I have this classmate that does this:

Hey Chanel, why weren’t you in class yesterday?  Why are you all dressed up today?  Did you miss class because you were with loverboy?  What are you doing tonight?  With who?

I never answer any of these questions, which I now realize only fuels her curiosity.  She asks the questions and then I just squint at her while trying to figure out who she thinks this “loverboy” character is and what her motives behind these questions could be.  Unlike my other classmates, who are all grown-ups, I don’t feel the need to tell my classmates about everything that is going on in my life.

Occasionally, I leave town for the weekend.  I come back refreshed and ready to take on the week.  Where do I go?  Don’t worry about it.  I know, I know.  That sounds like I’m doing less than honorable things.  Maybe I am.  Maybe I’m not.  Maybe I just need to get away sometimes.

It’s odd to me that my classmates care so much.  I never ask anyone why they missed class or where they went for the weekend.  I also never try to talk people into hanging out when they clearly don’t want to be involved with other students outside of class.

Maybe I’m the strange one, out here being all respectful when it comes to boundaries.  Or maybe I’m being unfriendly, not allowing these people to know me past our interactions in school.  Naw, naw.  Fuck that.  I’m keeping myself sane and happy.

 *Jay-Z voice* If you can’t respect that your whole perspective is wack.  Maybe you’ll love me when I fade to black.