A Million Girl Kisses

Chapter 3

       I push open the doors of my high school. I'm doing this. I'm actually doing this. I'm going to find her, and figure out who she is. Except... I don't even make it to my locker before I'm greeted by Austin. "Hey, baby..." He coos, leaning in to kiss me. "I checked the list of movies that are on tonight," He says, pulling away. It takes me a moment to realize I had agreed to go to a movie with him. Tonight. I can't wait to go off to university. There, I'll come out and be as gay as I want... I promise. "We can either go see Scream or When Harry Met Sally, and you can bet your ass I'm not watching the latter." I roll my eyes. Well, I mentally roll my eyes. Believe it or not, I actually enjoy rom-coms. And I hate horror.

       "There's- uh... there's really nothing else playing?" I probe. "Nope. But don't worry, babe, I'll keep you safe."

       Gosh. Get. Me. Out. Of. Here.

       He kisses me on the cheek before heading off to his locker.

      "Zoe, why don't you come sit with me and the boys?" Austin asks as I return my textbook and binder to my locker. "Actually, I, uh... I was going to catch up on some, um, some english homework. You know, since I was... sick." I even add in a little cough for dramatic effect.

       "Zoe... my Zoe, catching up on homework? What are you not telling me?" He smirks.

       Oh, if only you knew.

       "Yeah, I just don't want to have to worry about it later on and all." I reply, grabbing my phone and locking my locker. "Well, if you're sure. Have fun doing homework," He waves goodbye to me, laughing as he heads towards the cafeteria.

         It's time.

         So, I may have forgotten one teensy tiny detail when I was planning to figure out who the girl is; I have no idea where to find her. I wander through the halls, hoping that she might be heading to some kind of lunchtime activity. However, there is no sign of her. I lean against a row of lockers next to the home economics lab.

         That's when I remember. During cheer practice, I saw her walking across the bleachers. It's probably nothing, but it's worth checking out, just in case. It might be where she spends her breaks.

I rush to the football field where we have most of our practices. I scan the bleachers. Nothing.

          I'm about to head back inside and hide in the bathroom for the rest of lunch when I see smoke wafting out from under the metallic bleachers. It's the kind of thing you wouldn't see if you weren't looking for it. But I was.

          I walk over to the spot where the smoke is being emitted, then halt.

         There she is.

          I try to flee, because, let's be honest, I am not ready for this. However, my plan at an escape is thwarted. "I see you." A steady voice says. I slowly turn around to face her. "H-hey..." I reply nervously. "I'm Zoe, I'm in your... english class?" Wow. Real smooth, Zoe. Real smooth. She takes a drag from her cigarette, meeting my eyes. "Yeah, I know you. You're Austin's girlfriend, right? The cheerleader?" Oh. I never fully realized that's what people saw me as. The jock's girlfriend. The cheerleader.

            I realize I've zoned out, and swiftly return to reality. "...You good?" She asks, scrunching her eyebrows. "Yeah," I reply. "I'm fine."

           All things considered.

          "So, uh, you know my name, but I don't know yours."

          "Why do you want to know?" She smirks.

          "Well, you don't expect me to walk around calling you person all the time, do you?" The smirk on her face transforms from a quarter-moon grin to a half-moon smile. I wonder if that smug look is her shield, to protect herself. So that no one can get too close.

           I'm probably overthinking this.

           "Gia. My name's Gia." She smiles.

           Gia.

           That's more like it.