Kiss Me

Chapter 24

I had just gotten to my locker when i heard a loud "HEY...ummm...oh yeah!SEQOUIA" i rolled my eyes and turned around. "Hi Evan." I said with a sigh. "Hey! You remembered my name! That's a first." He said, saying the last part under his breath. I still heard it though. "Hi. So, you ready to go to class? Because we apparently have...English, History, Math, Science, Photography and Homeroom together." I said suprised. "Oh wow! That means we have every class together except for P.E!" "No dip genius." I said sarcastically under my breath so he wouldn't hear.

I managed to survive the rest of the morning with Evan in tow, god he was so annoying! I showed Evan the cafeteria, then brought him over to the line and waited to get our lunch. When we got our food, Evan and i went over to my table, where Nick, Cassie, Will and Mitch were sitting.

"Evan, these are my friends. This is Mitch, Nick, Will and Cassie." I said, while pointing to each person. "You will be spending the rest of the afternoon with them in your classes. Well, in P.E, you'll only have Mitch, Will and Nick with you. Okay?" "Yeah! Thanks for introducing me. It's nice to meet you guys." Evan said kindly.

The rest of lunch period, we all laughed and talked with Evan, basically enveloping him in our family. He seemed to feel comfortable with us, and that was good. That didn't happen very often.

Later, when school was over, and i was packing up my stuff and organizing my backpack when Evan came to my locker. "Hey Sequoia, do ya think i could walk home with you?" He asked tentatively. "Well duh! We basically live across from eachother!" I said, rolling my eyes at him.

I was a street away from my house when i saw him. I saw Aaron. I stopped so suddenly that Evan walked right past me, before stopping to look back at me in confusion. "Sequoia, you ok?" He asked, concerned. But i didn't hear him. I was lost in a memory.

It was May, and Aaron and i were sitting together on the swingset at the park one street away from my house. Aaron and i were rocking on the swings gently while holding hands. Then, Aaron took a deep breath and looked me straight in the eyes."My dad wants me to go to Yale." "What? But i thought you hated law!" I said, suprised. "I do, but my dad is so set on me going there." Aaron said sadly. "But-but we were going to go to Gallaudet together and train to become teachers for deaf kids! What happened to that?" I asked in a hurt voice. "I'm sorry Seqouia. But i have to go to Yale. I have no choice." Aaron replied, looking away. I felt hot tears streaming down my cheeks. "When do you have to go?" I said, sniffling. "Well, Yale has already looked into my files and everything. And...and they want me to leave during the middle of my Senior year." "What?!? But they can't do that! We're still only Juniors!" I exclaimed in disbelief. "I know. But they really want me. I'm sorry." Aaron said, defeated. I felt that all hope was lost. I was sobbing now, and Aaron pulled me into his arms. "I'm going to miss you so much." I said through my tears. "Don't worry Sequoia, we still have the rest of the year and the summer and part of Senior year." Aaron assured me. But what we didn't know, was that Aaron wouldn't have the rest of the year. He only had one week with me before he died.

"Sequoia...Sequoia...SEQOUIA!!!" "What?!?" I asked, snapping out of my memory. "Are you okay? You kinda...well, you just stopped and stood so still that i had to wave my hand over your eyes. You had this faraway look. Are you okay?" Evan asked. "Yeah. I'm fine. I just...zoned out for a second." I replied, walking away.

I finally got to my street, and Evan and i started to part ways, when he turned around. "Hey, Seqouia?" "Yes Evan?" "Thanks. Really. For...welcoming me in so fast. Not a lot of people did that for me." Evan said heartily. "Well, lets just say that i was in your situation once. But you're welcome." I smiled then turned back. "Wait!" I turned around again to face Evan. 'Yes?" "I-...do we have homework in Science?" "Yeah. Remember, we have the worksheet?" "Oh yeah. Thanks. Bye." Evan turned back around and trotted to his house. "Yeah." I said quietly. What was he planning to say? I wondered. Oh well, no big deal. I thought dismissively.

That night, i slept well, but my dreams were full of Aaron.