let's light up the sky ☆

Chapter 3

Almost no one was on the lawn for the last day, like I expected. I only came because Emily would spend all summer with her dad in Colorado, and because my favorite teacher was retiring. "Are you sure you won't need a ride later?" Dad asked as he pulled up to the curb to let me out.

"I'm sure. I'm hitching a ride with Emily, but I'll text whenever I'm on the way home."

"No worries, Nousha, have a good day." Dad gave me a hug and waited until the car behind him honked at him to move forward. I said hi to a few passing acquaintances and wished them a good summer break, then I went straight to homeroom. I was looking forward to a boring day at school after a taxing year of AP courses.

By the time I got to the room, Emily was already in her seat and bundled up in her favorite throw blanket. Mrs. Fletcher had already jumped the gun on packing up the room for the summer. She already took down her motivational posters, making the room more depressing than it should be. She gave us three movie suggestions on the board:

Barbie

Raya: The Last Dragon

Dear Evan Hansen

"Hi, Anoush!" Mrs. Fletcher cheered before I could even sit down. "Go throw your votes on the board. We'll add up the scores and decide the watching order."

We had three votes to use any way we wanted, so I threw two at Barbie and one at Raya. I didn't hate Evan Hansen, but it wasn't my favorite in the world. I prefer the stage play version.

Emily and I sat in our usual spots at the back of the room. I pulled my blanket out of my bag and Emily chuckled. "You too?"

"Mom's idea. I didn't wanna pass up wearing this." I facetimed Emily when this dress first came in the mail, so this was her first time checking it out in person.

Emily smiled and gave me a hug with her blanket wrapped around me. "No wonder you voted for Barbie."

Emily's been my best friend for the last ten years. I thought she was nice but quiet. She was always more than happy to have reading company during recess when neither of us wanted to play that day. When her parents divorced, I was terrified that she was going to end up leaving me here. My parents let her stay over as often as she needed to have an escape from things at home. I have acquaintances who come and go, but no one understands me quite like she does.

As I was hoping, Barbie was the winner, followed by Raya. We were almost at the end of Raya when the principal called over the intercom. "Good afternoon, Nitros! We wish you a safe and happy summer break, and we look forward to seeing you all in August." With that, the bell rang and Emily groaned at the cliffhanger.

"Want me to tell you how it ends?" I asked, chuckling because I knew she hated spoilers.

"Do it and I'll hate you forever."

"No, you won't."

"I know, but I'm trying to be intimidating here, Ani!"

—

"Come in?" Mrs. Melkonyan called out when I knocked on the door. Emily was ready to head to the mall, but I knew I couldn't leave without saying goodbye to my favorite teacher.

Diana Melkonyan was my math teacher in the 9th and 10th grades. Although I despise math or any technical subject, she made it enjoyable. She was the first math teacher who was patient with me. She made me believe that my inability to grasp the subject wasn't the end of the world. She was also a folk dancer in her younger days. She became a math teacher after an inoperable injury killed her chances of becoming a dance instructor.