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Tick. Tick. Tick.
I tap my pencil rapidly on the desk as I watch the clock move very slowly. It's always the last period that's the lengthiest. It doesn't make it any better that it's English Literature. Maybe if I didn't have Mr. Baxton, with his leisurely speech and long tedious words.
I fiddle with the note my best friend Pepper gave me. I open it with my one free hand and read it once more:
Meet me at my house after school. Please let your mom know so it doesn't end up like last time. Love you! xoxo Pepper <3
I fold it up, slipping it back into my hoodie pocket. I peer back up at the clock. Only one minute passed by. I exhale. Only five minutes left, however. Five long, boring, treacherous minutes.
Mr. Baxton continued to write notes on the board. I settle on writing whatever is on the board to pass the time. Scribbling down the words, I begin to think about what Pepper might have planned. She usually doesn't pull surprises like this. I don't even know the occasion, it's not her birthday or anything like that.
Soon enough, the bell rings. I swiftly shut all of my books and pack them into my bag, along with my pencils and whatnot. I hurry along with my other classmates as they pile through the door.
Getting through the hallway at the end of the day is always the inferior time. Everyone collectively hates it. Each student of Cody High School is all leaving at once. Meaning a huge crowd in the hallway.
Eventually, I got out of the active hallway, exited into the parking lot, and aim for my car. I have my head down, avoiding any eye contact with someone. Until I felt someone staring at me. I raise my eyes for a split second and see Jessie Bravebird, his brown eyes focusing on me.
Jessie used to be my best friend in middle school. Jessie, Pepper, and I did everything together. But some petty drama went down with Pepper and Jessie's twin sister, Lillanny, so Pepper began to exclude Jessie as much as she could. After a while, Jessie no longer hung out with us.
Until last year, our junior year. He found my insta, and we started talking again. Come to find out, he has always liked me since we were best friends. I, on the other hand, didn't feel the same way, so I gently rejected his affection. He didn't take it too well.
So there he was, leaning against the back of his 1990 grey Ford Bronco, watching me not-so-gracefully walk to my car from a good distance. I glanced over at him, but he didn't look away. As if he wanted me to do the same and stare back at him.
I shook it off and opened the driver's door to my Jeep, launching my bag into the back seat. I climb into the seat, slam the door shut, and turn on the car.
I peeled off my hoodie. Putting my car into reverse, I try to remember the way to Peppers's house. I don't usually go to Peppers's house that often. It's not that I don't like going over there, just her parents preferred if we were to hang out at either one of our houses, it'd be mine. Pepper said it was just because of some personal family things. Which is fine, I like being at my own house anyways.
I pull out of the parking lot, cautiously dodging students as they make their way to their vehicles. Left or right? I can't remember... I pondered as I go with my gut and turn left.
