A Simple Switch

4 - Take Two

DYLAN

Yesterday's events still played back in my head. I couldn't believe she actually spoke to me.

Even after she acerbically went off on me, I remember the adrenaline rush I felt after finally mustering up the courage to talk to her. It felt foreign and extremely uncomfortable, but strangely relaxing.

I entered the school building still shivering from the cold. Okay, well the 'cold' in California is like a typical Spring day where I'm from, but I was never one for windchill, so I was frenzied nonetheless. I started making my way toward Dr. Phelps' room.

I always spent my mornings before school with my physics teacher, Dr. Phelps, because his room was always quiet and empty. There were never any obnoxious sophomores to ignore, or cocky juniors to get out of the way of. Even though most of the school hated Phelps for his notorious pop quizzes, he was my favorite teacher; he seemed to be the only one that ever wanted to talk to me. And not about stupid stuff, either. He wouldn't ask me stupid stuff, like, "Are you thinking about asking anyone to homecoming?" or, "What'd you think of the football team's win last night?" When we did talk, it was about real stuff. Like dark matter, or the possibility of microbial life developing on Mars.

Further down the hallway I spotted Michaela come in from the opposite doorway. I instinctively froze and then turned around to take the longer way to physics.

Remembering what Collin had told me the other day, I stopped myself mid-turn.

Okay, not sure if yesterday's experiment worked or not, but... couldn't hurt to try again, right?

I decided 'why not'; experiment results are always more accurate with multiple trials anyway. I took a deep breath and started heading in her direction, and I walked right up next to her.

"Hey," I said, with as much confidence as possible.

Shoot. Now I'm shouting at her.

She turned, startled.

"Hi," she responded slowly, trailing off in a struggle to remember my name.

"Dylan," I reminded her.

"Dylan, right. That's what I was going to say."

"So... what's up?" I began.

Oh god. How do I NOT make this awkward as hell?

"Not much," she responded curtly.

She quickly stopped.

"Okay, I mean this in the nicest way possible, but why are you talking to me?" she questioned, confused.

I stared at her for a moment, not sure how to respond.

"I mean, we aren't friends, and until yesterday, I'm pretty sure I didn't know you existed... Sorry about that, by the way."

The silence was prolonged. She was right. We didn't really know each other at all, and we definitely weren't friends.

I suddenly smiled.

"Okay, then let's be friends." I stuck out my hand, unwaveringly. "Michaela Arthur, my name is Dylan Matthews. Pleasure to meet you."

She shook my hand with a puzzled smile. "Well alright then. Nice to meet you too."

"So what's on your mind, Michaela?" I asked, while walking with her.

I was in full swing now. I felt like I could say or do anything and pull it off.

"I don't know... I guess I'm stressed about my Econ test tomorrow?" she replied, sounding like she was asking a question.

I was about to respond when she spotted some friends from the men's lacrosse team on the other side of the hallway.

"Well I'm headed that way," she said, pointing toward the classroom that the 'laxers' stood by.

"Bye," she said quickly before heading toward them, already smiling at whatever joke they were making.

I let out a long sigh. I wasn't sure if I was relieved or disappointed.

It was a short lived conversation, but my heart was still left tingling.

Progress.

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Okay, hello! I realize the chapters are short and the updates are few and far between, so I apologize for that. This also felt like a boring chapter so I'm sorry for that as well.

If you are reading this, please VOTE or COMMENT (if you want)! I would love to hear what people think. Thanks!