Page 52 of The Golden Boy's Guide to Bipolar
“She got her heart broken, you know? I’m sure that kind of thing changes you.”
I nod. I guess I can understand. There was a time when I loved being in love. If someone told me then that I would willingly break up with Jamal and cut him out of my life, I would have laughed in their face.
After everything, I don’t think anyone will love me like that again, and I don’t want them to. If Abuela’s like me, maybe that’s where she’s coming from, too.
The next morning, I finally get to go back to Rover, which I’m thrilled about since it means I don’t have to spend the entire day doing chores anymore. Abuela drives Moni to her school first, then drops me off.
It’d be nice if Moni also went here so we could at least hang out at school and I could have a single person to call a friend, but no. She goes to Baseline, which is closer to Abuela’s house. Besides, it’s probably best I don’t get too attached to Moni anyway. It’s not like her dad disowned her like mine did, so she’ll probably leave Abuela’s eventually, and then I most likely won’t see her again for who knows how many more years.
Once Abuela drops me off, I walk straight to the bathroom on the far end of campus where they have PE. It’s best Jamal or Nick and them don’t see me. Nick and his friends would probably beat the shit out of me on sight. They already hated me before, but now that I hooked up with Bianca right after she and Nick broke up? Yeah, I’m not looking forward to running into any of those guys.
I stay in the bathroom until the bell rings and I finally have to go to class.
AP Astronomy first.
It’s a far-ass walk, but I don’t care. What are they gonna do if I’m late, give me detention? And if they do, what then? I’m already staying with my grandma and doing every chore under the sun tokeep her happy. It’s not like I can get into more trouble than I’m already in.
So I take my time and walk into class a few minutes late.
And lo and behold, who else is also taking AP Astronomy? Jamal. Ofcoursehe is.
It’s not like I can be surprised. We were in almost all the same classes sophomore year when we went here together before.
He looks at me right when I walk in, and his eyes widen. Probably because he’s putting together that I must have gotten kicked out of Slayton. He’s probably happy about it too. Not because I’m here with him, but because I deserve every bad thing that happens to me.
“Ahem.” The teacher, Mrs. Velez, reminds me I’m just standing there staring at Jamal in front of the entire class. If this was Slayton, I’d be getting chastised for being late, but this teacher just smiles and motions for me to join her at the front of the class. “Everyone, we have a new student today. Well, a returning one. Do you want to introduce yourself for anyone who doesn’t know you?” she asks.
“I’m Cesar,” I say, pronouncing it the Spanish way instead of like Caesar salad, which was how I used to pronounce it at Slayton. I make sure to smile and look as friendly as possible.
“Do you want to tell us a little bit about yourself?” Mrs. Velez asks.
“Not really,” I admit. What am I supposed to say? Hey, people I haven’t seen in two years, I’m back because I got expelled since I went out drinking and hooked up with the girl who outed my sister, which my therapist thinks is because I’m having a bipolar manic episode!
Yeah, not doing that.
“All right then, why don’t you have a seat over there?” She gestures to the single empty seat in the class, which—surprise, surprise—is right next to Jamal.
I put on a fake smile and walk over.
“Hey,” Jamal says softly—without the “you,” I can’t help but notice. He’s still looking at me like I have a second head. I can’t tell if it’s because he hates me or because he’s worried. Either way, I look away as I take my seat, and I see from the corner of my eye that he does too.
The rest of class is monumentally awkward, and so is the entire day since I have like four classes with the dude.
I’m about to head to the abandoned PE bathroom for lunch when someone covers my eyes with their hands before I can leave the building. On instinct, I’m about to turn around swinging until I hear the voice behind me.
“Guess who?”
“Bianca?” I ask, and she lets go of my eyes and moves to stand next to me. She has two friends with her. Yami’s old friend group.
“Stefani, Chachi, you remember Cesar, right?”
“Hey, Cesar. Been a minute!” Chachi says, and Stefani just smiles and waves.
Just then, Nick and his friends walk by, and I immediately tense up. Bianca notices them and takes my now nervously sweaty hand in hers.
“Well, he’s my boyfriend now!” she says, loud enough for Nick to hear. I can’t tell if she actually thinks we’re dating or if she’s just saying it to piss off Nick. Either way, she basically just sealed my fate.
They all make eye contact as they approach. I’m ready to get jumped, but that’s when I notice Nick is limping slightly, and he’s got a boot on his foot. But he’s not the only one with unconventional footwear. I’m pretty sure Avery didn’t have an ankle bracelet on at the party. Whatever happened after they left that night must have been bad news. Well, for them. It’s great for me, considering Nick can’t chase me with a fucked-up foot and his favorite minion won’t be getting in any fights while on probation.
