Oh My Mona

I saw Mona again on Monday morning, she was waiting for me in the cafeteria, uniform pristine as always. She didn't even seem to acknowledge what had happened last night at the bus stop, instead she drew lazy circles on my arm as I sat beside her. My guy twisted as she did it. It was only pretend. I only had to last another week and then it would all go away. I could hate her from a distance. Was it hate? Hate that clogged my lungs with sticky sweetness that made my heart hammer when I was around her. It just felt surreal. People would come and ask me how it was like to be a couple and people were congratulating us all day long. Mona seemed to revel in it, her smile never faltering. She was always sunshine, so hot it hurt to look.

We made idle conversation and laughed. Sometimes she rested her hand on my arm, she made it look believable. And yet I didn't even know what her favourite colour was. I wanted to know what her favourite colour was.

It took me two days to learn where her classes were, picking her up like a chauffeur. People say the devil had bright red horns but his alter ego is a Blonde rather fair skinned prick. It was Wednesday after lunch when I crossed paths with Lucifer again. He was like some sort of ugly falcon that preyed on the weak was like some sort of ugly falcon that preyed on the weak or rather not the weak but the pretty. People like Mona. Charlie was standing outside Mona's English, his dusty musty grotesque form leaning on the lockers outside, staring right at her as she walked out.

He called out for her, pushing himself off the wall and slandering towards her like his dick entered the room before him when in reality it entered behind it or never entered at all because I was going to castrate him. "Hey~" There was a disgusting tone of flirtatliy to his words as he approached her. One that I wasn't going to stand for.

I made a quick march over to them, before Mona could even look up and register that freak. "Mona, baby, how are you?" The words left my mouth before my brain even realised I said them, it was either a strategic move or she was going to yell at me for going too far later. Charlie faltered for a second in his pursuit. Mona looked up at us both, about 2 paces between all of us.

Her face cracked into a smile that I couldn't tell if it was acting or genuine, but it was warm and homy, setting a shiver down the back of my neck. "Xavier," She looked across at Charlie but did not mention him, looking him up and down before walking straight past him and to me. I felt like I should've opened my arms to sweep her up in them but I restrained myself. Its pretend.

A look of distaste formed on Charlies face as his eyes trailed her movements to me. The clogs were turning behind that mask of his I could tell, vicious and ready to make a move. But I didn't anticipate it when he lent out in front of Mona and grabbed her. It wasn't even gently; he yanked on her shoulder, hauling her towards him. Something hot and angry snapped in my belly.

Mona yelped out in surprise, stumbling over her shoe as she was pulled midstep. I stopped thinking. I threw myself at Charlie. My hand reaching for his horribly handsome neck. I saw his eyes flash up in surprise but it was too late for him to jump back as we crashed straight into the lockers behind us.

I couldn't see anything else around me but him, his shit eating grin right in my face. My fingers found his neck and I was squeezing. So fucking hard.

There were hands all around me, hands that weren't his and two that were, fighting against me, ripping at my shirt. He touched her. He thought he had the right. He thought that his dirty stupid hands could touch her. Right in front of me.

People were shouting my name.

But I could only hear Mona amongst them. Yelling at me to stop.

It took 2 teachers to pull me off Charlie because I just wouldn't let go, my fingers locked in a death grip around his throat. He was wheezing and coughing once he got out, face red and hair ruined; I should've punched him and broken that stupid nose in and made it crooked. I don't entirely know what even happened. Mona was walking and then he was grabbing her and then...

She was the first person to rush towards me once they pulled me off him. It broken a little heart shaped piece inside of me. Mona looked equally as worried and angry at me though, but she was yanking me down so she could reach up and touch me face; my knees instantly weak. Oh god I think I'm going to pass out. Please don't pass out. Mona was touching my face, moving her fingers over my cheeks, I could see her mouth moving but the words weren't there. She was touching my face.

Oh god am I blushing? Am I hard? I might be both. I'm definitely going to die.

Then everything came back like a slap in the face. "Xavier I'm okay. I'm okay. Can you hear me? Are you in shock? Oh my god you're the stupidest man I've ever met." She was still holding my face, checking me over carefully. I chuckled and removed her palms slowly, oh god her hands were so soft. "I hear you." Then she smiled again and nothing bad could ever happen.

