Free Hoodie by S. Walden

punch him in the face. A nice, strong right jab, he thought. Break a tooth in his fucking mouth. Take him to the floor and make him bleed. Make him swear to never talk to Emma again or he would kill him. The thoughts pacified him, and he felt the anger within him dissipate.
    “Ugh, he gets on my nerves,” he heard Emma say after the boy walked away. She was talking to her friend with the long blonde hair.
    “That’s mean, Emma,” Morgan replied.
    “I know, and I feel awful for feeling that way. How can you date someone in the past and feel like you loved them, and then you break up and you don’t want to be anywhere near them? Like they disgust you? It’s a horrible feeling to have, and I feel like a horrible person,” Emma said.
    Anton’s heart sprouted wings.
    “Well, I guess you shouldn’t have let him go up your shirt,” replied Morgan matter-of-factly.
    Anton scowled.
    “Thanks, Morgan. You’re helpful.”
    He smiled at Emma’s sarcasm. He could imagine her face to match.
    “You know he wants to get back together with you. He’s dying to,” Morgan pointed out.
    Anton curled his hands into fists.
    “So not happening. As mean as this sounds, he just doesn’t do it for me,” Emma replied.
    I can do it for you, Anton thought.
    “Really? You aren’t attracted to him anymore in the slightest?” Morgan asked.
    What was this girl trying to do, he thought? Ruin his chances?
    “No, I’m really not. It was tenth grade. It’s over. I’m done with it,” Emma said.
    That’s right, girl, move on. Right on over to me, Anton thought.
    “So who are you attracted to?” Morgan asked. “Anyone? You haven’t mentioned a guy in a long time.”
    He knew she would never say it, but he stood there hoping she would.
    “I don’t know,” Emma replied. “I’m not sure I want to get attached to anyone before starting college.”
    His heart splintered into a million pieces.
    “That wasn’t my question. I asked if you thought anyone around here was cute,” Morgan said.
    Say it Emma. Say it, he thought desperately.
    “I don’t know,” Emma said blushing.
    “Oh my God, you like someone! Spill it!” Morgan squealed.
    Anton began tentatively piecing his heart back together.
    “I never said that, Morgan,” Emma replied, but her flushed face betrayed her.
    “Well, I think I know someone who likes you,” Morgan said.
    His heart fell to pieces all over again.
    “Who?” Emma asked.
    “Your partner,” Morgan said boldly, and he could feel her eyes on him.
    He shoved his face deeper into his locker.
    “What are you talking about?” Emma asked quietly, looking in Anton’s direction.
    “That guy you’re working with on that stupid English paper. I think he likes you. I’ve been watching him for the past few days. He’s always looking at you,” Morgan said.
    Somebody push me into this locker and close the door, Anton thought. And never let me out again.
    “You’re crazy,” Emma said.
    No she isn’t, he thought sullenly.
    “No, you’re crazy. Or you would be if you did anything with him,” Morgan said. Her tone held a note of warning.
    Fuckin’ bitch, Anton thought. Shut your fuckin’ mouth.
    “Morgan, there is nothing between us like that. I don’t even think we’re friends. You see we don’t talk at school,” Emma argued.
    Anton’s body went rigid. His heart had already died, so he wondered how he could still feel it ache.
    “Good,” Morgan replied. “Are we going to lunch?”
    “Yes,” Emma said quietly.
    She glanced in Anton’s direction once more. His head was hidden behind his locker door. She entertained the idea for only a moment that he actually liked her. It was ludicrous, she thought. He flirted with her, yes, but she had come to discover that he was a flirty guy by nature. She knew not to read too much into it. But she couldn’t deny how it made her feel when he teased her and looked at her in certain ways—like she was the only person on the planet, the only person in