When All Our Souls Fell Apart

Just Another Monday

Oh beautiful lakes and beautiful shores, why have I never noticed you before? I feel light and free as I walk to school. I decided not to take the bus, which is full of ratty kids who know not even the slightest of the joy I feel today. The weekend was elegant, I spent my Saturday talking to Eleanor on the phone and my Sunday at church and at Elsie's house.

I walk up the pathway to the front doors, swing them open and breathe in the scent of school. Band seems to drag on, but that's usual. When I walk into English I notice Elsie isn't there yet, I glance up at the clock to see what time it is. I'm here early, I reassure myself, she still has time. But two minutes later, she's still not there. Class begins and my stomach flips a switch, changing the setting from 'light and airy' to 'fml'. I start contemplating my immediate future...how am I going to face Ms. Helper's class without her?!

As I'm considering my escape options, she walks through the door. My stomach has now switched to 'pure relief' and then to 'why the heck did you scare me like that' in a matter of seconds. She talks to the teacher quietly, glances at me and then makes her way to the empty desk beside mine.

"What happened?" I ask, taking note of her worried expression.
"Oh my gosh Lane...It's Eleanor."
"Oh god. What happened this time?" I asked, knowing it was going to be her parents.

"They beat her really bad this time. I mean, she's lucky I found her in the bathroom before school. She looks awful, he hit her with a remote this time, on the head. Then punched her in the face. She called me last night and she was acting weird but she didn't tell me." As she went on my face reflected my heart which was sinking lower in sorrow and then gradually rising in anger. Mad. I am mad. This is the line.

"Did you help her?!" I demand, frustrated.
"Lanie. Yes I helped her. I went to the principal and then was directed to the counselor, that's where she's at now."
"They're going to get what they deserve, touching Eleanor again...after we fucking warned them. I'm calling the cops tonight. She shouldn't have to go through this. Shes so innocent..." I ranted on.

The sight of Lennon in sixth period washed away my worry and anxiety for Eleanor. Lord, she's so beautiful. She catches me staring a few times from across the room, each time I felt the sting of awkward embarrassment, even though she just smiled and kept reading every time she caught me. Finally, at the end of class, I walked over to her.

"Hey girl," she said, drawing out the 'girl'.
"Hey," I replied.
I long to tell her she looks amazing, that the awful school lighting that makes my face look terrible, has no affect on her beautiful face.
Instead, I settle with:"What are you doing after school?"
"Nothing really, just my butt load of homework."
I lit up. "Oh! You should come over, it's pizza night...we could do our history homework or just hang out or whatever."
"Yeah that sounds great. I'll text you about it, what's your number?"
O.M.G.
I told her my number and watched her scribble it down on a scrap paper then stuff it in her bag.
"Well I better go, I might miss the bus."
"Okay," I replied, "see you later."

I walked off, wondering if I was going to make it home without dying of excitement.