BUZZ.
"Cochlea," I screeched loudly, proud to get something before Graham who happened to be amazing.
"Wait for the buzzer before you scream out the answer Ashlyn," said Mr. Girard, laughing.
"Foshizzle," said Ian, smirking.
Everyone looked at him incredulously.
"What?! I'm just trying to get with the times homedawgs," he said, chortling.
Mr. Girard rolled his eyes and began to read the next question.
........
At the end of practice, Mr. Girard came up to me. "Ashlyn, are you busy this weekend?" I frowned. "Um sorry, what?" Mr. Girard pulled out a form and handed it to me, "We have a tournament this weekend for science-quizbowl. It's over in Madison, so we'll be staying the night. You'll probably share a room with Stella. Ian and Graham are also coming, as am I." This weekend...what did I have? A party, a pancake breakfast for the football team and the cheerleaders, and a movie with Jared.
"Nope! I'm free!" I answered, smiling.
................
"So you're in?" asked Ian as we walked to the student parking lot. "Yep, SHOCKINGLY you didn't manage to convince Mr. Girard that I wasn't A-Team material. "Sorry about that," he answered laughing, "but I think that after you answered more than a quarter of the questions, you had him convinced." I smiled.
We saw his car, and suddenly the image of a car commercial flashed into my brain.
"I should wash your car for you sometime," I said. "What? What are you talking about," asked Ian, confused. "I. Should. Wash. Your. Car. For. You. Some. Time." I said. "Feel free...I don't know why you'd ever want to do that though," he answered. I got on the hood of his car, stretched my legs out and crossed them. "I can wash it...and you can help," I winked. Ian's eyebrows shot up with understanding.
"Now that, m'dear, is a most excellent plan."
................
I drove home happily. Ian and I both had so much homework that we had to head out and not pursue our plans. However, kissing was allowed prior to the departure. A lot of kissing.
I started Latin:
Vivamus mea Lesbia, atque amemus,
rumoresque senum severiorum
omnes unius aestimemus assis!
soles occidere et redire possunt:
nobis cum semel occidit brevis lux,
nox est perpetua una dormienda.
da mi basia mille, deinde centum,
dein mille altera, dein secunda centum,
deinde usque altera mille, deinde centum.
dein, cum milia multa fecerimus,
conturbabimus illa, ne sciamus,
aut ne quis malus inuidere possit,
cum tantum sciat esse basiorum.
How completely appropriate, I laughed.
At 6:00 I heard the incessant ringing of my doorbell. Frowning, I went to go answer it. Mom was on a DATE! It's pretty exciting. I wondered who was at the door. I peeked in the door hole and saw a disgruntled Jared. I opened the door.
Jared ran his hands through his sweaty football helmet hair. He was wearing grey Nike gym shorts and a Navy blue Northington High Football Shirt. I matched fairly well with my grey Nike sweatpants and Navy Cheerleading shirt. "Hey Ashlyn," he said. "Hey," I answered. "So you know how we've been dating for about 3 years?" he asked. I nodded, confused. "Do you want to keep dating?" he asked. "Why are you asking me this," I answered, frowning. "I just- Look. For three years I get this vibe from you right. Things are great on the outside. We're perfect right? The football player and the cheerleader. But then, recently, I look at it again. You're like...not on my level. You're in your own world. You want something else from life and we're juniors. You do....science bowl," he spit it out like it was a dirty word. "I like you and you like me but it's a lukewarm thing and we both know it. You don't like parties or beer-" he started. "I do like parties!" I answered. "Fine, but you don't like partying like I do," he answered. I let my head drop in defeat. "oh and...You hate it when I call you babe," he answered. Oh god...so he had noticed. "Yeah, I think you're right." "I liked you but, Ash, we're just two very different people and we don't operate on the same wavelength," he said. ...so you did pay attention in chemistry, Jared. Ian would've probably know that I'd think that. Jared was clearly too upset to care.
"So, what does this mean," I asked.
"I think....I think it means that we're going to make like a wishbone and break," he answered.
I laughed wistfully. Just because everything he had said was true and just because I wanted this to happen didn't mean it didn't hurt. I felt like something essential had been cut out of me. Jared came over to hug me as my eyes glazed over. He kissed me on the forehead. He smelt so familiar. His lips were so familiar. We looked into each others eyes and I put my head on his chest. We were reveling in the past while we could, clinging to things that were familiar. A flood fo three years worth of memories coursed through my mind. Jared picking me up and throwing me in the pool. His expression as a threw a piece of chocolate cake in his face at his party. The feel of his touch. However, the horizon was quickly approaching and something new was about to be lit up.
Jared was a nice guy, but he wasn't my kind of nice guy.
....................................................................
The next morning the school was buzzing. Girls were particularly nice to me, but I could hear their silent thoughts. "God what an IDIOT. Three years? It was a mutual break-up right? Maybe holding on to her dignity and agreed when he wanted to. Whatever, atleast he's up for grabs now."
As I made my way to our apple tree, it began. There were only a few people from our group there, but they treated me the same as ever. Isaac came over and grinned at me, emerald eyes twinkling. "Hey Ash, sorry to hear about the break-up," he said. "It's fine," I smiled.
I received a few greetings like this. The suddenly-
"ASHLYING OMIGOD YOU DIDN'T CALL ME. WHY," Izzie screamed as she came. She grabbed me and pulled me towards a relatively isolated corner of the school close to the stoners.
"Ashlyn why didn't you tell me!" she asked, her eyes curious. I told her what had happened. She tilted her head to the side. "So is this one of those break-ups which renders the boy undateable by all?" she asked. I shook my head. It felt like she'd pressed her hand against a huge purple bruise accidentally. My answer was true though, if she dated Jared I'd be okay. Atleast she would let me be with Ian.
"If only I liked Jared and not Ian," she said wistfully.
Screw that.
"Why do you even like him Izzie?" I asked. She looked at me blankly. "He's smart and cute and funny an-"
"Yeah, but do you know him?" I asked.
"I know that he left and dated some chick over at SP with red hair" I growled on the inside " I know that he came back later because his mom died"
"You know about him, but do you know who HE is?"
"No, am I supposed to? He's a nice guy and I could get to know him. Did you know Jared when you first started dating?"
I hadn't, "No, I answered."
"Can you answer your list of allotted knowing questions now though?" she asked
I could. Jared's favorite soda was Dr. Pepper. He hated horror movies. He loved kids and was the best brother I'd ever seen. He could NOT sing, but he did it when he was happy anyway.
"Yes," I answered.
"So what's the problem?" she asked, eyes worried.
"Nothing," I answered.
"I'm your best friend. Always have been, Always will be. Just tell me okay? Just tell me before I begin to like him as much as I did Jared. PLEASE Ashlyn."
"Ok."
