The Fill-in Boyfriend // DNF

-~1~-

One more class and he would be free of school. Free of the boring lectures falling from the mouths of partially bored professors and the squeak of almost dead markers struggling to make a mark of their own on the whiteboard.

George slumped his head against his arms crossed in front of him and stared at the scratches on the desk made from someone who obviously had no respect for college property. He sighed, removing his gaze from the spot and up to the clock to check the numbers on its flat surface for the fiftieth time that hour.

Just two more minutes.

In an effort to be productive, George straightened and stretched his arms and legs as discreetly as he possibly could; not wanting to attract any unwanted eyes from the fellow classmates beside him.

Just as he was relaxing his muscles again, the noise he had been desiring to hear almost all class period finally rang out. He practically jumped out of his seat and shoved all his notes and other items haphazardly into his bookbag. And before the rest of the students had even zipped up their own bags, he was already walking briskly out the door.

George slammed his locker door shut as he finished throwing the things he didn't need into the metal box. He avoided looking up and instead slung his backpack over one of his shoulders and made his way through the mob of students all in their own hurry to get home.

He hated crowds.

Taking a deep breath, George slipped some crappy earbuds into his ear; the relaxing music succeeded at calming his body down as he exited the school and reached his car.

He hummed to the mellow beat of one of his more favorite songs, kicking his door once to trigger the handle and opening the car door. It squeaked in protest as it swung open, but George's ears were deaf to the sound as he focused on throwing his bag into the passenger seat and jumping in himself.

He was always one of the first people to get out of school, always wanting to get out of the parking lot before it became a traffic jam in itself. He didn't like crowds of people and tens of cars blocking his way didn't sound much better.

But before long, George was passing through town and turning onto the side street that led to his house. He ignored the rundown look of his place as he turned off his car and slammed the door shut.

The keys swung in his hand absentmindedly as he stepped down the crumbled pathway in time to his music, doing a half hearted twirl at the bigger beat drop. When he realized what he was doing, George glanced around wide eyed but felt his heart calm when he saw no one was watching him.

Without wasting any more time on his sidewalk, George hurried inside, shutting the door as softly as he could behind him from force of habit. But his efforts were in vain, he cringed when he heard his name being called from the kitchen.

"George?"

Quickly, George shoved his earbuds into his case and into his pocket, slipping his shoes off in the process and dropping his backpack before padding into the lit up kitchen. "Yes, Mum?" He replied, his hands hidden behind his back in a habitual way.

His mother had her back turned from him, but as she heard his presence behind her she spun around. "You didn't forget to pick up those eggs, did you?" She asked. She was smiling at him, but the action didn't match the rest of her body language. Her long brown hair flowed elegantly around her shoulders, framing her sharp jaw and judgmental gray eyes that seemed to pierce into his very soul.

George felt panic grip its cold hands around his heart. His hands felt suddenly hot and cold at the same time and he brought them in front of him to pick at the skin between his fingers out of nervousness. "I-I" He stammered, his eyes downcast as he mentally prepared himself for what he knew was coming. "I forgot, I'm sorry."