Dots and Zeros [Completed]

16. Sam

'And we already have a test-test planned,' Isa says.

'A what?'

We're standing by her locker. She's getting her books and puts them in her bag with the others. People brush past us without making eye contact. Everyone's on their way outside, to freedom. It's supposed to be the last sunny day of the week.

'A test-test. You don't have Spanish?'

'No. Not that I've noticed.'

'It's a practice test. Mr. Adams thinks he's funny when he says it differently, though.'

'Luckily, I don't have that.'

'I kinda like it.'

She shuts her locker and starts walking in the same direction as everyone else. I walk beside her. A couple is making out on the left side of the hallway. Someone's trying to get to the locker they're leaning against.

'So, you're not looking forward to it?' I ask.

'No. Are you kidding me?'

'Why not?'

'Listen, I get the idea. To see if you're prepared for the actual test.'

'Yeah.'

A guy behind us yells something. Someone in front of us turns around. A football flies over our heads and the guy in front of us catches it. A group of men cheer behind us.

'But they expect you to have studied everything two weeks before the actual, graded test. That's so long in advance. In the time between the test-test and the test most of us will have already forgotten most of it.'

'Won't you keep repeating the info? Just ten minutes a day and you're done.'

We reach the open double doors at the end of the hallway. The sun greets us, half covered by the clouds. I close my jacket.

'If I remember to do so. But we're gonna do it I guess,' Isa says. 'I don't hate it anyway. It's pretty alright.'

'Why are you making it such a thing then?'

'Because I can. If they do this for economics I'm gonna start a riot.'

I laugh and look at the bus stop in the distance. Something closer to me catches my eye. Eugene stands up from the bench and walks towards me. When he realizes I'm not alone he stops. He waves a little.

'Hey,' I shout. 'What are you doing here?'

'Isn't he an old student?' Isa says. 'I remember someone with that hair.'

'He is. He graduated two years ago.'

He's saying something but I can't hear it. I gesture for him to come to us.

'Hi,' he says. 'I remembered you telling me yesterday at what time school would be done.'

'Alright. Did you forget something at my place?'

'No, no, no. I just-'

'My mom's here,' Isa interrupts. 'See you tomorrow, Sam.'

'See you later.'

She passes Eugene as she walks off in the direction he came from. She checks her phone while walking.

'An entire afternoon together yesterday wasn't enough for you?' I ask him.

I see Isa turn around while walking with a confused face. I just wave at her. 'Tomorrow', she mouths and then points at Eugene's back. She shakes her head with a smile and continues walking.

'I had a great time,' he says. 'And as a way of paying you back for the pizza, I figured I'd give you a ride home. So you won't have to take the bus. It's on my way from college anyway.'