“Hey, asshole, I’m over here.” said Jessica loudly, pointing to her eyes.
He turned back to her, ignoring me.
“Actually Mike, there isn’t anyone else. At all. Just let that sink in for a minute.” she said, her tone venomous. “I would literally rather be completely alone than spend even a second more with you.”
His eyes widened with anger, but he didn’t have a reply. I’d been in that exact situation a hundred times before, and I didn’t envy him. His friends were paying attention now, but seemed amused that he’d been rendered speechless.
“Why are you still standing there like a slack-jawed moron?” Jessica asked, as if genuinely confused. “Fuck. Off.”
Mike gave one last furious look around the table, but I was still the only one looking at him. He glared at me for a few seconds before he turned and walked away.
I tried to force myself to relax as he left. Looking around, I realised no one else at any surrounding tables had even noticed the exchange. They’d been talking at a normal volume, but for some reason it had felt like they were shouting at each other. Two strong wills rising up and locking horns. Why did I feel so threatened, so afraid of their exchange? I guess I liked the idea of being superior to Mike, but seeing him in person had really put me on edge.
Jessica watched him leave, then turned to me and shot me an almost apologetic look before looking away again. The silence stretched.
“What day is it?” said Becky suddenly.
“Thursday.” answered Rose in a monotone, without looking up.
“Shit! That History thing is for tomorrow, isn’t it?”she asked me, looking panicked.
“Uh, yeah.” I said.
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