Junior High

Skipping Class

The first bell rings, and the tired and frozen preteens rush to the doors, too stiff to run inside. Izzy is one of the first ones inside, and I am quick to follow her. I stop at my locker, whom I share with Izzy. For the winter though, Izzy doesn't use her locker, but merely places her things on her chair. The ice in the air lingers on the second floor, and the slush from shoes and boots drowns the floor. I place my things in and slip my bright green purse over my shoulder. 

I pass Dennon, talking to a few girls. He glances to me and waves half-heartedly, obviously occupied by his conversation. Or maybe, I think, the girls. I know that it's just a small chance and that my subconscious is trying to trick me, but still, I look at the girls he is occupied with and scowl at them briefly.  Passing through the door, I look to Izzy's seat, and find she is sketching another drawing of Jordan. She has a concerned look on her face as she talks to her model.

Oh, it's not worth it. I sit at my seat and look in my desk for a sharp-enough pencil, yet find none. The only half-suitable pencil is at the stub of wood, and the rest broken. Sighing, I walk up to the girls to ask Izzy for her sharpener. It's the best sharpener in the class, everyone says. Waving to me happily, she notices my motion and takes out her small, blue sharpener. I sharpen my pencil and throw the contents out to the trash can. I just can't get Dennon out of my head. 

Sitting down in my seat I look to Dennon's spot, then Rain's, and then back to mine. Rain is gone, and I like Dennon, I think. What a ride I'm on. Sighing, I pull out a piece of loose leaf and start writing a letter to Dennon.

Dennon,

You might know this, but I really like you. Your chocolate brown eyes just hypnotize me, and I can't seem to let you go. Every day when the bell rings for school to end, I miss you. Whenever you are sick, I ache a little to see you. I love it when you talk to me. You are athletic, funny, caring, and everything I could never be. 

From, Anonymous.

I smile, content with my note, and fold it carefully, slipping it under Dennon's water bottle without anyone seeing. Quickly, I look down, putting my pencil back onto my desk. Just then, Dennon walks into the doorway, looking straight to Zach, and yelling to him from across the room. God, the two of them are so hot. They proceed to bump chests and talk about sports or what not, paying little attention to their attractiveness. But still, do they look hot or not?

One time, during gym, Izzy and I were sitting on the bench that divided hockey from basket ball, passing a volleyball along the edge. That was when we noticed the two of them, Dennon and Zach, starting to fight. They pulled each other's baggy sweaters off and started pulling their shirts off when the gym teacher pulled them away. We both knew that they were doing it to impress the girls, yet it worked a little on us. Alright, it worked a lot on us.

When Dennon sits at his seat, He smiles at me and waves. I blush. 

"What's up Zoe?" he asks, sitting up in his seat. He is smiling sweetly, and I can't help but smile back.

"Ah, nothing, just tired. That's all," I sigh, rubbing my eyes. I am still yawning to awake myself, but Dennon already seems bright, as if he'd been awake for hours. "And you?" I lift a brow, trying to match his gleam yet to no avail.

He laughs. "Just had hockey. I'm feeling good right now."

"Well, it shows." I smile, looking down and pulling out my calculator. Let's leave him to figure out what that means, I think, punching in random numbers. When I look up, he's in Rain's seat, yet not looking at me. 

"Um, Dennon?" I choke out, looking away, trying desperately not to get lost in his eyes. 

"I just thought that it would be better for me to sit here... Is that alright?" he asked delicately, reminding me of a pleading toddler. I swallowed my scream of excitement and smile politely, nodding. "Good! Because I'm not moving."

I gasp at this. "What? Of course you are!" I protest, my eyes surprised and my smirk hidden crudely by a giggle. Taking my hands and pushing him softly, I plan to take him off of his chair. If he stays on there, I'll never get any work done! Still, though... 

Dennon laughs at this and starts tickling me, getting me to let go for a split second. But that's all it takes for him to escape and run out from the chair. Naturally, I run straight after him. We run past Izzy with her substituted sketchbook, past Jaiden (the scary outcast), and out the door of room 27, straight down the empty side of the hall. The younger children of grade two through five are already in their classrooms, so we go running through the corridor without a care, laughing and teasing each other. Downstairs, though, is the principle's office, so we are careful to stay upstairs. Finally, we resort to hiding in room 30, which barely anyone uses anymore. 

"This is my first time skipping class," I whisper, flashing a grin to Dennon. To that, he seems surprised.

He opens his mouth to say something, but just then horrid Mrs. Gluetard sullies our excitement and turns it into fear. Walking past with pursed lips and beady eyes, she reminds everyone of a rat with a sour face. In her hands she holds a giant book titled, "The Art of Cleaning". She must not hear us, for she walks past the supposed empty room oblivious to us.

After we are sure nobody is coming for us, we burst into a heap of laughter, and I dully lay my head on his shoulder.  His laughter calms mine. I can feel him swallow, and then he moves his hand to my face and... flicks me. He immediately starts laughing again, and I scoff, laughing with him.

"You weirdo!" I claim, trying to flick his shoulder, and pouting when I fail at this.

Dennon smirks at me and says, "Hey, just trying to make sure you don't fall in love with me."

I laugh, even though it's too late for that.