Eleven-Eleven (ON HOLD)

By The Way....

We talked less often. We still had some classes together, and of course we had lunch, but something, somewhere, changed. It wasn’t the same anymore. Eventually, we pretty much stopped talking all together. We both started sitting with our other friends, eating at different lunch tables, and somehow we managed to avoid each other in the halls. I knew I wasn’t doing it on purpose, but I didn’t think he was either. I knew we were both busy with our studies, but long ago we’d promised never to let them get in the way….

   Brentley and I slowly faded from each other’s lives, and school slowly became a less exciting, less important event in my life. Our conversations began consisting of “Hey, I’m busy studying for the CRCT, I’ll talk to you later.” and other things along those lines. The days got longer, the talks got shorter, and the CRCT got closer and closer.

   April 18, 2011, Morning Holding.

  “Morning, love.” I said as Mckayla threw her binder down, aiming for the seat between Anna and me.

  “Give me some of that coffee, or I won’t be very loveable.” She smiled a half smile and stole my coffee. It had become an every morning ordeal, so I just pulled a VitaRain from my bag instead. It was better for me anyways.

  “Well, now that you’ve successfully taken my only source of coffee and chocolate, at least tell me how far you got with trying to talk to Ross.” I begged for details. Everyone knew she liked Ross. If you didn’t already know, one look at her binder told you. The whole thing was covered in “James Ross Hargis” written in black magic marker. Her feelings for him, were not questionable. Neither were his for her, but in the opposite direction.

   “Well, not very far. I know he doesn’t like me, but he doesn’t have to hate me.”

   “He doesn’t hate you, he just hates you being like, all over him.”

   “Yeah well, whatever. I’m done trying.”

   “It’s okay, you’ll find someone else. Trust me, I’ve seen better.”

   “Yeah, like Dennis!” she drug out his name, teasing me. Dennis and I had only gotten closer and closer, and It was pretty much undeniable that we had the same feelings for each other, but neither of us were going to stand up and admit it. Not any time soon, anyways.

   “Shut your face, before I smack it shut for you. I have duct tape in my bag for that project of Mrs. Underwood’s, I’ll be happy to put it to greater use.” I threatened. She just smiled and slurped my coffee. So much for a nice energy boost for the day of studying that was laid before me. With CRCT starting tomorrow, there would be no breaks, anywhere. Just studying, studying, and did I mention studying?

   “Fine then. If you so desire.”

    “I definitely so desire.”

And right on cue, the bell rang. The rest of the day consisted of none other than: Studying. Joy.

   After having as much Reading Comprehension as I could stand, I threw my textbook against my headboard and spread out on my bed. I was almost off in dream world when my phone rang. I contemplated getting up and reading the text message, but decided it couldn’t be that important. I flipped over, pulled the light string, and fell asleep before my head hit the pillow.

   It seemed like less than thirty seconds later my alarm went off. Time to start my boring, long, silent day of testing. Yay.

   “Morning. You look about as excited as I feel.” Mckayla wrapped her arms around my neck.

  “Well, you must be pretty darn excited. Not.” I chuckled at my failed humor.

   Testing began shortly thereafter our little talk.

   We all hated the CRCT, and everyone turned into grumpy monsters until we got the all call after testing was over. We waited forever for Bradley to call our homeroom to lunch, and finally, we heard Ryerson’s name come over the intercom.

  Mckayla was standing in line quietly next to me when all of a sudden she seemed to burst with energy.

   “Oh! I didn’t tell you!” she beamed at me. I don’t know why I loved her, she was mental! But I did, nonetheless, and I refused to have her any other way.

    “Well, you don’t tell me a lot of things, darling. What makes this time so special?” I played along. It was the least I could do, after all, she’d been there for me through everything and then some for the past eight and a half months.

   “Because, I asked Dennis out for you.”