A Touchdown for the Girl

Prologue

I watch the blonde haired new boy enter the office on Junior registration day and can't tear my eyes away.

Here I am, on the floor outside my counselor's office, waiting to rearrange my schedule so I can finish registering for my junior year, and all I can do is recognize there was a new white boy at school. I know he's new because at my school in southern California, the Caucasians were the minority, which seems backwards, but it's the truth, and for that reason, this boy is hard to miss.

Speaking of white people and such, I promise I'm not purposely being racist, although at times I will be.

My eyes trace his strong jaw, up his defined cheekbones, across eyes that, though ten feet away, were clearly as blue as my own, and through his tousled honey-blonde hair. He's very good looking for a teenage boy, and to be honest, I wish I was a social butterfly just so I could talk to him. Charmingly, I mean. I trace his stature noting he's about six feet tall and pretty built, which is seen through his tight exercise shirt and explained by the football cleats and water peeking out of the drawstring bag over his shoulder. I unabashedly check him out, managing not to get caught because he's too focused on his registration paperwork. I am shaken from my art perusing by my counselor.

"Alright, Miss Avery. What can I do for you?"

I smile at her and push myself to my feet. "You called my dad saying there were some kinks with my schedule. I tried contacting you, but your line never answered."

"I'm sorry about that, Avery. We all got moved to the district because our power kept going out."

I nod in understanding, as I plop my butt in the chair situated across the desk from her. I watch as she settles in the chair behind the desk, opening my demographics. "What's wrong with my schedule, Ms. Rizzio?"

"Ah.. You see, you want to be in Spanish three which conflicts with BC Calculus. Spanish is only offered fifth and sixth, which you can't take fifth because of block APUSH." I nod to show I follow her. "So you need sixth, but BC is offered second and sixth, and you can not take second because of-"

"AP bio," I inject.

"-which you have to take because you have no biology, which is needed for university and graduation. I was thinking I'd put you in AB calc instead, leaving you in Spanish three."

I hold up my hand, shaking my head. "That would be backwards though."

"But it wouldn't Ms. Avery because you took pre-cal last year."

"Yes, but I'm good enough for BC, so I feel I'd be going backwards... What if we put me in Stats?"

"But that's a senior class."

"And, Ms Rizzio? You had no premonitions about the rest of my classes, some of which were supposed to be only for seniors. You and I both know I am smart enough for stats, and it won't be a big deal because it doesn't need anything from Calc."

Ms. Rizzio looks me in the eyes. "Are you sure?"

I nod confidently. "I'll just email the teacher about an extension on the summer assignment."

"OK. This is your new schedule: first period- photography, second period- AP biology, third period- AP Stats, fourth period AP U.S. history, fifth- AP English Language and Composition, sixth period- spanish three."

I bite my lip and nod. I'm going to have a full plate this year. I can only pray that I will still be able to make time for softball come December. I take a picture of the computer screen, thanking my counselor, and walk out to finish registration.

Dragging my hands through my strawberry blonde hair, I glide through the office with my head down. I glance up as I follow the corner of the hallway and catch the new guy's gaze. I momentarily lose all motor skills, as I become self conscious. I stumble slightly, breaking eye contact, and shake my head to rid myself of his penetrating gaze. I hurriedly walk out of the office and back to the gym, wishing that I'd of winked at him flirtatiously or even smiled for God's sakes, but alas, twas not meant to be.

I was born socially awkward but don't falter during speeches and plays; in what world does that make sense? Beats me, but that's me in a nutshell. As long as I am not talking to individuals, I am very confident and outgoing.

With a sigh, I enter the gym and go through the motions of registering, not quite sure what to expect for this year.