Letters

Mia and Homecoming

The next day dawned way too early. I hit the snooze button relentlessly, until finally my mom had to come in and tell me that if I didn't get up I would miss the bus. Reluctantly, I climbed out of bed and threw on an outfit not bothering to see what it was. From there I "styled" my hair and went down to the breakfast table. It wasn't much better there. I spent fifteen minutes staring at a bowl of cereal before washing it down the drain. It was going to be one of those days.

And one of those days it was. Both Band and English droned on at an incredibly slow speed giving me time to go over every possible way that asking Mia to homecoming could go wrong. The next class I had was French which turned out to be even more interesting because I had it with Bryce and Nathan.

"Okay," Nathan pronounced as soon as he sat down. "We are going to get you all set up to talk to Mia." I rolled my eyes, then glanced around, trying to make sure no one who knew Mia was sitting next to me.

"Yes, we are," Bryce agreed taking a seat next to him. "Now pretend I'm Mia sitting down next to you in math class." I rolled my eyes again.

"Bryce you don't even know the plan." Just talking about it made me feel like I was going to throw up. "I'm going to leave after strength and conditioning and before I have to go to practice, and intercept her before she gets to field hockey."

He thought for a second. "Okay then plan revision. I'm Mia going to field hockey practice." He batted his eyelashes and struck a stupid pose. "Now what are you going to say?"

This is so stupid. I shrugged. "I don't know. Maybe....um hi?" Both Nathan and Bryce immediately shook their heads.

"Nope, wrong!" Nathan said. "You can't say um. Um sounds like you're debating and it gives her the power." He jokingly deepened his voice. "You must have the power." I gave him a skeptical look.

"Um, Nathan I don't actually think that's a thin-," He cut me off.

"Nonsense! Watch the master." He turned to Bryce/Mia and in a very deep voice said, "Hello my fine lady."

Both Bryce and I burst out laughing, which got us a bad look from the teacher. I lowered my voice.

"You don't think that sounds a little...medieval?" I asked half-joking, half-not.

Now Bryce felt the need to intervene. "Okay everyone stop. You are making this way too complicated. Just start with a simple hello."

"Okay, okay." I took a deep breath. "I can do this."

"Yes, you can," Nathan agreed. "Now Bryce, be Mia again." He went back to striking his weird pose. I rolled me eyes as Nathan turned to me. "Now Zeke what are you going to say?"

I thought for a second. "Hello, Mia. How're you doing?" Nathan held up his hand and shook his head again, interrupting me.

"Nope, nope, nope! Wrong." I put my face in my hands. Really? Is there anything I could say?! Nathan smiled his annoying smile. "By saying how are you doing you're implying that she's doing bad. You shouldn't do that."

"No I'm not!" I argued. "I'm just being polite." Nathan shook his head.

"Implying that she is doing bad, is not being polite." I threw up my hands in exasperation.

"You guys are no better at this than I am!" I practically shouted. That's when the whole class went silent. Everyone turned to me and my face turned bright red.

"Mr. Dagner? Do you have something to share with the class?" the teacher, Mr. Bonner, asked. I looked down at the french worksheet I was supposed to be filling out.