Twisted Gems

Sweet Seventeen

"Good morning, everyone. Once you grab your laptop, find your assigned seat and sit down. Now I won't tell you to put your bags upfront but make sure that your phones and any other smart devices are turned off. I'll read the test code in a few minutes and then write it on the board.", Mr. Peters instructed. I grabbed my laptop from the cart and since my last name started with an A, I didn't have to search too long to find my name.

It took a few minutes before everyone was settled in. Not me, though. Once I sat in my seat, I was completely locked in. I'm just ready for Mr. Peters to tell us the code so I can be done with physics. At least for the next few years, I don't know what college has in store for me. "Alright, the code is P6Q1SH4. Again, P6Q1SH4." Then he proceeded to write the code on the board. It seemed like most of us had already started until someone called out "Mr. Peters I didn't get the code, can you write it on the board?"

"Emmanuel what did I say earlier?", he answers. "That you would write the code on the board after you read it." "And have you checked to see if it was on the board?" "No...Oh my bad." Then the classroom erupted into laughter. The test was 33 questions and once I finished, there was still about 30 minutes left of class. I took a sheet of paper out of my bag and just started doodling until the bell rang. "Have a great summer, y'all!", Mr. Peters called.

I didn't have any finals on Tuesday since my 3rd and 4th period electives teachers gave our finals out early. Of course I couldn't treat it as a holiday because I still had to study for my algebra 2 finals and my 2 other electives finals. I hope the passages on the language arts finals are mostly non-fiction. The fiction ones almost never make sense. It's like they've gotten more and more confusing as the years went on. Even the most obvious answer choices can still get marked wrong, it's infuriating. All you can do is hope and pray that you pass.

Once I got to school on Wednesday, I decided to chill at my locker until I felt a tap on my shoulder. Maybe it's Justin or Soleia. I turned around and was immediately disappointed at the outcome. It's him. A few months ago, I never dreamed of my crush going up to me and having a conversation with me. Multiple conversations at that. But once I saw his true colors that day, I should've left it at that. Not everything that glitters is gold.

"Hey.", he started. "What do you want?", I said in an annoyed tone. "What I want is to apologize...". I scoffed and started to walk away. "For real this time!", he called. I stopped in my tracks and turned around to face him. "Continue.", I stated. "Look I'm sorry Onya, for everything. I never should've called you weird and crazy and embarrassed you like that. It wasn't cool." "And you're apologizing now for what? To clear your conscience?", I remarked. "No, it's not like that.", he stammered. I took a deep breath. I was never fully able to give him a piece of my mind. The dance was really only a sliver of it. I had just scratched the surface of the anger that was boiling inside me. But it's the end of the year and my second to last day at Tampa Hills so I might as well let him have it.

"You wanna know what it was like? I liked you since freshman year. I used to savor getting a glimpse of you in the hallways or every moment we made eye contact in class. While everyone used to ridicule me for just trying to make it through high school, I was like maybe Emmanuel would be different. And then the first thing you said to me was 'watch where you're going weirdo'. Other people saying it hurt, but you saying it destroyed me. Then you took me to Red Lobster and I couldn't even see it was for your own reputation and conscience because you...you bought me flowers and kissed me. I felt so stupid and played. And I swore to not think highly of you ever again. "

"I didn't--" "And before you say you didn't know", I cut him off. "I didn't say it explicitly but you could tell. But while you're under Jessica, just know that I'm over you.", I continued. "Again, I'm sorry. Can we at least be friends?", he proposed. "Screw you, you can take that proposal and shove it up your ass!" I let out a quick gasp and cleared my throat. I can't believe I just said that, but it felt good though. "Whatever, it's your loss. Enjoy your summer, Onya.", he finished before walking off. I shook my head in disbelief and starting walking to Ms. Little's class.