Maxine in the Middle

Hello Junior Year

I snaked my way through the hall trying to find locker 403. It was smack dab in the middle of senior hall... A place I had dared not go for the last three years.

"Wow..." Sue shook her head as we stopped in front of the locker. "You got a senior locker. Which means everyone before you who's used it was a senior! And here you are a lowly junior breaking barriers for us!"

Ashley R and her friends made their way past my locker yelling "EEEEWWWW" as they did. Wasn't new, but for some reason today made my anxiety so much worse.

My locker slammed shut and I looked up to be met with the familiar blue eyes and goofy smile of none other then my boyfriend. "Ignore them. You're better than that."

"Been doing that for years.... Been told if I ignore them and don't react they'll eventually give up. But they don't!" I shook my head. "One of these days though!"

"One of these days what?!" Laughed Diaper.

"Exactly I don't know." I shrugged at my brother.

"Wait, you're not showing me or yelling at me?" He asked.

"Nope." I said.

"What's wrong with you?" He quirked his head.

"Lots of stuff." I nodded.

"True." He laughed. "Anyway mom told me to bring you this. Said you forgot it."

I took the small brown bag from his hands, and tossed it into my back pack. Lunch?! Rita never made lunch. Odd.

"I gotta be heading to class." Sue grinned. "and you do too!" She side hugged me and headed off.

"I have class too but I don't care that much." Axl nodded kissing my cheek.

I smiled up at him. Something was off. I couldn't tell if it was him or just my anxiety. Something was going to go wrong this year I just knew it. Everything was too good too be true.

The day continued on as normal. At lunch I ate with Axl and the guys and when I got out of school rode home with the Heck's as well. Normal like every other year.

***

We laid in Sue's bed that night talking over everything that had happened that day and how far we'd come. Sue was not upset that I quit Wrestlerettes. Sad. But not mad.

"Know what's crazy.... In about 6 years we will be out of college and graduating together. Me you and Brad. And honestly I totally see you marrying Axl." Sue began. "He's never been the way he is with you with someone else."

I smiled at the thought of him and I at an alter in wedding clothes, but also remembered the logic. Six years is a long time and in college you meet all kinds of new people and Axl would get there before me. Would he meet someone else? Would she be prettier? Smarter? Cooler? What if I met someone else? No that was crazy... There wasn't anyone else I wanted just Axl.

"Here's hoping." I smiled. And held a hand out. Sue smiled and took my hand. And we fell asleep like that. At least I knew no matter what happened Sue would have my back.

***

~~{{time skip to prom}}~~

The year had flown by and I was preparing for prom in the bathroom of the Heck house again this year. Although I needed no help from Frankie thanks to this site called YouTube. I taught myself how to do makeup and hair this year. And after getting a part time job at Black Jacks Diner I was able to slowly get a new wardrobe and pull off a whole glow up if I do say so myself. And if I'm being honest I kinda liked myself now.