Favorite Record

Part 1

I was zoned out again.

I watched rain fall onto the window, my eyes following a drop rolling down every now and then, joining into others.
I tapped my fingers on my desk, along to the beat of the song playing quietly through my earbuds. I had learned to hide them under my hoodie, but did this keep me out of what seemed like constant trouble?
Of course not.

"Mr. Stump!"
I jumped a bit, then looked over at my teacher sheepishly.
"I don't suppose you could answer number two for us, considering the rain is more important than the lesson for you."
I heard a couple people snicker, and i glanced at the problem.
I stuttered, not knowing exactly how to answer. He was right, after all.
"I.. I don't know."
"Thats what i thought. Maybe you can figure it out in detention after school."
I sighed, looking down at my desk.
Awesome.

Lunch came too quickly, and i dreaded being around all those people, even if it was to just get a tray and go to a classroom instead of sitting alone at a table.
Fortunately, i had met some guys who had the same idea, and we all ate lunch together every day now. Since freshman year, actually. They were the only actual friends i had.
As i grabbed things to put on my tray in line, i noticed a girl sitting alone, her earbuds in and reading a book.
Someone was throwing grapes at her from another table, and laughing.
She looked up, only to return to her book moments later.
As i watched, i didn't notice a foot slowly stick itself in front of me as i made my way to the door.
I fell quite quickly, falling onto my tray with a thud.
I tried to ignore the laughter echoing around me as i stood, trying to wipe the food off my clothes, to no avail. My face was hot, and i knew i was red with embarrassment, which made things even worse.
Leaving the tray, i walked out with my head down before i could do any more damage.

"Whoa, dude! What happened to you?"
I joined my three friends on the floor of an english classroom, trying to shrug off Pete's question.
"Just spilled some stuff."
They returned my reply with frowns.
"You could just pack your lunch like me." Andy said, then handed me an apple.
I shook my head, but he persisted, and i smiled, taking it.
"Thanks."
"No problem."
I took a bite, chewing slowly.
"So have you asked Stacey to prom?" Pete asked.
I laughed almost sarcastically.
"Really, man?"
"Oh come on! You could if you just, you know..." I glared at him, and he sighed.
"I think we should go with my plan." Joe spoke up, and the rest of us groaned.
"Give it up, dude. They aren't gonna let some random guys everyone hates play at prom."
"But we would totally kill it! Andy on drums, us on guitar, Patrick singing-"
Now i was actually laughing.
They all shrugged.
"He does have a point there." Andy said, and i rolled my eyes.
"Yea. Like i haven't had enough public humiliation to last me a life time."
"Patrick, your voice is one of the best i've heard in a long time. Including people already on the radio." Pete said, and i knew he was being serious, but i didn't really see what was so great about it.
"It doesn't matter, they probably already have a band picked out anyway."
We eventually changed the topic, and i tried to get lost in the conversation.

I walked into Mr. Branson's room after school dropping my backpack to the floor. I had almost gotten excited to go home and practice on my guitar before i remembered the detention i had to serve.
He looked up at me, then pointed at a list of pages and numbers on the board.
"Start on those."
I sighed, but pulled out my book anyway. I just needed to get this over with, and i could go home.
Just about two minutes later, the door opened, causing me to look up.
The girl i had seen at lunch earlier walked in, throwing down her bag and slumping into a desk across the room.
I could hear her music blasting in her earbuds from all the way over here, but she payed to attention to me or Mr. Branson. I made out the sound right away. Green Day.
"You're late, Mrs. Coil."
She took out here earbuds and replied with a huh.
"You're. Late."
She bit her lip.
"Start the work on the board."
She complied, to my surprise, and took out her book.
She then looked over at me, and i looked back down quickly.
Three thirty came quicker than i thought it would, thank god.
As soon as his timer went off, the girl shot up, shoving her things  into her bag.
I put my stuff away, and she walked out before i even put my backpack on.
As i walked out, i put my earbuds in, and inspired by what happened earlier, played Green Day.
Burnout started playing as i made my way onto the sidewalk.
I seen her in front of me, the girl from detention. She got into a car with someone, and they drove off in a hurry.
I tried to ignore it, and turned up my music.
Now that i thought about it, i probably needed to head to the record store and buy that album Pete kept bugging me about. He had reminded me for weeks, and if he complained about me forgetting one more time I was gonna scream.
So i took a left and headed towards town.

I walked into the store not to much later, the bell above me ringing.
I put away my earbuds and admired the look of the room.
Pete was right, it was pretty nice for such a small place.
I went straight to the aisle he told me (basically every day) it would be in, and read the titles of each album, looking for G.
I finally seen it, grabbing it and pulling my twenty out of my pocket before walking up to the register.
No one was there, so i looked around, finding no one.
I taped my hand on the counter, standing there awkwardly.
The sign said open, i was sure of it.
Then a door in the back suddenly burst open, startling me, and i almost had to do a double take.
The same girl from school walked out, rushing to the register.
"Sorry about that sir, i-"
She stared at me.
"Are you like, following me?"
I stuttered.
"No! No, i just came to the record store to buy a record my friend told be about because he wont shut up about it and i had no idea you would be here and -"
"Hey, dude, breathe." She cut me off, and i caught my breath.
"I was messing with you." She said then, and then took the record and the twenty i laid on the counter, typing something into her computer.
She took the money and then counted the change, dropping it into my hand afterward.
"There. Now go listen to your album for your friend."
I nodded, standing there a bit awkwardly.
"Go!" She said again, and i let out a small 'oh', and walked out quickly.
I almost didn't hear her laugh.