That was until about half an hour later my ass was sat in those horrible chairs in the head teachers office, Charlie next to me with an icepack on his bruised neck.

"He literally jumped at me like a wild anim-"

I snapped to him, glaring, "You grabbed Mona you frea-"

There was a loud cough from Mr Perton and regretfully we both turned back to look at him. He spoke in a gravely voice, the one I'd only ever heard over the school speakers or from at right at the back of the hall during assemblies, "That's quite enough from the two of you. It doesn't matter who started it we are calling both your parents and awarding you with suspensions." Well fuck. I would be washing dishes for the next 7 years at this rate.

Mr Perton made us both stay whilst he phoned each parent in turn, eyeing us up and down like a wet rat, waiting there was more of the punishment then the suspension.

Josh, Cher, Kile and Mona were all waiting for me in the hallway and I might've dreamed it but I swear I saw Cher's leg brushing up against Kile's as they all sat together on the manky plastic seats. "That was well funny Xav." Josh snorted out, reaching into the packet of crisps he was holding before offering them out to me; if Josh wasn't partying, he was eating.

[AOTHURS NOTE:
My body is on fire. My brain is no functional. Sorry this chapter is coming out a little slower then usual.]

I reached out to take a crisp from him before shoving it in my mouth, I was kind of famished and not in a great mood. "Yea well I'm suspended." I shove my hands in my pockets and shrug. For once Mona doesn't say anything and I look over, concerned. She looks.... fine?

I nod to Josh and gesture for them to continue walking without me to the courtyards, then I take a few slow steps over to Mona who still hasn't left her seat yet. For a second I almost say hey baby but then I instantly want to stab myself.

"Mona?"

"Are you okay?"

The words come out slow and gentle for once, laced with worry and I consider reaching out for her but I'd done enough damage today.

Mona opened her mouth to speak and I had to crouch in front of her to hear her. "Cramps hurt." She sounds upset or rather in pain. I furrow my brows. She looks fine. I pause

"Do you want me to help you home?"

I can see Mona mentally preparing to answer, shifting in her seat slightly, again I have to lean close to hear what she has to say, "Yes." Maybe she wasn't really fine.

I stood up and reached out a hand to her which she took slowly, all her movements were so slow. But my patience was infinite for her.

We walked slowly, so slow I was almost falling asleep down the hall as we walked hand in hand. Oh shit we were holding hands. J hadn't even clocked it and Mona looked so out of it I don't think she did either. Is this what couples did? Why were my hands sweating so much. Stop it thats weird she's going to be grossed out.

It took an awfully long time to reach the courtyard where the others were standing around and as we entered, Cher immediately looked up, a flash of worry pulling her features into a frown for a moment before rushing over to Mona next to me. She took her other hand and partially pulled Mona onto leaning against her. And then she glared at me.

What had I done now??

I gave her a confused look which I was just greeted with a roll of the eyes. Sometimes come on this was ridiculous.

[AURTHORS NOTE:
I am suffering.]

Thankfully their bus came quickly and I had to regretfully let Mona go with Cher and Josh to board it. Kile was nowhere to be found and I wondered where he had gone, wasn't he just with us? He couldn't just poof out of existence for plot convince.

Every episode has to be coherent or it doesn't make sense you can't just have a plot hole in the middle of it. Like Kile could be a drug fueld crime lord or something. Wait if my life was a show what series would we be on? Wait no better question what would it be called?

I got so caught up in trying to break the fourth wall I almost missed my dingy little public bus that pulled up right in front of me. After sitting down on those tacky seats I had a call from Cher- uh oh. I answered the call ready to be shouted at but instead I heard "Are you coming in tomorrow?" I frowned. Why should that matter?

"No I'm suspended- how did you miss that part?"

I could feel the eye roll through the screen. "Mona's off sick she just got home she feels terrible," pause, "visit her please." There was a moment of breathlessness. I could hear as she inhaled through her nose. "She waited a long time for you to talk to her again, if you mess this up I will be extremely angry."

Poor Cher. It could never last even if we both hoped. I sighed and hung up.

That night I returned home to a very angry mother at my suspension, which earned me a smack on the cheek and cooking my own dinner.

I lay awake thinking of Mona that night, expect this night it was different becuase it felt like something had changed and I couldn't put my finger on it.