This Hard Life

Chapter 8: Just Live in the Now

Chapter 8

My first three classes of the day flew by without a blink. I wasn’t exactly paying attention. Claire and I had first and second period together. In both classes we ignored each other’s existence.

By the time the last bell rang that signaled I was in my gym clothes and walking out into the gymnasium. I eagerly waited for Scott to walk out of the boys’ locker room. I didn’t have to wait very long, because he walked out as soon as I did.

“Hey,” he said and I smiled.

“Hi,” I replied.

“What’s wrong? You don’t look like yourself.”

“Claire said some things earlier that sorta pissed me off.”

“Like what?”

“Just some stuff, I really don’t want to get into this right now.”

“Oh, okay. Will we talk about this later, though?”

“Sure, maybe,” I said as I got into my attendance spot.

Once our class attendance was taken, and everyone was warmed up, we played floor hockey. Scott was stuck as a goalie on the opposite team that I was on. In the end, my team annihilated Scott’s.

The rest of the day went by rather quickly as well. I met Scott at my locker when English was done. As I was exchanging my books, Scott was telling me about his computer class with Mr. Brooks. Mr. Brooks had a reputation to be the “cool teacher,” who assigned the interesting projects and actually understood his students. I then heard someone snicker behind me.

It was Claire.

“Awe, don’t you guys look super cute. You’re talking about things like you’re an old married couple,” she sneered. “Remember what I told you, Charlotte. Just remember what I said.” Then she strutted past Scott and me.

Scott looked at me, completely confused. “What was that about?”

I shook my head and returned to getting my books out of my locker. “It was nothing.”

“That’s not the way it looks. Last night the two of you were best friends. Right now, it felt like the temperature dropped to 85 below!”

“I told you, it’s nothing.”

“Really, it doesn’t seem like that. You’re face looks like you’re about to throw a punch at the next person who walks past you.”

“You know what? You don’t know me! And I don’t know you, at all. That’s the issue, okay! She called me out on the fact that we just met and we’re together!”

With that I slammed my locker door and stalked off. The whole time I was fighting back tears.

I heard footsteps stomping after me as I reached the parking lot. Suddenly there was a hand grasping my arm, turning me around.

Scott.

He pulled me into an embrace and kissed me deep and passionately.

When he pulled away from me, he said, “Don’t worry about what people think. This is all about you and me. Whatever people say, whether it’s Claire or my little sister, it doesn’t matter. We know each other. Just stop worrying and live in the now.”

I looked up at him and smiled. His words rang in my head, just live in the now.

I was planning to do just that.