‘I don’t think there’ll ever be a bigger freak than him,’ Sabrina said whilst staring in Sineas’ direction during lunchtime. Their lunchtime was held just outside the school building at the hundreds of tables beside the statue of The Thinker, a few yards to the right of the entrance. There were about a hundred or so tables scattered here and there on the lawn where students could sit in groups, pairs or whatever number suited them. Sabrina was sitting with her two friends; Doreen and Clarissa. Sineas was sitting at a table ten feet in front of theirs. He was having lunch on his own.

‘Do you remember what he did in class?’ Doreen said, bobbing her head back and forth with laughter. Her black hair smacked the table over and over again, frequently revealing her bulbous eyes and exaggerated lips.

‘That was just a mistake, Doreen,’ Clarissa said, keeping her attention on her apple.

‘Don’t tell me you’ve got a soft spot for the weirdo, Claire,’ Sabrina rolled her brown eyes at her. They matched her brown one-hundred-percent cashmere sweater and silky-chocolate brown hair. It moved like a wave when she tilted her head to the side.

‘He’s not a weirdo,’ Clarissa responded. ‘I actually spoke to him this morning before class. He’s just…a little shy.’ She took a large bite from her apple. She seemed more focused on eating than the discussion.

‘Poor, Claire,’ Sabrina shook her head pitifully at her, ‘If there’s one thing I’ve learnt about boys it’s that no matter how “shy” they are, they’re all the same when it comes to girls.’ She took out her mirror and made a few adjustments to her eyebrows. She smacked her lips and pouted. ‘Let me give you heathens a demonstration.’

Doreen’s light blue eyes widened. She cupped her hands over her mouth. ‘Oh, my gosh, Sabrina,’ she gasped, ‘Are you going to..?’

She nodded her head as she stared mischievously at Sineas who was currently taking pea-sized bites from his sandwich then placing it back on the table.

Clarissa said, ‘Sabrina, I don’t think that’s going to work on this guy. Besides, he’s still new, and innocent.’ She sighed, ‘Just let him be.’

Sabrina grinned as she stood up. She said, ‘Oh, my dear. Remember Larry? You said he was shy too. I made him fall for me in one conversation then broke his heart in the next. Or do you remember Spencer, Donald, Victor or Derreck- with a “k” ? The only difference between them and this guy is the skin colour, but like I said before; they’re all the same.’

Much to Clarrisa’s disapproval, Sabrina made her way towards Sineas’ table, her step as seductive as ever as she swayed her hips rhythmically like an overpaid supermodel.

‘Hey, cutie; you think I can join you?’ she asked Sineas with her hands placed at the edge of his table, her fingers turned towards herself.

He looked aside. He was starting to feel uncomfortable already. He decided to shrug. She sat beside him, at least an inch away. He cringed. Her perfume was very powerful, and not in a good way. She giggled whilst breaking off a piece of his ham sandwich before it made it halfway to his mouth. He placed it back on the table. He was now more uncomfortable than ever.

‘It’s Sineas, right?’

‘Yeah,’ he whispered.

‘What?’ she leaned in closer.

He cleared his throat but with much difficulty. ‘Yes.’

Doreen and Clarissa looked on curiously.

Sabrina giggled playfully. ‘I was just telling my friends over there how hot you are.’

He looked over at her table. Doreen waved at him but Clarissa turned her eyes back to her food. He grabbed his sandwich again. He successfully stole a nibble from it then placed it back on the table. ‘I think my body temperature is just fine,’ he replied.

She giggled again and nudged his shoulder, ‘Tee-heee-he! You so funny! So, where do you live?’ she asked.

‘At home.’

‘I mean, like where exactly?’

‘In a house.’

‘Ummm…o-kay, where’s the house?’

‘At home…look, are these questions going somewhere?’

She smiled then looked dreamily at him. She placed her head on the table and stared into his eyes. ‘It’s just that I don’t think I’ve ever met a guy like you. Each time my eyes meet yours I just…I feel overwhelmed with this desire I just can’t explain. I love you, Sineas.’

He cringed some more. ‘W…why?’

‘Well, I don’t know. It’s just that I’ve been in many relationships with guys that’ve treated me like trash but when I look at you, Sineas I see someone different. I see a guy who knows how to treat a lady well. That’s the guy I need right now. I need you, Sineas. I want to be yours and I want you to be mine.’

The cringing continued. He tried to stare back at her but his neck was jammed. He looked at her with the corner of his eye. ‘I think your words are misplaced,’ he said.

‘Excuse me?’

‘Just because you’re attractive it doesn’t mean everyone will be attracted to you. I also doubt that it’s possible to love what you do not know.’

Her eyes dilated. Her gaze did not depart from him. Her eyes had adopted a strange look.

He cleared his throat, with a little boldness this time. ‘I think your version of love is just another four-letter word for lust.’

She rolled her eyes twice at him as she violently jerked her body upwards. ‘Pssht! Whatever, dude.’ She walked back to her table.

Doreen and Clarissa had been waiting for her. Doreen was clapping her hands excitedly in anticipation. Clarissa held the pulp of her apple to her mouth, nibbling the edges.

‘He said it back, right?’ asked Doreen cupping her hands over her mouth.

‘Nope. He’s gay.’

Doreen dropped her hands and face in great disappointment.

‘Really?’ Clarissa said looking surprised.

Sabrina said, ‘Has to be if he’s willing to turn down the hottest girl in Malrich High.’

‘Maybe you’re not as irresistible as you think you are,’ Clarissa commented whilst staring curiously at Sineas.

Sineas stood up. He looked straight at Clarissa. ‘What? Do you love me too?’ he said before picking up his lunchbox and heading towards the school building.

‘You see that? Don’t you guys see everything wrong with that kid?’ Sabrina said pointing at Sineas as he walked off.

Doreen and Clarissa broke into loud and deafening laughter.