Staying Sane

Chapter 1 - Staying Sexy

"Alright people, please listen to Ms. Angela. She has come a very long way to teach us. As much as I know you dislike the idea of learning, sex education is not common in a lot of schools. You are getting a privilege, please take it as one. "

I look up at the annoyed and slightly embarrassed Mr. Aimes and smirk to myself. He hates our class so much. I hate our class just as much as he does, but I know how to be less vocal about it. But hey, I can understand it. Health isn't fun in the first place, so adding the uncomfortable mention of sex is slightly unnerving.
I go back to reading the newest edition to my library, "Heroic Ferocity". It's about a young woman named Aude who has just gotten out of a mental hospital, where she learned she had special abilities, and that she belonged to a group of people who know how to do inhuman things. I quite like it so far.

"Honestly, Sage. You're the only one who isn't paying attention right now. Please put your novel away and look at Ms. Angela."

I look up quickly, only to be faced with twenty other pairs of eyes. Sitting in the back has its pros, but it's cons are things like having to be able to see everyone look at you when you get into trouble. My face turns a deep red, a sound that I'm not even sure was human came out of my mouth, and a few snickers were heard from amongst the classroom.

"I'm, uh, I'm sorry. Ms. Angela. I will pay attention," I apologize, hands shaking and attempting to stuff the book into my backpack.

"No problem honey, just wanna make sure you know how to do the Humpty Dumpty," Ms. Angela says with a wink. She seems to be quite the character, considering her appearance. Her bright red hair and winged eyeliner say a lot, but her clothes say the most. She's younger, probably in her late twenties and extremely beautiful. Her dark skin contrasts the bright pink and white polka dot sweater that she's sporting, and I'm jealous of her ability to dress.

I smile a little and look at my hands. The bell rings and with a "see you tomorrow" it seems like everyone in the whole world is pushing and shoving to be the first one out the door. It really amuses me. It makes me feel like a kid again, watching them push and kick to be the first one out the door. I forget I'm a junior in high school, which is quite amazing, even if it is for a few seconds.
I'm always the last one out. So once everyone is gone, I get up and say a thank you to Ms. Angela and make my way out the door.

"Aren't you going to take some condoms?" Ms. Angela says.

I look up red in the face for the second time that class. "Condoms?"

"Yes, yes! Condoms. Take as many as you want."

I look at her and internally laugh. I'm probably never going to see her again after tomorrow, so why not have a little fun.
With a polite smile I grab the tub of condoms on Mr. Aimes desk and empty it into my purse. Why not? They're free. (Not that I would ever have the boyfriend to use them.)
Trying my best not to laugh at Ms. Angela's knowing smirk I leave the classroom, ready for this day to be done and over with.
Getting into my car is always a hard task. Good old Daisy is always right there, but I always end up taking five minutes trying to get her. There are people in the way, obnoxious boys yelling and screaming, ones who never let you finish your sentence because they don't deem you worthy enough. Girls who cling onto them with fake flirty smiles and too-long extensions in their hair. I hate high school.
Halfway through my drive home (which is 45 minutes believe it or not, a lot of long roads that are usually empty. It's the south, and it's disgusting.) my car begins to die. The engine makes some sort of GUH GUH GUH sound and there is smoke coming out from under the hood, and I'm forced to pull over.

"Fuckety-fuck. " I say, punching my steering wheel.

I get out and slowly walk over to the hood of my car, propping the hood of the old car up. Smoke blows into my face and I cough and gag, making horribly unattractive sounds.

"Do you need any help?" A male voice asks. I jump and turn around, bracing myself for a murderer with a gun, but it was just a boy. Not a boy, I'm sorry, a young man.

"JESUS, man!" I say, clutching my heart, very much in pain from the mini panic attack that went through my body.

"I'm sorry, I'm sorry. It just looked like you might've needed some help. Are you alright?" The boy asks.

"I'm..., I'm okay. Thank you. I guess I kind of do need some help, though. I'm not really sure of the problem. " I say. He didn't interrupt me in the middle of my sentence. Weird.

"Do you mind if I take a look?"

With a shake of my head as approval, the boy begins working away. Not even a minute into examining, the problem may have seemed evident to him.

"Your engine is just overheated. You can get in the car if you want, I have to go back to my car to get something to fix it. "

I smile and say thank you, then sit and read my book. At this point point of "Heroic Ferocity" Aude is realizing that the reason everyone told her that she was talking to herself when she was talking to Jeremiah is because he has the ability to become invisible. Just as I get cozy and very much into my book, the boy is finished working on Daisy.

"All done! I wish you a safe drive, " He smiles and I smile back. He's actually quite gorgeous, to be honest. His hair is dark and curly, his teeth white and straight, and gorgeous green eyes stared down at me. He was almost too perfect. It was disgusting.

"Thank you. Is there anything I can do for payment? I feel bad that you had to work on my car, " I ask. I don't like feeling indebted to other people, it makes me weary.
There's an awkward silence before he squeaks out a couple of sentences.

"Can I... Um. Haha. Ha," he laughs. He looks at his shoes and kicks the ground a little bit, looking embarrassed and nervous. "Can I maybe get your number? Go to coffee with me? You totally don't have to, I just thought maybe it would be a good idea. You don't have to give me anything though. You can give me a stick of gum for all I care. "

I smile at him and think for a minute.

"Okay. "

What's the worst that could happen? He seems like a decent human being.
I reach into my car to grab my purse to get some paper and a pen.

"What's your name, by the way-" I get out, just as I finish writing my number, before my purse falls and spills the contents of my bag all of the dirty road.

I look at him, he's looking at the ground. I look at the ground, I can tell he's looking at me.

There are about a hundred condoms just sitting on the ground.

He quietly grabs the number out of my hand and one of the sticks of gum that fell out of my bag from the road.

"I'll keep in touch," he smirks. "Stay sexy."