30th September

Unknown Number
v still up 4 2nit?

I frown at the screen in confusion. I can't recognize the number. Roman didn't get a new number, did he? But then why would he send me such a weird text? Am I being pran-

"Ms. Gomez," Ms. Donna's voice interrupts my chain of thoughts and I wince internally.

"Yes?" I ask tentatively, locking my phone beneath the table.

"Can you continue reading where Jordan just left off?"

And where did Jordi leave it?

"Of course," I smile, taking a moment to look at the latest notification.

Ma bitch🖤
Pg 143 para 6 ln 9

I slip my phone into my pocket and smirk as I begin to read. I am sure Ms. Donna is catching her falling wits. I have been caught texting in this class twice this week alone. What can I say, I'm not a huge fan of Literature. Or Math. Or Science.

What I mean is, I don't really like school.

It's a miracle I clear all my classes with an A-minus average. Or maybe it's the need to perform to keep up with Jordi and Roman. Jordan gets very competitive in school and Roman is my genius brother. Whether it be Soccer or school, Jordan excels at both. I can never beat her Academic scores and she hasn't managed to beat me at Soccer . . . yet. We keep challenging each other.

While I read, I feel my phone buzz in my pocket and I fight an urge to throw the damned book at Ms. Donna's face and check it.

I guess I'm addicted to my electronic soulmate. 

I read for an excruciatingly long time before she lets me stop and sit down. I look at the time and shake my head in amusement.

Barely six minutes have passed. I hate it sometimes, my inability to sit still and concentrate on books. My parents keep expecting me to score better but the most I can do is maintain a 3.8 GPA. The only time I can actually concentrate on my books is in the middle of the night. It's tough.

I shake myself out of my unpleasant thoughts and focus back on the present. Just as I suspected, the new notification is from the same person.

Unknown Number
babe? where r u?

So it's someone's lover. Interesting. Just as I am beginning to type out a reply, I get another text.

Ma bitch🖤
what r u doing elle?

Me
wanna see smthn interesting?

Ma bitch🖤
ure dodging my question

Me
im trying but u r not letting me

Ma bitch🖤
Eleanor

Me
i got a text from an unknown no n they called me babe

Ma bitch🖤
do they even know its u?

I turn around in my seat to glare at my supportive best friend. She looks up and smiles, giving me a shrug. I stick my tongue out at her and look back at the screen.

Me
its an unknown no jordi
how would ik?

Ma bitch🖤
good point.

I roll my eyes and send her the screenshot of the contact details of whoever that unknown person is. I get another text.

Unknown number
vanessa darlin come on
i even got those chocolate ones u wanted

Okay. That's my limit. I'm curious as hell. I type out a reply.

Me
first of all, ewwww
second, wrong number, lover boy.

Unknown number
You're not Vanessa?
Wait. I didn't get your name wrong again, did I?

Me
i believe thats what i implied by my former text
and u dont know me, so i say yes u got it wrong.

Unknown number
a simple no would have sufficed

Me
i am well aware

Unknown number
i cant believe i got her no wrong!

Me
lol classic

Unknown number
yeah go ahead and laugh at my misery

Me
i would but i am in class and id rather not be assigned detention

Unknown number
urgh so ure not vanessa and ure a nerd?
fantastic!
do we even go 2 the same school?!

Me
u can care about school w/o being a nerd u jerk
how would ik?
i go to Coral High btw

Unknown number
sure u can
NERD
so we do go to the same school
lovely

Me
no wonder she gave u a wrong no
fuckface

Unknown number
take that back!

Me
like hell i will

Unknown number
wtf who r u

Me
who r U?

Unknown number
i asked first

Me
so?

Unknown number
fine we go at the same time

I glance at the time and make a quick decision.

Me
alright
as soon as the bell rings

Unknown number
fair enough

RING!

Unknown number
Andrew

Me
ure too gullible

I can't believe he fell for that! I laugh to myself as I gladly pack up my stuff. Jordan approaches me with a frown.

"You texted them back, didn't you?" She asks.

"I did," I confirm with a grin. 

"They could be a sixty-year-old serial killer, Ellie. Why would you do that?"

"I don't think so," I disagree.

My phone pings again and I sport another grin.

"How would you know? You don't know who they are!" She exclaims, misreading the reasons behind my glee.

"Jordi, chill," I placate her. "His name is Andrew."

"Andrew, you say?" She raises an eyebrow challengingly as we walk out of the class and into the corridors.

"Yup!" I pop the 'p'.

"And who did you tell him you were when he asked you?"

"I didn't tell him," I laugh.

"Of course!" She scoffs, rolling her eyes. "He might not even be a boy, Eleanor. Much less a guy named Andrew."

"Stop being so rational!" I sigh. "He also goes to our school."

"Ellie, I don't like this." She says with a scowl. I open my locker and throw my books in.

"Meh," I shrug, segregating them for my next class.

"I know that now you've made your decision and I can't stop you, but please be careful."

"I will. And anyway, it's probably Andrew from Soccer. He seemed like a jerk."

"Adrian's best friend?"

"The one and only. I want to mess around a bit."

"Your plan is probably going to fail spectacularly."

"The uncertainty is what makes it so exciting, Jordi."

"I don't even know why I try with you anymore," she mutters.

I laugh.

* * * * * * * * * * * * * * *