Dandelion Fields of Gold

Strength, Positivity, and Tears

It was already lunch time and my stomach was rumbling!

Claire and I dashed through the lunch line and found our usual seat outside on the grass field.

"So?" Claire asked in that flirtatious tone of hers.

"So what?" I asked while shrugging my shoulders innocently and shoving a sandwich in my face.

"That new kid? He totally has the hots for you! And damn you can totally tell he works out!"

I nearly choked on the lettuce going down my throat.

"Wtf, Claire? He totally does not have the hots for me!"

"OMG! You two would be the cutest couple in the world! His eyes are freakin gorgeous, his body is hot, he IS hot, and he's a soldier! It's all the ingredients for a perfect man!" Claire bubbled with excitement.

"Wait? What? He is a soldier?" I was confused by this.

"Yeah! Apparently he finished his first year in the war with China! He is here to finish up high school so he can return after he gets a diploma."

I was speechless. Really? I would have never guessed... He seems too young and just... I don't know...

"And apparently his name is Chris!" Claire exclaimed.

"Where did you hear all this?" I continued to chew on my sandwich.

"He was in my AP Physics and AP Anatomy class, so the teachers introduced him."

Damn... Apparently he is smart too.

"Do you think he is smarter than you?" I asked with a smirk.

"HELL NO!" She yelled.

"Hahahaha I was just messing with you! No one is smarter than you, Claire." I said while laughing my butt off.

"Hey! Can I join you ladies? You appear to be having more fun than any of those zombies in the lunch room."

Claire and I turned to find Chris standing above us with his tray of food.

"Of course you can!!!" Claire said matter of factly.

I turned and glared at her but she just winked and gave me the biggest most evil smile.

"Thanks!" Chris immediately sat in the empty space to my right and Claire's left.

"So how are you liking your first day of school?" Asked Claire.

"Oh it's alright. The classes are pretty easy and the people are ok." He said while popping open his water bottle.

"What classes are you taking?" Claire continued to question.

"AP U.S. History, AP Physics, AP Anatomy, Calculus BC, AP English, and AP Music Theory."

I stared at him with my mouth practically eating grass... His classes were easy? What the heck? His classes were harder than Claire's!

"Wow, you must be smart..."

I could hear the jealousy start to stir in Claire's voice.

"Uuuhhhhh... So you are in AP Music Theory? How is that class?" I interjected before Claire could start her interrogations of his grades.

Chris looked at me and smiled.

"So the quiet one who likes to stare can speak?" He laughed.

"Oh whatever! Just answer the question before Claire starts flippin burgers." I laughed back.

My heart was fluttering at an irregular pace and I couldn't stop blushing.

"Haha ok, well, it's a pretty boring class considering I already know everything we learn in there. I just love music so much I had to take it." He said.

"I heard you tapping your fingers in history today, you are really good!" I added. "What do you play?"

"Well, I mainly play the piano. But I also am well practiced in the guitar and violin."

"That's impressive! How do you have time to do homework, be in music, and worry about the war?" I asked without thinking.

"Oh shoot! I'm sorry! I shouldn't ask about stuff like that." Feelings of guilt and embarrassment shot through me.

"No it's alright, wow, word spreads fast in this school." He said.

"Anyway, I don't worry too much about the war for the reason that my duty right now is to finish school. Plus, when you have seen war, you tend to find homework the best thing there is." He laughed again.

It's nice that he can be so calm and happy about his situation. I wanted to be like him and not worry about the future.

"How do you do it?" I asked

"How do I do what?" He asked between chews.

"How do you stay so optimistic even though you may never have a future?" I asked.

"Lexi... Don't..." Claire whispered.

A tear fell down my face and I didn't want Chris or Claire to see me cry so I grabbed my stuff and quickly walked away without waiting for an answer from Chris.

"Lexi!" Claire yelled for me.

I knew she wouldn't follow me. She knows I need my space when things like this happen.

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