The High School Stories

Friday October 8 2021 (Homecoming)

Today is homecoming. The day I've been dreading for weeks. Working my ass off for hours everyday has not been easy or fun. But hopefully, it was worth it. My nerves build all throughout the day. The boy I've liked for five years is coming. I asked and he said yes. Zero hour goes smooth, although I can't focus. I rush through the halls to find my next class, still unused to the huge building around me. This class is more stressful. Final copy is due. 400 words minimum. Regardless, the hour flies by. Second hour comes and goes, the stress piling on. Homecoming king and queen are announced. My next class is no longer the other language, but a quiet room full of people doing different work. Nothing gets done on my end. the next class seems to never end. It continues to drone on and on. I've lost all interest in trying. Finally, the bell rings. My savior. I almost sprint down to the commons, disregarding all others in the hall. I give Him  the candy. He smiles and says thank you. Lunch passes in a buzz of excitement. Adrenaline kicks in within a beat. My next two hours pass within a blur. I absorb the words but do not hear. Finally, the school day is over. I see the boy talking to my friends, searching the endless stream of people for me. We walk to his truck. He drives back. "Don't kill me," I say. He doesn't. I get in my uniform, nerves starting to build again. We walk out. We stand. Why isn't the game starting. What is going on? Halftime happens before the game. I cry back in the stands. Rumors circulate about the dance being cancelled and my hopes only get lower. Finally, the game starts. After the real halftime we go inside. I change and go back out searching for the boy. We get in line for the dance, he looks uncomfortable. "Wanna dip," I ask. We bicker back and forth. Playful banter. We dip. He carries my bags and buys me food. We go up the hill and park. I'm cold. I get his sweater. He starts babbling. He likes me. We get in the backseat and he holds me close. He kisses me softly. We break out laughing. More urgently again and again. Pulls me closer. We sit and hold each other as if the world was going to end. He starts talking, he thinks he's falling in love with me and fast. I already fell.