Gamer - страница 5

Inna thought it was hilarious. All the way upstairs to the English classroom, we talked about how neatly I’d put the comedians in their place.

After school we collected our jackets and took our usual route. The weather was getting warmer, and more and more kids were lingering outside after class, walking around and playing games.

“Have you heard the rumors about us?” Inna asked out of nowhere once we were off the school grounds.

“Rumors? About us? What rumors?” I fired questions at her faster than she could answer.

After a short pause, she went on:

“Yeah, about us. I overheard some girls in the bathroom saying we’re going out and sleeping… Well, you know.” She lowered her voice for the last few words.

“Wow! What did you do?”

That surprised me a little. Of course, I wouldn’t have minded if the gossip were true, but I thought of Inna as someone far too good for me.

“What could I do? They hadn’t seen me, and I didn’t want to make a scene. You know what people are like at our school. You can get a black eye for that…” Her answer left me no opening to ask how she actually felt about it.

I wanted her to say she wouldn’t mind going out with me. Then I’d have been the happiest person alive. I needed to say it myself. But when? And how? I couldn’t just tell her right there in the street. It had to be somewhere special.

“Right… But if you could have said something, what would you have told them?” I persisted, hoping for an answer I’d like.

“I don’t even know. Probably that it’s none of their business.” Her answer told me nothing. Another chance to tell her how I felt slipped past.

We passed my bus stop, but I no longer turned off there. Time with Inna mattered more than the time I’d save by taking the bus.

“What would you have said?” she asked. There was no way out now. I tried to find one anyway.

“Probably the same. If there’s something between us, or if there ever is, that’s our business. Besides, if they’re talking about us, our lives must be more interesting than theirs!” It was meant to be an opening, but I’d handled it so clumsily that I must have sounded ridiculous.

Inna smiled. By then we’d reached her house.

“Will I see you tonight?” I asked, scuffing one foot back and forth, unable to stand still.

“Probably not tonight. Mom asked me to help with some things, and I’ve got a ton of homework. Tomorrow?” Inna pulled a face. She didn’t seem thrilled about the chores either.

“Then I’m copying your physics tomorrow!” I said brightly, trying to hide my disappointment and salvage something from the disappointment.

“Then I’m copying your math!” Inna shot back, deciding to make her own life easier too.

“Now I’ll actually have to do it!” I complained. Math would take up time I’d already promised to Counter-Strike.

“A fair trade!” Inna protested cheerfully.

We hugged goodbye. Just then, a little girl ran out of the house and stared at us. Her mother followed, and the two of them caught us with our arms around each other. We both noticed and blushed.

“Well, uh, I’d better go. Bye!” I rattled off and hurried home.

Inna stayed by the door with her mother and sister. I didn’t find out how she’d explained the hug until that evening.

We talked about it in messages once we were both home.

I. 20:04 well, we really got caught there :))

A. 20:12 what do you mean? did you get in trouble?

I. 20:14 no, but there were a lot of questions. who are you, what’s your story?