ghostboys

thirty-one

it was the middle of my lunch period the following monday when i was thinking about going to guidance and changing my classes. i don't want any classes with vance.

so, i left my lunch table and headed for the guidance office. she let me in and i sat down.

"how can i help you allison?" ms. ricci asked with a kind smile.

"i want my classes changed." i said, grabbing a lollipop from the bowl on her desk.

it was blueberry, my favorite.

"is there something going on that's making you want to switch your classes?"

i nodded, "vance. i cant stand him anymore." i said, beginning to fake cry.

"oh allison, don't cry." she stood up and knelt down beside me, "what has he been doing?"

now i really gotta lie.

"bullying me, calling me names, i can't stand it anymore." i lied, wiping my fake tears away.

"do you want me to call him down and we can talk about this?" she asked, now sitting back in her chair.

"for fucks sake, just change my schedule." i stood up and left, leaving her too stunned to speak.

————

i was walking home from school, freezing my ass off. gwen stole my coat before school even started so i had nothing but a flannel. it snowed over the weekend so the sidewalk was covered in snow and ice.

i couldn't tell which was which so my stupid ass slipped on ice and fell on the ground.

"motherfucker!" i yelled, trying to stand but i fell fucking again.

"do you not know how to walk without falling?" a voice said, helping me up.

i turned and immediately stepped away when i saw who it was, "get the hell away from me vance."

"no sorry?" he asked, smirking.

"im not talking to you so bye." i went to walk but i slipped again and luckily, vance caught me.

"this whole fucking path is ice, allison." he said, leading me to the road.

"i can walk on my own." i shoved him away and crossed my arms, trying to keep myself warm.

"are you cold?" he asked as he took his jean jacket off.

"i don't want your jacket or any of your shit, vance. i just want to go home and forget this ever happened." i walked toward my house.

"why are you ignoring me!" he yelled.

"i cant hear you." i opened my door and slammed it shut.

"allison." dad groaned from the living room.

oh, he was home.

"sorry dad." i said, walking into the kitchen. i grabbed some cookies and milk and went upstairs to my room.

————

i sat at the kitchen table, eating dinner with finney and gwen. dad left to go out with some friends, i didn't know he had any, so he left me in charge.