30 days of love

Junior Lake High -- Day 2

I wake up with a start, after a nightmare about ghostly horses. God, that scared me. I look at the clock to find that it is two minutes before my alarm goes off. Dang it, I hate when that happens! Welp, better get dressed. I open the closet.  What to wear today... My outfit can't be anything like yesterdays. OH! I know! I'll wear my white shirt with my black lace bra over it, and of course I have to wear a skirt with the outfit. It's only right. I throw the outfit on and bolt down the stairs, skipping the last two.

"Morning mom!" I sit down at the table after getting myself cereal. "I'm going to be going out after school today to hang out with Julia."

"That's fine, just be home by 8:00 okay?" She finishes making her coffee and sits down across from me. "I like Julia, so I don't mind you hanging out with her alone."

I quickly finish my cereal and put the bowl in the sink. "I'm going to brush my teeth, and then we can go." I walk up the stairs, brush my teeth for two minutes, and run back down, skipping the bottom two steps. "I'm ready!"

She laughs. "Okay, get in the car, I'll be there in a second."

I walk to the car and unlock it. Taking out my phone, I text Julia. 

I have an idea. Would you mind if we meet after school and bike to a abandoned water tower to talk?

OMG! That sounds like a great idea! I will definitely come with you. See you at school?

Yep! I will be there in two minutes! I'll meet you in the sofa room.

Okay, see you there!

I laugh and put my phone away. I can't wait to take her there. It's such a nice place. Mom gets in the car and pulls off for the school.

We get to the school and I get out, feeling giddy. I walk inside, heading for the sofa room. I get there and find Julia dressed in a baby blue crop top-cardigan and grey skirt with black boots, laying on one of the couches. I quietly sneak over and then sit next to her, barely fitting in the room left on the couch. 

"Who is that?" She looks up. "Oh! It's you. Good morning Marie." She shifts up to sit next to me.

"Good morning to you too. You look amazing." I hug her.

"Thanks, you look good too!" She grabs my hand and threads her fingers through mine; I feel a bolt of electricity go through me as she does.

"Are you excited for today?" I lay back with her and put my head on her shoulder. "I know I am."

"Yep! I'm especially excited to go to the water tower. I don't think I've been there before." The bell rings and we separate, getting up.

I feel so comfortable around her, and some feeling I haven't felt before in my life. What could it be?

"Marie? Are you okay? We are almost to class and you haven't said a word." She looks at me, concerned.

"Yep, I'm fine, just thinking." We walk into class.

"You sure you are okay?" She picks up today's worksheet. "I care about you." She pauses and laughs. "We have only known each other for two days and I already feel as if I have known you my whole life."

We go through the day again, but today instead of getting to know each other we get closer.

"Well, it's that time again. Last period. See you after school? My mom will pick us up.

"Sure. See ya later!" She starts walking away. "Tell Tommy I said hi!"

I walk into Study Hall and sit in the seat I sat in yesterday.

"Alright class, let's get started." The teacher says. "Grab any work you have and do it. I'm going to sleep."

Where are you? Suddenly the door opens and Tom walks in. He runs to his seat and sits down.

"Where were you?! You had me worried!" I sigh, annoyed. "Nevermind. At least your safe."

"I- What you actually care about me? Wow I never knew that was possible." He tries to keep a straight face, but breaks into a wide grin. "Sorry I was at a doctor's appointment."

"No biggie." I turn to my chemistry. "Good thing you are safe though.

We go on the rest of class silently stealing glances at each other. Finally the bell rings and we get up. I head to the front door, leaving Tom behind and meeting with Julia.

"You ready?" I turn to her. "Let's go to my house and we can grab you a bike."

"Yep! Let's go!" She replies, excited.

We get in the car and mom drives us home. Once home, we get out and head to the garage. 

"You can have that bike over there, I'm gonna run in and grab a hairband." 

"Oki dokie." We giggle. "Ok I'll wait here."

I run in and go into my mom's room to look in her wiker basket. I open it and search around for a pink one, but instead of finding a hairband, I find a letter addressed to me. I open it and read the text.

Welcome to Junior Lake High, Marie. We are excited to have you this year. One thing you must know is that, if you don't find a partner, boy or girl, you will be expelled from the school. We hope you have a fun time hunting. Good Luck!

I stare at the paper, shocked before folding it up and stuffing it in my pocket. I search the basket and find a pink tie. I put my hair up and run outside, hopping on my bike. I start to pedal away as Julie cycles behind me. We ride in silence and reach the water tower. I climb up the ladder with her behind me, and sit on the platform I built on the broken side of the tower. Finally, I burst into tears.

"Oh no! What's wrong, Marie?" She wipes off my tears and hugs me. "It's gonna be okay."

"No, no, nothing's gonna be okay." I sob. "If I don't find a partner in now 28 days, I get expelled from the school, and I don't wanna leave."

"I thought you knew about that." She lies her head on my lap, curling up. "It's gonna be okay. You have me."

"You can't help me. You are a girl and I'm-" I get cut off as she kisses me. 

"Oh! I'm sorry! I- I-" She stammers, flustered as she pulls away. "I didn't mean to do that I just got so caught up in th-"

I cut her off, this time, as I kiss her again. "Well..." I tuck a loose strand of hair behind my ear. "What if I told you I liked it? I never thought I could be bisexual, but yet here I am. I always thought I was straight."

She hugs me. "I love you! I know we have only known each other for two days, but I feel like I have known you for years!"

"I think we should get to know each other a bit more before we date. Let's give it... 5 days. How 'bout it?" I lay on her lap.

"I like it, just about as much as I like you." Suddenly, my alarm goes off.

"We gotta get back." I get up and race down the ladder. "Come on!"

We hope on our bikes and race home, getting there just before curfew. I head inside as Julie walks home. I brush my teeth again after eating dinner and head to bed.