Project High School

He Writes

We drop Kendall off and then drive to the pizzeria. Elle and Chloe always fight about what kind of pizza to get, so we finally settle on a plain, cheese pizza. I take two slices into my room to eat while working on my homework. I try to start my math, but I can't focus. I switch over to my English, but that doesn't help. I start studying my lines for theater class. Eventually, I give up trying to concentrate and call Kendall.

"You've taken over my entire mind," I say as soon as he picks up. He laughs. "Is that a good thing?" I lay down on my back. "I don't know. I can't get any work done." I can hear the smile in his voice. "Tell you what: Work on your homework for an hour and then I'll call you? Okay?" I smile. "But you can't answer unless all you work is done," he says. "Alright," I say, "talk to you in an hour." I sigh and hang up the phone.

I ruffle through my papers. We have debates every week in English. I skim the notes and jot a few things down. I'm only half concentrating. I only pay attention for math and science, since they're being collected. Finally, I call Kendall.

"Is all your work done?" He asks. "He speaks," I say, "speak again, bright angel. You are as glorious as an angel tonight, shining above me like a winged messenger from heaven. You make mortal women fall on their backs and look at the sky, watching the angel walk on clouds and sail on air." I hear Kendall pawing through his bag. "Um," he says, "something about your name." I laugh. "Okay, found it. Oh, Romeo. Why must you be Romeo?" I smile. "We don't have to run the whole thing," I say, "I just want to tell you that you're an angel." He laughs. "You're the sweetest," he says. "Did you come out to your parents yet?" I pause. "Josh?" He says. I sigh. "No." He sighs, too. "Why?" I put my phone on speaker and put it on the bed. "I don't trust them," I say, "they're not like my sisters. My dad's a stereotypical republican, and not the movie type who changes his views on homosexuality and gay marriage just because his son-slash-daughter comes out. He'll hate me forever."

"He's your father," he says, "he won't hate you." I snort. "You don't know my father. Wanna know why I don't have a Godfather?" I hear shifting as Kendall sits up. "Why?" I grab the baseball that sits on my side table and bounce it off the ceiling and down to me again. "My dad's best friend's son- son, not even my dad's friend himself- came out as gay. My dad said he didn't want his son being influenced by someone who raises fags." I laugh a little. "Guess it was too late." Kendall laughs. "But you're not your father's best friend's son. You're his son. He'll accept you, honey," he says. "I don't know if it's worth it," I say. "Promise me you'll think about it," he says. "Okay," I say. "I promise. For you."

I meet Rachel outside Mr. Blakely's room and walk with her to English the next day. I reach out and lace my fingers with hers. She smiles and squeezes my hand.

Mr. Diliges-Pugnand is leaning against his desk and typing on his phone. Rachel and I sit at the front table with Robbie and Matt. Danny, Alex, and Megan sit at the table next to us. I notice that Megan and Danny are sitting close together. Megan reaches over and takes Danny's hand. I smile.

Mr. Diliges-Pugnand sets down his phone. "Before we do anything," he says, "please just call me Mr. DP. It's just easier and saves time." He claps his hands. "Okay. For the duration of this period, I would like you all to write a few short paragraphs on someone or something that you care deeply about or love. I want it handed in to me by 11:30. I'll be reading a few aloud at the end of the period. Leave your name off the paper if you want it to be anonymous. Start now." I rifle through my binder until I find paper. The sounds of papers shifting and pens scratching fills the room. I click my pen and start to write about Rachel. She's beautiful, but there's more to her than that. She's kind and caring and always knows what I need. Her soul is like no other, and she's willing to do anything for me. Her advice is always wonderful. She'll always here for me. She

Then I run out of ideas. I frown and crumple the paper, pulling a new one out of my binder. I start writing, but it's not about Rachel. New ideas flow through me, and I write them down as fast as I can.

I could go on for hours about the way he looks, his messy brown hair, his piercing green eyes, his bright smile and light laugh, his dimples. No matter how gorgeous he is, there's so much more to him. He has such unwavering determination and fiery passion, his constant energy. He makes me feel like nothing can hurt me as long as I have him. He has a knack for knowing exactly why and when people need something, especially me. His arms wrapped around me feels like everything I've ever wanted, and everything about him makes me happy.

I keep writing until Mr. DP calls time. Rachel hands me her paper. I slip mine in between hers and Robbie's so no one will read it, leaving my name of the paper. Mr. DP takes the papers and starts flipping through them. He raises his eyebrows occasionally and pulls a few papers out. Finally, he sets the full stack of papers aside and picks up the few he chose.

"I could go on for hours about the way he looks..." My heart leaps into my throat. I know that there's no way anyone will know it's me, but I'm still nervous. Rachel glances over at me when Mr. DP starts reading the physical description. "You?" She mouths. I blush and nod. She smiles.

"That was sweet," she says when we leave class half an hour later. I smile and shrug. "No, really," she says, "I meant it when I said that Kendall is lucky to have you." I smile down at her. "I'm sorry you're stuck with me for the year," I say, "there's someone out there who's gonna be beyond words lucky to have you." She smiles. "It's fine," she says, "all the guys in our grade are assholes anyway." I laugh. "Who's an asshole?" Robbie asks, walking up next to us. Rachel snorts. "You." He laughs. Jennifer joins us now. Robbie kisses her and wraps his arm around her shoulders. At the end of the main hallway of the school, Jennifer and I turn left for Italian and Rachel and Robbie turn right for gym.

"You know Rachel's really hot," she says, "you guys are a really cute couple." I smile through my slight confusion. "Thanks," I say.

I wonder what people would say about Kendall and I if we were a real couple, like Robbie and Jennifer. I bet people would say that we're really cute, too. I let myself fantasize about Kendall and I being out together. We could hold hands and walk to class together. He could come up to me while I'm with my friends and kiss me, and I could wrap my arm around his shoulders. No one would think us different or strange. We could just be us. I sigh. "What?" Jennifer asks. I snap out of my daze. "Nothing," I say, smiling at Kendall across the hallway.

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guys from now on Rae = Rachel ok? ok. nice. also kendal = kendall. i changed the names and was too lazy to go through and change it all again

-anna <3