Chapter 3
Why was it that Crystal never noticed Wanda throughout her school day before she interacted with her, but now that she wanted to avoid her, she saw her everywhere??
It was lunch time and Crystal was sitting with her best friend, Matthew, at one of the tables along the wall of the cafeteria. As hard as she tried to avoid glancing at Wanda from across the room, her eyes seemed to move on their own and she ended up with her eyes fixed on the girl while trying in vain to pay attention to the inconsequential story Matthew was telling her.
Matthew stopped mid-sentence and looked at Crystal’s eyes for a second before drawing his eyebrows together and turning in his seat to follow her gaze. Since Wanda was sitting alone, it was easy to tell exactly what the object of Crystal’s infatuation was.
A number of emotions crossed Matthew’s face starting with confused head-tilt and ending in a knowing smirk.
“Hey, Crys, you noticing the new girl?”
Of course, that brought Crystal out of her trance instantly. “What? No!”
Matthew leaned in and mock-whispered, “you’re staring at her...”
To which Crystal quickly reiterated, “I wasn’t staring... I-I was looking at something behind her.” But even as she finished her sentence, a growing heat spread across her face in what she knew was an uncontrollable blush.
Matthew suppressed a chuckle at her obvious fib but shrugged just the same.
“Alright, whatever you say.” As he picked up his tray to toss out, he mumbled under his breath, almost as an afterthought, “but I didn’t know you swung that way...”
Crystal bolted up and grabbed his arm.
“I don’t!” She nearly yelled and Matthew was shocked to see legitimate fear in her eyes. He set his tray down and gently grasped her hand, leading her back to the bench.
“Crystal, it’s okay. I won’t think any differently if you do,” he said, trying to comfort her but instead that seemed to agitate her more and Matthew was unnerved to see tears forming in her eyes.
“No! No, it’s not! I-I don’t. I’m not!!!” And with that, she turned and dashed out of the room. Matthew sat back in shock, glancing over at Wanda to see her sitting with her mouth agape, staring at the door Crystal exited.