Chapter 3: Her Partner

Lorelai is a confusing person.

Ever since I'm met her, i knew something was off about her, the way she made me felt which i cannot lose the life of me find out why i felt that way, or the questionable behavior she has towards me, in one instance she's talking to a complete stranger on the bus but proceeds to ignore me the following week, in the next I'm suddenly her day to the party, people are confusing or maybe it's just Lorelai.

It was a few days since Lorelai told everyone in class I was her date and these last few days were something else. Instead of everyone in my class hating me to a certain degree, their opinion towards suddenly shifted. I don't know how to explain it but the way they act changed…

If it was back, then it was the normal cold stares and obvious dislike towards me, but now it's still the same except for one fact. Maybe I'm going insane due to recent events or because of Lorelai fucking with my head, but they're not cold towards me that much. There are still the occasional cold stares but now it is very rare nowadays.

Hey, I'm not complaining, even though i still don't give a shit about what they think, still it made my life more comfortable? Well, it's not like it was that bad before this ever happened, but does it mean I'm thankful for Lorelai because of this? Nah, fuck no.

As of this moment, i am having lunch with Lorelai in the school cafeteria, having a staring match with her seeing who's going to break first, she had a beaming smile while i addendum react to it at all, but make no mistake i am seething with frustration towards Lorelai.

The cafeteria was loud and full of noise as usual, with students eating their food and some lining up to buy theirs, it all seems normal if you look at it on the surface except for one thing, everybody in the cafeteria was taking peeks at our table, what a good place to have a nice conversation.

"Lorelai, when have i ever agreed to be your date? You put me in a stressful situation, you know that right?."

Lorelai kept on smiling and slumped her back in the chair, acting like nothing significant happened. Maybe not to her but it is to me. My first impression of her was that she was a bright kind and somewhat naïve person, now I'm having second thoughts.

"Oh, stop being such a crybaby Malik, we're only becoming a date for the acquaintance party, it's not a big deal."

See, it was not a big deal to her but it is definitely to me.

"Not a big deal? I got Bradley hounding my ass because he said i took his date, heck why did you even reject the guy, its crystal clear that there's nothing disadvantages in becoming a date, there's even certain benefits to it."

i had a glaring expression as i conversed with her, yet she still had that pretty smile she had, damn that smile.

"Malik, I'm not an idiot, he's an upgraded version of a jock you see in the movies, which makes it even worse. Becoming his date sounds like a nightmare."

Huh, at least she agrees with me that Bradley is the typical jock, but it doesn't change the fact that she made me a scapegoat for her benefit.

"Don't treat me like a child Lorelai. It's clear that you use me as a human shield from that jock, its apparent that you're the only one benefitting in this situation."

"Now that is where you're wrong sweet Malik, i seem to notice that the pressure put on to you by our classmates has eased in recently, so don't talk like you're not gaining anything from this transaction."

I had no words. Thinking about it more has made it easier for me to interact with those idiots, so there is some truth to what she said, but that doesn't mean I'm no longer angry about it. The situation has become even more confusing, however, since a certain question was still not answered.

"Ok then, but there is a gaping hole in your plan, and that is why me? There were better options to use as an excuse, like dating the other jocks in the classroom and heck, even going with my friend Ace, he intimidating enough for the hyenas to back off, also you can always refuse, you know?"

Lorelei's expression slightly faltered if you look closely and she seems to be fidgeting in her chair for a bit, but she regained her usual beaming smile and responded with a calm voice.

"Well, i have my reasons, Malik, and regardless if you know my reason or not, it doesn't change the fact that we're going as a date in the party."

Before i could retort, Lorelai stood up and left, but she winked and briefly smiled at me first before doing so, this time her smile was different, there was a certain way she looked at me and smiled, though I just can't understand it no matter how much i think about it.

Lorelai is indeed confusing.

"YO DUDE, what were you talking about with the Lorelai?"

It doesn't take a detective to figure out who it was. From the nearby table i could see Neil having a wide grin on his face while waving to me along with Ace in his usual stoic expression, though his eyes seem to be giving a questioning look towards me.

They sat down on the opposite side of me where Lorelai previously was, and Neil continued to ask what happened while Ace remained silent and instead waited for my answer.

"Sigh* it was nothing really, i was just talking with Lorelai about our date."

"Shit dude, what's up with that, i mean, how did that even happen? Don't tell me you guys are already dating? oh shit, this is big news."

