Asymptotes

viii

-Autumn-

June taps me on the shoulder and tells me that Michael and her are going to throw away their food. Well, this is a dilemma. I can either intrude on their obvious couple time but if I don't, I'll be forcing them to throw away my things as well. I decide to go ahead and third wheel if it means not imposing. Michael helps June up from her chair which makes her blush to the fullest extent. I get up by myself and I walk a little ahead of them to throw away my trash first.

They get caught up behind me by the trash can and I make my way to where Holden's sitting, staring at his phone with a worried expression. He notices me coming back and looks up with a very apparent forced smile. I'm about to ask, my nosy side overriding my 'shy' side, what's up and he interjects before I have the time. "Where's Michael?" I have a grudging respect for his swift change of topic and I respond by telling him that they're catching up by the trash can. He makes a teasing jab at their relationship although his eyes are filled with admiration as he looks at them.

I fiddle with my shirt, feeling as if I don't belong again. I see Holden glance down and I resist the urge to cross my arms over my chest. He's not that kind of person, is he? I see his eyes moving across my stomach and I realize he's reading my shirt. And that's the first time that day, I regret wearing that shirt a little. I don't know why. It's not because I'm in Holden, obviously. After he's done reading my shirt, I ask him a question I kind of know the answer to but just want to clarify. For purposes. Purposes unknown at this time. "So, is Eleanor your girlfriend?"

His eyes widen in shock. "No. No. No. No. No way. Not a chance. The day Eleanor becomes my girlfriend is the day that it would be possible to divide something by zero," he says, waving his hands in the air. I laugh at his strong denial and I feel a sense of brief relief.

"So, Autumn, how do you like Ridgeview so far?" he asks me. Well, he's kind of friendly, I guess. Not as rigid as freshman Holden, at least. Wow, Autumn. Go ahead, feel free. Why don't you just go off and judge some more people?

"You have some really spirited people," I quip. Holden smiles and nods as if he knows I'm talking about June and Eleanor. I add on, to make sure he doesn't think that I just abhor the school spirit. "But for the most part, it's really nice. The campus is gorgeous, well at least the parts I've seen. The art room is huge! How does Ridgeview even fund that?" I ask, a disbelieving look creeping up on my face.

"With a ridiculously high tuition. Scholarship kids like me are one in 40. Around two in each grade. So there's about nine of us in the entire school, which means, if you're slightly mathematically challenged, that there are 360 kids in the school. But almost everyone else is from wealthy families in the city. Michael's dad is a super successful investment banker and June's mom is a fashion designer for all the socialites in the city and her dad, I think, works in a financial management firm. So, how about you, what building does your family own in the upper east side?" It sounds like he's just teasing but he has a slightly serious look on his face. I let out a short laugh.

"Uh, no, I'm a special case. My dad teaches political science so they offered me a scholarship," I explain.

"Ah, one of my kind!" I guess he isn't always super serious. Michael's probably rubbed off on him a lot since freshman year.

It sucks that I have to ruin his excitement, especially since this is the first sign of that much happiness from him.

"Somewhat," I say quietly.

"What? Did you lie to me?" he says, his hand flying to his chest as if he's wounded.

"No, it's just that my dad used to work with the Senator and my mom's a doctor; I'm not here on an athletic or academic scholarship," I respond. His face falls over-exaggeratedly and I laugh.