15 Days

Day 2

Day 2

The morning started with a black sky and deathly cold breeze. I shivered when I forced myself out of bed to start my morning routine. Bathroom, breakfast, dress, bathroom, leave. I tried to keep my mind away from Sadie and Eugene and the next looming thirteen days. For some reason it was very difficult.

When I finally made it to the bus I slid on my headphones and cranked up my music to an unhealthy volume. Then I pulled out an empty notebook I had discovered in my house the night before. 100 lined pages blinked before me, inviting me to write and plan and hope to god that somehow this whole thing would work out. I tapped my pencil against my palm, looking out the window and thinking. Houses and trees flew past in a blur of melted colors, reminding me of ice cream on a hot summer day. I loved the way the perfectly swirled cream fell apart, dripping down the sugar cone and onto my hand, leaving my skin sticky no matter how many times I washed it.

Too bad it was already fall and evilly chilly. I started to think about what I liked to do in autumn. Well, there were those walks.

Whenever I had an afterschool activity I would have to take the public bus back home and that always came late, so I would take a short walk through the park nearby. The park was beside those woods that the nominee had to spend a night in if they lost. I adored the smell of freshly fallen leaves that crunched beneath my shoes and the squirrels that scuttled up trees, their cheeks full of nuts to store for winter. Maybe Sadie would like that? I sighed. Was I ready to share my special, solitary walks with someone else?

The second sigh that fell from my lips was significantly more melancholy. Wallowing in sadness, I rested my head against the bus window and looked down at my phone, flicking through my song options. As I scrolled through the 'c' options, my eyes caught on one I hadn't listened to in a while. I tapped it and went back to looking out the window as the first notes sang in my ears.

~~~

Facing my homeroom class was torture. All eyes followed me as I walked to my desk, shoulders hunched and eyes downcast. I had an angry urge to glare at the students watching me, but I refrained from doing so, instead sliding quietly into my seat. The bell wouldn't ring fast enough.

"Hey. How are you doing?" I looked up to find Margie sliding into the seat next to me. Right. I'd forgotten that her last name was Snyder.

"I'm fine. Why wouldn't I be?"

"Any plans for tonight?" She ignored my question, eyes keen in learning the answer to her own. I shook my head no. "You only have fourteen days- counting today!" She shoved at my arm.

"There's no way I'm going to make her love me." I muttered.

"I know! That's why you have to bargain with her so once the fifteen days are up she says she's in love with you."

"Wait, she has to confirm it?"

"Duh." Margie frowned as if this were obvious.

"Shi-" I started but was stopped by Margie's hand slapping across my mouth. She jerked her head in the direction of the teacher, who was taking attendance. I sighed, brushing her hand away and sank low in my chair, wishing all of it would just go away.

~~~

I passed Sadie three times in the hallway in the morning. All three times the humans around us would look at me expectantly and each time I would disappoint, ducking my head and hurrying past.