Neil had a sly grin when he said that but i ignored it. His imagination is something else. He should start writing fantasy novels with his women filled brain.

"Shut up, we're not and fuck. She framed me. I swear, man, she just came out of the blue and announced I was going to be her date to the. Party, this is ridiculous."

Neil a dawned look on his face when he heard what i said, but he recovered and he now had an even wider grin that what he had previously. His eyes were shining bright like he won a Nobel prize or something and even Ace, the stoic faced ace, had a small grin at the side of his face. What the fuck is happening?

"I told you dude, i fucking told you, this is fucking proof that Lorelai is into you, even though you stole her from me but as my best bro, ill give this one up to you."

"Nice."

It did not surprise me that Neil was reacting like this. He was always a little of an idiot sometimes, but why is ace even confirming that Lorelai likes me? These two are illogical as fuck.

"what the fuck is wrong with you guys? She used me as a scapegoat so she woodenly has to go with Bradley. It's pretty obvious. Come on, man."

Neil just sighed and gave an expression to a Buddhist monk about to teach his disciple.

"Oh my best bro Malik, even though you think I'm an idiot in your mind, to me you're clearly the one who's an idiot. Hey ace you agree with me Noh?"

Ace gave a nod towards Neil and went back to staring at me like a lost puppy. Why am i friends with these guys again?

"It doesn matter whether you believe me or not, this is solid proof that she likes you. She could have chosen any other guy in the class, but did you ever stop to ask why she chose you instead of other people? No offence dude, but you're a bit exhausting to associate with."

I gave an annoyed look to Neil when he said it. How I'm exhausting to to associate with? Im clearly a very nice and humble person.

"I am not!"

"See proving my point, but anyway dude i gotta go. While i would love to tease you more, i got a date i have in 30 minutes. See ya, and bye ace."

Neil left before i could even argue with him properly. He waved and said goodbye before going god knows where, i wonder who his new date is. Ace waved goodbye as he also seems to be going somewhere.

"Damn bastards leaving me here all alone, sigh."

After that fiasco, a day passed, and it was Friday, right before the weekend starts, i personally can't wait, because at least I don't have to deal with the people here. It was about 1 pm and the subject for the house was P.E.

The class was in the school gym, warming up to get ready, and Mr Arnold, our P.E. teacher, was announcing what we were about to do. Sir Arnold, our P.E. teacher, was reasonably fit and young in his 30s, with short black hair and striking brown eyes with a cut jawline further accentuating his already attractive face. Some of the girls in class are even taking some glances towards this teacher, except for Lorelai and she seems to be warming up.

"Alright class, this time we're doing some tennis, Doubles Tennis I might add, so get paired up and meet me in the court."

Sir Arnold then left, leaving me finding a partner in class. Now from an outside perspective it's not that hard finding a partner in these subjects, but when you're me and people can't stand you, it is indeed hard.

"Yo Neil, wanna partner up for this?" I said.

"Too late dude, I'm already parred with ace but don't worry, you can always partner up with Lorelai, no big deal."

Damn it.

Neil didn't seem to notice my obvious glare and just shrugged me off to go to the court along with ace. Leaving me in a desperate situation where nobody wants to be parred up with me, god Damn it. To be clear, it's not that people don't like being paired with me, it's that they're too fucking slow when it comes to this and also they seem uncomfortable when their partners with me, so i don't force it anymore.

So i guess i eternity have much of a choice do i? i turn to look at where Lorelai was warming up and saw that she had at least common sense, instead of stretching she was running across the Gym from front to back, speeding up her heart rate and pumping blood to the various parts of her body.

While she jogged, i can see her hair bobbing up and down and sweat was accumulating in her forehead and neck causing hair to stick to it, so she had to remove it by hand so not t get distracted when she ran, I'm curious as to why she didn't tie her hair up.

She finished her warmup in a few minutes and she look in my direction all of a sudden, she smiled and waved, proceeding to walk in my direction with her usual smile.

"Hi malik, you already have a partner for the activity?"

"Nope, my friends ditched me and paired up with each other."

Lorelai giggled at what i said and had a pitying look on her face, though i can assure you it was not pity as she was still had a bright smile on her face.

"Well, can't you just ask anybody else to be partners with?"

"Lorelai, You and I both know i can't do that."

I shook my head as i looked at her with a helpless gaze, but I picked myself up and asked her.

