Highlights in a LIfe

I look down at my wrist. Plastered over the faint scars is now a countdown. As I read it, tears run down my cheeks. It told me that I had to wait another 4,460 days, 21 hours, and 8 minutes. Working out the math, I figure that I'll be without them for another 12 years and 3 months.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

"Hey Bonnie, whatcha doing?" I hear Sam calling out to me and I spin around. My best friend of 5 years is running towards me, pushing his way through the crowded hall.

"Hi Samantha," his nose scrunches.

"You know, that nickname really doesn't work," I shrug. "So, your birthday was yesterday," he smiles at me, raising his eyebrows a few times.

"Yes, it was," I look at him, trying to avoid his question. "My party's this weekend, you gonna be there?"

"Don't change the subject, girl. How long did you get? Or do you already know them?" He gives me a sly look, obviously talking about my boyfriend, Chad. He's the quarter-back of the football team, so it's a wonder what he's doing with someone like me, an unpopular girl, and I'm not even a nerd he can get to do his homework. Not that he would ever ask me to, he might put on a tough façade but under that mask, he's the nicest guy I know.

"You know I don't know if I do or not, the clock doesn't show negative numbers. You remember how upset you were when you got five years?" I open my locker and rummage through the mess to find my books for the day.

"Did you get more than that?" He looks sad for me.

"I got twelve years. A whole twelve."

"Aww, I'm sorry Bon. I can't believe they have the guts to stay away from you for that long," he pulls me in for a hug and I wrap my arms around him, but I quickly push him away when I hear my name being called.

"Hey Bonnie-Boo, there you are. I've been looking for you all morning," I turn around and see the quarterback walking towards me with his posse of footballers close behind him. Chad, the 6ft 2 man with ashy blonde hair, a chiseled jaw and the most beautiful hazel eyes I'd ever seen, is smiling at me.

"Sorry Chad, I just got here. I was gonna get my books for class and come find you," I take a quick glance at Sam, who's glaring at the floor. Him and Chad haven't gotten along well since primary school, but even worse since Chad and I started dating a year ago. For me to be able to be his girlfriend for a week, let alone a year? It always seemed impossible, especially with all the negative comments we get, and the cheerleaders bullying me and trying to convince us to break up. But no, I won't, not for a while at least, because even though Chad isn't my soulmate, I don't want to be alone for all of those twelve years. I don't think he wants to be for his seven either.

"That's okay baby. I just wanna let you know that I'll be picking you up at 8 tonight, so be ready," He smiles at me, showing his straight, white teeth.

"What for? We don't have a date tonight."

"We didn't, but I booked a nice place for us. I wanna treat you as best I can while I have you, Bonnie. We might not have been made for each other, but that doesn't mean I'm gonna treat you like dirt, I want your standards to be as high as possible, so you never have to deal with an asshole boyfriend," he wraps his arms around my waist and leans down to place a kiss on my forehead. I look up to meet his hazel eyes, trying to find a reason for the surprise, but I can't. He releases me and stands back at his full height, although keeps one hand on the small of my back. "Dress fancy tonight, baby. I'll see you at lunch, okay?"