Summer School Slip

Sophomore year. Summer school… great. It’s not that I’m not smart, I just don’t try, nor do I give a damn. In fact… I give a damn so much, that I’m faking going to summer school. How does one do that? Well, not easily.

The alarm rings as I roll over to shut it off. I struggle to get out of bed and hobble downstairs to the bathroom. I think to myself, washing my face, how completely pointless this whole act is going to be just to avoid 15 minutes of conflict with my father.

I shower, brush my hair and teeth, and run back up the stairs to my bedroom. I rustle through my drawers pulling out everything I needed. Black bra, black tank top, black ‘Tuesday’ panties, black jeans and black socks with white skulls on them. To complete the ensemble, a black zip-up hoodie with band patches all over. Ya… I went through a Goth phase, sue me.

I bolt down the stairs and quickly put on my Chuck Taylor high tops. Afraid of running late, I skip out the front door and two houses down the street to the public bus stop.

Headphones in place, I paid the bus fee and took my usual place at the very back of the bus. 5 minutes later the bus began to pull into the station and my eyes caught a boy dressed like me. I walked off the bus and around to the station. Our eyes seemed to meet. Shyly I took a seat on the bench to listen to my music.
This boy walked right in front of me and our eyes immediately locked.

“Sorry to bother you, but I saw you walk off the bus and knew I had to meet you” he said.

I was completely shocked. People don’t just come up to you randomly and say stuff like that! In the movies sure, but not in real life. I was so stunned I merely stared into his blue eyes.

“I’m Aaron. Are you going to summer school?” he asked.
Again, dumbfounded, no words came out. I just shook my head.
“That’s too bad. Will you be here when I get back?”
I nodded furiously.
Aaron smiled and laughed slightly.