Chapter 7 A Crush on Nonso

ELOISE

“Everyone, I need your attention,” Lillian said, standing in front of the whole class while I remained glued to my seat.

They all toned down their noise and turned to her. “For what?” one of the boys asked with obvious disinterest.

“I need everyone who's interested in the boxing scholarship to line up so I can pen down their names.”

I'd asked her to help me with it because I wasn't the class favorite and would definitely get ignored if I tried. Lillian wasn't the class favorite either, but she wasn't the type to be messed with.

“Are you Ruby?” Sabrina asked. “Shit. Who would've thought.”

The whole class laughed and I mouthed “sorry” to Lillian.

“Why are you so hellbent on knowing who Ruby is? Is it because you're jealous that he didn't ask you to get the names?”

“Why the hell would I be jealous?” she said defensively. “Yes, I find Nonso handsome, but if I wanted his attention, I wouldn't need to be his gopher to get it.”

I cursed under my breath. Lillian was about to say something, but I got up and turned to the class. “I'm Ruby.”

They all went quiet for a second and then, as expected, laughed in my face. I caught Brian laughing too and gave him a look that made him stop.

“Yeah, I'm her. She's me.” I grabbed a book from my desk and picked up a pen. “You're right about one thing, Sabrina. He's handsome, but you're wrong if you think you can get his attention.”

She lifted her chin. “Are you challenging me?”

I shook my head at her pride. Sabrina had been crowned the most beautiful girl in our class, and I wouldn't deny that she was. But if she actually thought her high school theatrics would pull Nonso, then she was out of her mind.

I ignored her and went back to the assignment Nonso gave me. “Whoever is interested, raise your hand and I'll write down your name.”

Our class had fifteen boys and all of them raised their hands. Most of them looked fit to be boxers, and the rest had definitely joined so they wouldn't be called weak. I wrote down their names and went back to my seat.

Brian forced me to write his name even after Lillian told him he'd get knocked down at his first practice.

Once the bell rang, I grabbed the book and got up, ready to head to the school gym. Lillian asked to follow me, and I never went anywhere on school grounds without her, but the thought of being alone with Nonso was too tempting to share.

I left the class and headed there. I couldn't tell if I was walking, skipping or running, but I arrived quicker than I'd expected.

The school fitness gym was almost always empty since no one visited it, mostly because football, basketball and volleyball were the dominant sports.

I walked in and my eyes quickly searched for him, but instead I found Sabrina sitting on a bench, swaying her legs. I followed her gaze and saw Nonso perched at the edge of the ring, eyes fixed on a piece of paper in his hand.

“What are you doing here?” I asked as I approached her. Nonso lifted his head and gave me a quick “hey” nod before returning his attention to the paper.

Sabrina smiled at me and shrugged. “I brought the names to him.”

“That wasn't your job,” I said, lifting my paper. “He asked me to bring it. And how did you get here so fast?”

“I was only trying to help. You don't need to make a big deal out of it.”

“You—”

“It's okay, Ruby.” Nonso stretched out his hand. “Give it here.”

I clenched my fist. “Fuck you,” I mouthed to her before handing it over to him.

“Thanks,” he muttered, looking up at us. “You both should get back to class.”

I went and sat down beside him. “It's break and I'm not hungry.”

“What about you?” he asked Sabrina, and I hoped for her sake she'd take the sign that he didn't want her here.

She met my eyes as she replied, “Actually, I have swimming practice.”

Nonso lifted a brow. “You swim?”

“I also play tennis,” she added.

I could tell exactly what she was doing, but I couldn't do anything because Nonso seemed impressed. I could have said I played sports too, but then I'd be lying.

“That's good, I love talented girls. Do you play sports, Ruby?”

Now was a terrible time to be a nerd.

“I—”

“Ruby doesn't play sports,” Sabrina cut in, mocking me with that name. “But she's great at writing essays.”

My hatred for Sabrina-wannabe-Carpenter just tripled.

“There's nothing wrong with writing essays. Eloise is smart. I like smart girls.”

I should have been giggling with the butterflies in my stomach buzzing, but nothing was happening. He said he “loved” talented girls and “liked” smart girls. There was a huge difference.

“I should get going. I'll see you around, Nonso.” Sabrina got up and waved at him before heading out.

“Your friend is nice.”

“Sabrina is not my friend,” I hissed, and he laughed. “What's funny?”

“I know, I just wanted to confirm it. Why don't you like her?”

I rolled my eyes and shifted my whole body toward him, and he gave me his full attention. “She's full of herself and thinks everyone is beneath her.”

“Sounds like every high school girl to me,” he teased.

“I'm not like that.”

He patted my head lightly. “That's why you're my Ruby.”

Okay, this time the butterflies did flutter.

I turned away to hide my red cheeks. “You should stay clear of her.”

“Do you have a pen?” he asked, and I handed him mine. “Why do you say so?”

“Sabrina is a bird. She's trying to get close to you because she thinks she has a chance.”

He chuckled, throwing his head back and shaking it. “Is that what you guys talk about in class?”

“No. I don't talk about you. She has a crush on you.”

“And you don't?”

My whole nervous system went on lockdown. My mouth fell open in shock at his question.

“I—No, I don't. Why would I? That's a wild accusation,” I blurted.

He blinked and scoffed. “I was joking. Relax.”

Shit. Quick, play it cool.

“I just don't like it when a guy assumes a girl has a crush on him.”

“I wasn't doing that, Eloise. You're the last girl I'd expect that from.”

My brain was trying to process two things at once. First, he called me Eloise, meaning he was serious. Second, he said “the last,” which basically meant I didn't stand a chance either.

“I think your break is over,” he said, glancing at his watch. “You should get back to class.”

I got up.

“If you need a ride back home, just text me, okay?” he called after me.

“Thanks, but I'm taking the bus.”

And I was going to spend the entire ride replaying his words in my head and overthinking why I was the last girl he'd expect to like him.