Puzzled Past

"Get It Together, Grace!"

As I drove up to the school... After a very painful, but minor, heart attack that I had just experienced... I took a deep breath and looked at myself in the review mirror.

"Okay, Okay! Get it together, Grace!" I angrily told myself out loud, as I noticed the tight grip I had on my steering wheel.

I reminded myself, 'You've had enough crys over the past year... Don't dehydrate yourself the morning of your first day as a senior.'

Great... Now I sound like Brooke.

***

Walking into the same high school that I had been attending for the last three year's, was interestingly enough... Different.

The school had gotten a remodel during the summer. But I can't complain, its so much better then the garbage can that i'd wake up every morning to, that's for sure!

I looked around, taking my time taking in all the new, modern looking building, that they had changed the school into being.

The walls were different, no more stains.

The carpets were torn out and replaced with tile.

And the lockers were replaced, giving the hallways a cleaner look.

For once I was intrigued to look around the school. Because honestly... Before, I wouldn't detour getting to class to class. But now...

'Oh no! I'm going to be late!' I told myself as I looked at my watch and turned around, darting for first period. Which was thankfully French.

***

The bell rang, and I was now on my way to second period, Comm Tech. I didn't mind learning about computers... But I know I didn't ever truly comprehend what I was learning.

I walked over to an empty seat as the class piled in. Normally, nobody would willingly choose to sit by me, or pick me for a partner. And I was fine with that...

They didn't care, and I didn't care either. As I get my note pad and pens out, I noticed someone had plopped down beside me.

'What the?' I thought to myself. As my face naturally turned to face the mysterious person. He had neck length, brown, and shaggy hair. With a green and black leather jacket. (Even though it was hot outside, I didn't blame him on wearing it, because it was freezing in the computer lab.)

I started to assure the person by saying, "Don't feel like you need to sit here, if you don't want to. In fact, you can sit anywhere you'd like!" I finished with a nervous smile, hoping that he would get the point, that I wanted to be alone at the moment.

He replied slowly and quite dryly, "In other words... This seat's taken?"

I now felt confused. 'He must be new here.' I thought to myself, because everyone from last year understood my situation, and left me alone.

I was going to answer the guy, but didn't know what to say. At least nicely, that is.

"If you don't want me to sit here... I'll move." He said. Beating me to a reply as he reached for his books and started to get up.

"No-No it's no big deal! You can..." I started to say, but I was thrown back at the revealing of his face. Yah, I flinched, and gulped. Probably making him uncomfortable. But it was him... Yup 100% Zachary Blaine.

"Z-Za---Zack?" I stuttered in shock. Even though I knew it was bound to happen, that Zachary and I would meet again. But I was SO caught off guard.

'Oh, brother...' I took a deep breath and stared into my former best friend/boyfriend's eyes. They hadn't changed, but the fact that his eyes were filled with innocent glow.

'Oh, how I loved those eyes...' I reminded myself. Almost forgetting, after over a year of not seeing each other. His parents and Dr. thought it would be best to limit his stress and confusion to the best of there ability. So they took him out of school and began homeschooling. And during that process... They told me to leave him alone for a bit.

Over 14 months later... Here we are, sitting in silence, as our class mates all sat/stood watching us in curiosity.

It didn't bother me. But I could tell it did, him.

His eyes were studying my face as I did the same. It got a little awkward quick when the teacher came into the room and noticed us.

"Uh... Is everything okay?" She asked (Already knowing she knew about Zacharys condition) I broke up the intense staring and answered her.

"Y-Yes!" I answered for both of us feeling like my love life was a total open book.

God, I wasn't ready to talk to him. And I know he wasn't ether.

***

During class Zachary's head briefly glanced over. As if he was checking if I was still sitting here. It was difficult enough to be in that class, so the last thing I needed was for him to be distracting me from taking my notes, for me to study later.

But as soon as class ended, I bolted out of there as if there was a fire. But I only made it half way to my locker before I heard a calm, but sad voice behind me ask, "What is your name?"

If only you felt the stabbing of my heart when he asked me that.

I was afraid to look behind me. So I only answered a brief reply, praying it would be enough.

"I'm nobody."

"That's not what I asked" He said sounding like he was demanding an answer.

My poor heart felt as if it dropped out of my chest as I replied,

"Why would you like to know?"

"Because you know something I don't." He answered a little too quickly for my liking.

"What? The answer for question three? Oh that was: A. Key Pad" I quickly replied feeling like a smoothie of emotions...

"I don't want to play games." He told me sounding as if he was losing his patients.

By now, I was facing him. About 15 feet away from one another. Because my locker was the oposite way to lunch, we had the hallway (for the most part) all to ourselves.

"Then don't. " I said, sounding defeated, knowing what I already had known. He had forgotten me. And I didn't want to believe it. So I turned away and continued to my locker.

After I put my books in it, I headed to the restroom to take a deep breath, and then to lunch. Were I met up with Brooke, her friend Lea, and boyfriend Davis.

I prepared myself for Brooke's interview, that I know was coming seeing almost the whole school was already talking about Zachary and I's 'Stare Down'. Yah... That's what there calling it.

'Oh, how I hate high school!' I reminded myself.