A Simple Switch

7 - Bill me

DYLAN

I watched as the rest of Ms. Kent's seventh block AP Government class filed into the room. I finally felt my body relax. I'm always more comfortable when I'm in a crowded room, where no one can really single me out. For what seemed like the longest time, I was only there, alone with Ms. Kent. But maybe that's because I skipped the last 10 minutes of lunch to get here early...

I strained my neck to try to see Michaela's desk on the other side of the room.

Empty.

Where was she? Just as I finished that thought, she rushed into the room, sitting down before Ms. Kent ever noticed she was late.

I noticed her frown as she struggled to locate her notebook from this class.

'It's under your desk,' I thought, urging her to find it.

'Whoa, wait...' I thought, recognizing the concern that I felt.

Why do I care so much? We barely know each other! Why should it matter to me whether or not she finds her Gov notebook? Which is kind of adorably obviously sitting beneath her.

"Mr. Matthews," my teacher spoke, waking me from my thoughts. "I said, 'You are in group three,' "

I walked over to where she was pointing and sat down in a desk next to the 'lowkey drug hookup' Bradley Knox, who was slouched in his seat, staring into space.

"Hey man," he said lazily.

"Hey Bradley."

Even just saying hello to him made my hands clammy. Talking to anyone new or important always made me nervous, and would often have me bumbling like an idiot.

"Whoaaa, man. It's Brad," he said, chuckling in a detached voice.  " 'Stoner Brad' works too though. Yeah, I like 'Stoner Brad' "

Dang, this guy is the real deal...

"Nice to meet you, Stoner Brad," a girl's voice said.

I heard books slam against the desk to my right, and looked up to see Michaela start to take her seat. My heart suddenly lit up and started beating faster, and could feel the bravado of my 'new persona' resurface.

Switch on...

I sat forward, with my forearms crossed and elbows resting on my desk.

"No way," I said jokingly. "Look who it is!"

She gave me a momentary smile and responded, "Hey, Dylan."

Just hearing her say my name gave me chills. No one made me more nervous than Michaela. But any time I'd see her, I would just think back to what Collin told me, and I'd try to switch into this "different me." The version of me that I wish I was.

'Why the hell not,' I thought. 'Fake it 'til you make it, right?'

"Okay, class," Ms. Kent spoke. "The groups that you are all in right now are for your Bill presentation. You must draft a bill to be presented in front of a 'mock Congress,' which will be made up of your peers. Be prepared to present on Monday. Now, get to work!"

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Please ignore the shitty chapter title. If there are any ideas out there, I'm open to suggestions! Sorry this was so short :/