"So instead of other asking them, why don't you become my partner for this activity Lorelai?."

Even though i was asking a simple question, a question i didn't really pay any mind since it was a school activity necessary for the school curriculum, and yet my heart was pounding as if it was about to burst from my chest. I tried to hide my obvious nervousness from lorelai yet she didn't seem to notice it.

Her smiling face was fro stiff all of a sudden and her ears had a color of redness to it for some reason, she took a while to compose herself and come up with a reply as she was stumbling in her own words.

"Ah… well… i thought that you didn't like having to pair up with me…"

"Well, i did, but it doesn't really matter at this point anyway, that's done is done. Now is that a yes or no, because everybody else is going to the court and i don't want to be late."

She is a such a confusing person to be with, i seem to recall that she was the one who made me here and now she can't even decide whether to partner with me on a damned activity. Women are confusing sometimes.

In a moment, Lorelai regained her compose as she wore her bright smile again, but there was a slight difference with this, her cheeks had a blend of red to it and she was fidgeting with her hands, wonder why she's acting like this, is she sick or something.

"Yes. Yes! i mean that as yes i guess."

"Okay then, now let's go."

"Sure."

Lorelai agreed, and we went on our way to the court under the bright and shining sun that resembles Lorelais smile. When we arrived, it seemed that everybody else was getting ready to play and was waiting for the other students to arrive.

I saw Mr. Arnold standing on one of the court, showing another student how to play tennis. In another area i noticed that Ace and Neil were playing around, practicing their strokes in one of the walls, while everybody was chatting with each other while warming up.

Mr. Arnold, after teaching some of the students who didn't know how to play, went in front of the class and shouted in a loud voice.

"Alright class, to repeat what i said earlier, were playing doubles to teach you more about the inner workings of the game and build a stronger bond with your partner. Because tennis is much like life really, at the moment when your standing in the court you may think your all alone facing against life challenges, but when in fact you are not and have someone you can rely on, supporting you every step throughout the game. Learn how to cooperate with your partner, support them and in turn you will be supported also, that is all."

"Now let's begin the ball game."

Mr Arnold can really be inspirational at times, though it can be a bit cheesy when he said, nevertheless reality ddidnt care about what i thought as my classmates applauded what Sir Arnold said and proceeded to go with their partner to start playing. I noted that the last thing he said might be a term used in baseball and not in tennis.

"Oh, and i almost forgot, there are only 3 courts available so take turns facing up against each other. The loser is out to be replaced with the next pair and the winner stays. No, go play."

Sir Arnold gave the signal and i along with Lorelai, went to one of the court, and went up against the various pairs in the class. In an ironic situation, the first pair we went up against was against Bradley and Rebecca, if not for Lorelai transferring to school, the most beautiful person would be Rebecca and in typical movie cliché fashion, she's the captain of the cheer squad, i sometimes thought of whether I'm in a movie or something because this is just getting ridiculous.

Arnold glared at me with seething rage as he looked at who I was partnered with, and I don't blame him. To be honest, I didn't have much of a choice, so I made this decision.

Bradley tried to put on a friendly font but failed as his eyes were still glaring at me like i prevented him from getting into his dream job. Still, he had to keep up appearances and tried talking to us like we were best buds.

"Malik, what a wonderful coincidence who thought that i would be against you in the first match."

Grinning, i replied, "Me too Bradley. Didn't think me and Laurel were going up against you two."

Lies. I knew Bradley was lying because when we were going up to this court, i saw him at the corner of my eye following us along with Rebecca, seems Rebecca also had a grudge towards Lorelai, i wonder why.

"Well then, let's not waste time. Let's start."

During the game, i realized that Lorelai was pretty good at the game, by pretty good i mean too fucking good. Not to brag, but I'm pretty athletic myself and could hold my own in a match, but in the game i was no different.

She was going back and forth against bravely and Rebecca, even though Bradley is indeed a super athletic person since he is the best football player in the school, that only applies in football as Lorelai ran circles on him and Rebecca was also like me, deadweight.

I helped out a few times and even scored for us, but Lorelai scored 60% of our points, so I guess it was fine in the end. But for some reason, during the 2nd and final set, when we were both panting as the sun was hot and added to our fatigue, i felt something else.

My heart was racing as i played together with Lorelai, it was something i never felt before; it was something that my mom used to mention to me way back when, i forgot the term, but i have a sneaking suspicion that it may mean that. I wonder what it was.