Road to Evergreen | #Wattys2016

f o u r

History class is over. I hurry up, grab my books and head to the cafeteria. I was preoccupied with my thoughts and packing lunch for Harry that I forgot to grab breakfast. I just have the sugar of the hot chocolate that I had earlier this morning to get me going.

As I enter the cafeteria, I glance around hoping to find Megan. However, its too crowded for me to even make my way through. I reach for a tray, but realize there is none. I sigh. Annoyed, I ignore my growling tummy and head to creative writing class; it starts in ten minutes.

The cold hits me instantly as I step outside the cafeteria. It's freezing and raining and I need to get going. As I'm making my way through, I hear someone yelling my name from behind.

"Lesley! Lesley!" , I turn around and Megan, also known as my life saver, is making her way to me with an umbrella. I really need to buy another one of those. I always lose mine.

"Hey Meg, how's it going?" I ask as Megan approaches me.

"Well other than that my ex-boyfriend is a lying bastard that wont stop harassing my ass, not much," she says.

Megan and Finch have been dating since freshman year. At first, they were all kissy-kissy and all those obnoxious things couples do. But when Finch decided to join a Fraternity house, Phi Omega Delta, he screwed any girl that talked to him.

After Megan found out, she held a microphone to her mouth and made sure all campus knew that Finch had a small dick.

I still remember the look on his face that day: he was mortified. I couldn't help but feel a little of remorse for him because even though he was dating Megan, he was my friend too. But then again, no one messes with Megan. She will turn your life to living hell. That's what I admire the most about her, she is the opposite of me. She has long red hair and green eyes. Her face is covered with freckles and her body is narrower than mine. She is brave and fights for justice. I, on the other hand, run for the hills.

We walk together to creative writing class. It is the only class Megan and I share. She loves art; I love literature. But we both love to use our creativity, so we decided to take on this class together.

"It's our mean of escape," she once told me and nudged me by her elbow.

I smiled, grateful that I have her.

"Come on, let's go," Megan snaps me back to reality and we sprint to class.

Professor Nathalie walks into class and we take our seats. She reminds us about the paper due for tomorrow and curiously eyes everyone in class, waiting for an objection. The class seems to fall silent and I slide deeper in my seat.

Seated to my right, I glance at Megan as my tummy continues to growl. "Do you have a chocolate bar or anything edible for that matter?" I desperately ask.

She opens her bag and starts searching. Finally, what feels like forever, she hands me a piece of gum.

She shrugs. "That's all I have. Sorry, Liz."

I sigh and start chewing as Professor Nathalie goes on and on and on about what writing is and how we should express our souls in every paper we write.

"Let that paper carry the real you. Let it lift all the weigh off your shoulder," she continues. She turns to the class and eye us from left to right.

"What is writing to you?" She finally asks.

She points to a random girl who answers: "a ticket out."

"A state of total surrender!", another exclaims.

"That's good. That's good," she repeats. "I want more, come one! Let me hear it. Shout it out," the Professor continues.

The whole class is not hipped up and everyone is shouting and screaming different adjectives: "An addiction, an entertainment, relief, hope " and it keeps going on.

"Our mean of escape," I turn to my right and Megan, being Megan, couldn't help it but yell out.

Two rows in front of me a guy who has a really good afro- I'm impressed- says: "Writing is a medium of human communication that represents language and emotion through the inscription or recording of signs and symbols."

"Drop your phone and get out of my class, Will. I didn't ask for wikipedia," the professor demands.

All eyes are on Will as he grabs his books and heads out of the class frustrated, without saying a word. I glance at the professor and she's doing the that's what you get when you mess with me face.

Before we know it, the class is back to chaos.

"To be able to get lost in your characters life instead of yours," I whisper. The moment I said it, I regret it.

From the back, someone calls out to the professor: "Sorry professor, Lesley Parker had something to say but no one could hear her out."

To the sound of his voice, I turned around and a rush of emotions escalates me from shock to anger to relief to anger again. I open my mouth to speak and realize that the class is now staring at me, waiting for me, but for some reason my voice isn't escaping my lips.

"Come on Lesley, don't be shy!," he goes on and smirks at me. And at that moment, I feel like slapping him--very hard.

On cue, the bell rings and class is dismissed. I hurry to grab my stuff as he gets up from his seat and heads to the door.

Next thing I know, I'm following him.