Petrichor

Ryan

"You're not skipping school." Allen sighs.

"Ugh, fine," I groan. "Guess I'll find something yellow then."

Allen pats me on the back. "Good luck with that. I heading out."

"It's only 6, what's the hurry?" I ask over my shoulder as he heads to the door.

"I've got plans with my dad." he answers. "Believe me, I'd rather do anything else than clean out the garage."

"But what am I supposed to do now?" I whine.

"You could come lend us a hand." He suggests. "It'd go a lot faster with three people."

"Nice try. I'm not that bored."

"Had to try." He sighs. "By the way, that History paper that's half our grade and everything, it's due tomorrow."

Oh yeah. I almost forgot all about it. But I've got time. I'll finish it before I go to bed. After seeing Allen off, I go up to my room and root through my closet for something yellow.

A shirt would do. But surprisingly I don't seem to own one. Well there was my brother's
yellow t-shirt. But it had an, interesting to say the least, set of words on it. So you wouldn't catch me dead in that.

I call my mom and ask her if she can stop by a clothes store and pick one up on her way home. She doesn't get home till a quarter to 10. After helping her with her bag I peek inside the brown shopping bag she brought with her. It's a plain yellow shirt, perfect.

"Thanks mom," I say, as I take the shirt out.

"You're welcome." She sits down on the couch, stretching her legs. " I hear tomorrow is spotlight day at school. You wanna tell me who that yellow is for?"

I laugh a little in my head. I wasn't completely sure myself. "No, not really. Also I've got a history paper I should really get started on. Good night."

She laughs as I scurry away. "You can't keep dodging the question forever! I'll find out sooner or later."

I'm halfway up the stairs when she calls out one more thing. "Oh, I almost forgot. I met Mikhail at the store."

W-what was he buying?" I ask, backing down a few steps. 

"I can't say."

-----

I try my hardest to keep my eyes open as I walk into school the next day. I had stayed up almost the whole night finishing the paper. And once I finally closed my eyes, my mom knocks on my door what seems like a minute later to wake me up for school.

So I dragged myself out of bed and into the shower. Forty minutes later I'm walking through the glass doors right before the first bell goes. I shuffle through the halls not quite fully awake. I just had to make my way to homeroom, then I could close my eyes for a minute. Or thirty.

Allen walks up from behind me. "Dude, you look exhausted."

It takes my brain a few seconds to register what he said. "Wha- oh yeah, I was up all night."

I stifle a yawn. Allen seemed to be waiting for me to say something.

"Well? Notice anything about me." He steps back a little to give me a better view. "Anything."

I stare at him blankly. After a few seconds he sighs, "I'm wearing red. Remember? The whole thing happening today."

"Red, right. Stoplight and all that." I say between yawns.

"Aren't you gonna ask me wh-"

"Why are you wearing red Allen." I roll my eyes.

We reach the classroom and walk in. "How nice of you to ask about me for once. It's all been about you the past few weeks."

I sit down at my desk and Allen sits at the one in front of me, sitting backwards in his chair. "Alright. Let's talk about you then."

He grins. "Finally, so while I do have endless options in terms of relationships, I- . Hey are you even listening?"

"Yeah." I reply, I had heard around half of what he had just said.

"You know what? Never mind. We can talk when you're not half asleep."

"Thanks mom." I mumble before dozing off. He shakes his head before turning around on his chair.