude, how is this enjoyable?! I can’t even understand what they’re saying!” I shout over the relentless screaming coming from Joey’s stereo. The unintelligible words do nothing except rattle my teeth in my mouth.
“It doesn’t matter, it’s the adrenaline rush from the fast-paced music that I love.” He drums his fingers on the steering wheel in tempo to the song. “Come on, Kelsey, tell me you don’t feel alive right now!”
I feel something alright — the start of a headache coming on. I want to express interest in the kind of music he likes, especially since he is kind enough to assail his ears this weekend for me.
“Maybe I’m just not in the right mindset. I’m sure it’s a great motivator when you’re bench pressing or working on a car, but I’m just not feeling it.” I can feel my nose scrunching up as I speak.
“I’ll turn you into a metalhead soon enough,” he smirks as he turns the volume down. We’ve just pulled into the school’s parking lot. “I can get your car fixed today as long as I have the part on-hand. I’ll bring it over if I get it done and leave the keys with the main office for you.”
“You’re the best, Joey.” I lean over and hug him, contemplating whether to kiss his cheek but deciding not to.
“Nah, I just like to be helpful. Have a good day, Kels.”
“Heroes never do it for the praise, do they?” He just laughs in response. “Thanks again.” I flash him one last smile as I get out of his truck. The silence that takes over my ears is deafening in comparison to the demonic screaming I was just subjected to in the truck.
I grab something small to eat from the teacher’s lounge and make my way to my classroom. As I’m about to sit down and start grading, my phone pings with a message from my sister.
Savannah: Sooo what did he say?
Me: You’re off the hook ;)
Savannah: HE FUCKING LIKES YOU KELSEY!
Me: I guess we’ll see
Savannah: Why else would he agree to go to the concert with you?
Me: Maybe he feels bad for me
Savannah: Please come by the pub after school today so I can SLAP THE SHIT OUT OF YOU!
Me: I have some grading to do now. Talk later.
Savannah: I’m giving you an F at love right now you dumb bitch lol
I get the majority of my grading done before my students start filing in for homeroom. Among the last of the students to enter is Dominic.
“Hey, Teach. Is today the day I’m supposed to start tutoring after school?” The way he asks me this makes me think he’s already trying to find a way out of it.
“Yes, we’re on a Monday, Wednesday, Friday schedule,” I try to keep the clipped emotion hidden from my voice.
Dominic heaves out a sigh. “Alright, I’ll be here,” he says in a deflated tone.
The first half of the day flies by — I don’t even realize it’s my lunch period until my stomach starts screaming at me in hunger. I’m about to head out of my classroom and toward the teacher’s lounge when Principal Morris comes sauntering in with a bouquet of flowers.
“Hey, Kelsey. These came to the office for you this morning, but I didn’t want to disrupt your classes.” She hands me the bouquet of carnations.
My heart sinks a little, knowing there’s no way possible they’re from Joey — they’ve got to be from Grant. I open up the card stuck inside the flowers.
