the divine feminine (fezco au)

4

Theresa pulled her blue Hyundai into the parking lot of East Highland Highschool. The air was warm and dewy, the sun barely risen in the sky. It was her first day of senior year. 

"Fuck this place," Theresa's younger brother Jonah said, as he stepped out of the backseat.

"Shut up J," Theresa said as she grabbed her backpack from the passenger seat. "You're a freshman, and it's your first day here. At least try to be positive."

Jonah laughed and shut the car door. Theresa was amazed at how much he had grown over the summer. He was 14, and already 5'8, the same height as her. He had the same tan, freckled skin, and rust-colored hair. She had missed him growing up over the past year and wanted to make it up to him as best as she could. They began walking towards the front of the school, which was already flooding with students. 

"Don't forget, I have cheer after school so you have to take the bus," Theresa said, ruffling her brother's curly hair as they stepped inside the school. 

It was 7 a.m, and East Highland was already bustling with students. Theresa separated from her brother and went to meet Cassie and Lexi. As she walked down the hall, she felt the eyes of her classmates on her. Not many people knew that she was returning to school, and not many people knew how hot she had gotten over the past year. Theresa was wearing a tight black top and loose mom jeans with converse, her hair in curls flowing down her back. She felt confident, like she could pull any guy in the school. But her mind wouldn't stop thinking about one guy that didn't attend East Highland. 

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After meeting up with Cassie and Lexi, Theresa headed to her first class, AP Chemistry. She knew it was going to be a tough course, but necessary if she wanted to make it into a good college. She had already applied at UCLA, amongst other schools. Theresa sat down in an empty seat, and patiently waited for her classmates to fill the room. She was greeted by a few waves from others in her class, who probably were very surprised to see her back at East Highland. 

Suddenly, a boy walked through the door. He was extremely tall, with curly dark brown hair and round glasses. His name was Cody, and Theresa vaguely remembered him from before her move. Since almost all of the seats were already taken, the boy walked over to Theresa's table and sat next to her. She tried to act nonchalant about how cute he was. Had he always been that cute?

"Hey," he said to her with a friendly tone. "I'm Cody. Isn't your name Theresa?"

Theresa smiled back. "Yeah. I remember you."

"Yeah didn't you like move or something?"

"I did, but I'm back for the rest of the school year."

"Cool, cool," he smiled. 

Cody pulled out his Chem textbook, which had post-it notes sticking out of the side. From the looks of it, Theresa thought, he probably was studying over the summer.  

The teacher entered the room and greeted the class. As she turned her back to begin writing on the board, Theresa felt Cody lean over to her. 

"Wanna exchange numbers, in case we wanna collaborate on homework or something?" He whispered. 

Theresa smiled and nodded. She subtly wrote her number on a piece of notebook paper, and slid it over to him, carefully so the teacher wouldn't notice. 

"Cool," Cody whispered. "I'll see you around then."

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Later that day, at cheer practice, Theresa and Maddie were stretching together on the dry football field grass. 

"So, I heard Cody sat next to you in Chem!" Maddie exclaimed with a mischievous grin. "Didn't he get like, so hot over the summer?"

Theresa rolled her eyes jokingly. She knew Maddie's boyfriend Nate would be pissed if he heard Maddie call another guy hot. Maddie just loved to talk about boys with her friends. 

"I mean he's cute or whatever," Theresa said, transitioning into a split. "But I don't know. He asked me for my number. For 'homework purposes'. I couldn't tell if that was just a bullshit excuse to get my number."

Maddie laughed. "Of course he asked for your number, T. You're hot as shit."

Theresa smiled and stared at her phone. She had an urge to text Fezco. She still couldn't stop thinking about what he said to her a few days ago at the gas station. 

"I missed you, T. You didn't text me all year. Not one time, man." 

Theresa felt extremely guilty. She and Fez used to be so close. She didn't mean to ghost him, but so much had happened the last night she saw him before she moved. She honestly didn't think he wanted to see her ever again. Maybe there was a chance to make things right with him. 

"Listen Mads, I gotta go," Theresa said as she got up in a haste. "There's something I gotta do." She started shoving her water bottle, and other supplies into her workout bag. 

"Girl, are you okay?" Maddie asked. 

Theresa took a long, shaky sigh. "I think I need to go talk to Fezco."