Firsts

First Lifestyle Change

"So Mrs. Barnes was pretty cool about it?"

I nod. Ashton and I are walking down the hallway. I'm telling him about my conversation with Mrs. Barnes in full detail. 

"Yeah. She just apologized, made me some cookies, and left me alone. Later, I felt guilty and apologized to her. She just shrugged it off. I'm not grounded or anything."

"That's good!" Ashton grins, but then his easy smile slides off his face as something dawns on him. "What are you going to do about Mr. Moore's class?"

"I've got you to come with me, and I have every class with James, so I figured you two could be my bodyguards."

Ashton nods. He's been surprisingly cool about me spending time with James. I guess he's not the jealous type. Plus, he probably doesn't feel threatened by James after seeing the way he acts around Greg. Those two are so obviously in love. 

"Well, see you at lunch," Ashton says, giving me a hug. 

He strolls away from the door to the drama room. I smile as I watch him turn the corner, exhale deeply, and turn into my favorite class. I'm greeted by the smell of wooden props and paper scripts. We must be getting new roles today. As soon as I walk in the door, my teacher hands me a script. I glance at the first page, and it takes all I have to keep from squealing with excitement. Newsies! We're doing Newsies!

"I want to be Katherine!" I shout.

My drama teacher smiles, while the rest of my class laughs, shakes their heads, nods, or gives me dirty looks. 

"Don't worry, Skylar. You'll get your chance to try out."

I go to sit down next to Julia. 

"I need to be Katherine. Wicked's almost over. I was born to be Katherine."

Julia shrugs.

"Honestly, Newsies isn't my favorite. You've got no competition from me."

My jaw drops. I explode. 

"How can you not like Newsies?" 

She raises her hands in defense and drops the subject. We listen to Ms. Nicoli summarize the play. I interrupt her a few times to correct her. If it was any other teacher, I would've been toast. Instead, Ms. Nicoli just laughs, apologizing for getting it wrong. If there's one person who understands my obsession with theatre, it's her. 

We split into groups of three. I'm with Greg and Julia. Unfortunately, Ms. Nicoli has decided that this play will only feature people in Drama, so Ashton can't be Jack. We talk about the play together: The characters, their emotions, their habits, backstories, experiences, etc. It's pretty great considering I know everything there is to know about Newsies. 

A great day in Drama has me smiling as we head to lunch, but once I get in line for food, the dark, looming cloud that is my confrontation with Mr. Moore once again dampens the mood. 

When the time for math class comes, I'm flanked by Ashton and James, as promised. I walk nervously towards the door, but they stride confidently beside me. We march straight past Mr. Moore. He seems to want to talk to me, but sees he obviously has no chance.

Thanks to Ashton and James, math is as normal as it can be, considering the circumstances. That is, until Mr. Moore does something completely unexpected and uncalled for.

"Skylar Lark, I'd like to see you after class."

He says it almost like he's addressing the whole class, like I'm just another student, but his eyes are soft, and his forehead glistens with beads of nervous sweat. I want to roll my eyes at him, but I can't bring myself to do it. Instead, when the bell rings, I shuffle my feet nervously to the front of the room. Mr. Moore waits until everyone leaves the room before he tries to talk to me.  

"Skylar, I'm sorry," he begins.

"I don't want to talk to you! You may be my father, but you're not my dad!"

"I know. I know that I can never make up for what I've done, but please just hear me out. I want you to go to dinner with me on Friday so that we can talk. I know you don't have much time right now, and I have some explaining to do."

"I. Don't. Want. To go. Anywhere. With you," I say through clenched teeth, trying to make myself as clear as possible.

His expression softens.

"Just do a guy a favor. Please. At least consider it."

"Don't you get it?" I ask. "Don't you understand what it's been like for me, what it was like for her?"

I feel the angry tears rushing down my cheeks. My voice quivers.

"Mom's dead, and she even got to live for the last thirteen years of her life, and that's your fault. I never want to see you again."

Ashton must have recognized the beginning of a meltdown because he comes back into the classroom, takes my hand, and leads me to the door, giving Mr. Moore a dark look.

"I'll be at Red Lobster at seven o'clock if you change your mind!" He hollers, despite my clear distaste for him. 

Ashton puts his arm around me.

"It's ok. You never have to speak to him ever again. We can try and switch classes if you want."

I shake my head.

"That's cowardice. That's what my mother would have done. I refuse to be her. I refuse to let him chase me out of that class."

Ashton smiles at me and kisses the top of my forehead.

"That's my girl."

Instead of walking me to my next class, he drags me toward the front doors.

"Where are we going?" I ask, confused.

Ashton grins mischievously. 

"After what you just went through, you deserve a Ditch Day."