FINMP09

Chapter 7: The Duo's First Day

BUZZ BUZZ

My phone buzzed with a notification as I began to wake myself up from my delightful sleep. My hair was in a bee's nest of a bun, and I had dried up drool on the corners of my mouth. I was confused, I couldn't remember getting into my pajamas last night or getting into bed at all . I sat up in my bed contemplating if I should actually be productive and get ready or if I should whip up some fake vomit. In my constant state of procrastination I reached for my phone to see why it kept buzzing. My vision was still a bit fuzzy, but I tried my hardest to convince my eyes to focus. Finally my eyes started to work with me and now I could finally read the message on the screen. It was my mom texting me.

"Why is she texting me so early," I thought. I yawned as my phone buzzed once more. Of course the one time people actually want to talk to me and I don't want to talk to them. It was too early to have an intellectual conversation with someone or even a conversation at all. I hadn't even had my coffee yet and all this attention from people was overwhelming me.

"Sweetheart did you get to the bus stop yet?"

"Bus? What do you mean?"

"Hunny, it's 7:00. your bus comes at 7:15 doesn't it?" I read the message over and over again trying to comprehend. What time was it? Then it clicked. My eyes bolted to the top of the screen and gasped.

7:01AM

Great! The perfect way to start off my morning right! How I managed to miss the three alarms that I set everyday I will never know. I guess this is what happens when you get your first real job. I jumped up from my bed and tried to maneuver through the swamp of dirty and clean clothes that clouded my floor. I tripped numerous times over pointless items that also crowded my floor as well. I grabbed my new clothes for the day as I attempted to strip out of my pajamas. I took my black sweatshirt I wore everyday and stuck my head through the top hole in a rush. I then ran over to my bag and shoved all of my school materials into my bag and sprinted down the staircase.

TIME CHECK: 7:05AM

"Shit!" I squealed to myself. The downstairs was deadly silent as I ran into the kitchen and swung the refrigerator doors open. The piercing white light of the fridge blinded me as the doors swung open. I snagged my lunch box and forcefully slammed the fridge door shut and ran to the front door to grab my coat and my favorite scarf. I checked my coat pockets to ensure that I had my house keys before slinging the coat over my shoulder and my scarf around my neck.

TIME CHECK: 7:09AM

Then the panic started to set in. I started to drift back into the rabbit hole of doubt as time started to tick by. I turned the handle of the door struggling to open the front entrance. A few seconds went by before I had realized the door was actually locked. I quickly unlocked the door and ran out. I ran and ran as fast as I could down the street. Still half asleep, my long legs managed to get me all the way to the bus stop. Finally, I had reached the end of the street and saw the rest of my peers waiting for the bus as well. Thank god! I walked over to the stop just in time to see my bus pulling to the curb. The other six kids and I aligned in a straight line to board the bus. One by one each of us boarded and said hello to the miserable bus driver. A panted like a dehydrated dog on a hot day trying to catch my breath. I proceeded down the bus aisle with caution hoping for not another repeat of yesterday. Thankfully, I was able to get to a seat far in the back of the bus without any complications. I found the perfect seat in the far back away from anyone and sprawled myself and my bag into the seat.

TIME CHECK: 7:14AM

Who would have thought I would actually have a good start to my morning. I sat up in my seat and calmly gazed out the bus window watching the trees and bushes rush by and become blurs. The bus would gradually come to and stop and then start driving again every so often to pick up other students along the way. After about twenty minutes of sitting on that nightmare of a bus with flying homework papers and teenage screams we finally had reached the school. Once we rolled up to the school and stopped in the front, everyone then proceeded to exit the bus. I got up and checked the seat behind me making sure I didn't leave anything behind. I walked out of the big golden yellow school bus and started to survey my surroundings in search of Dakota. I finally spotted her near the main staircase that lead to the entrance. She sat on the bottom step in her large fluffy sweater and dark washed jeans. Her long brown hair was braided to the side and I could tell from her expression she was a little nervous. Dakota had a messenger bag slung around her body that sat in her lap. As I walked towards her, Dakota seemed to be lost into her own little world. Once I got closer, Dakota had started to discover my presence. Maybe the rainbow bulky scarf I always wore in the fall caught her attention. Either way, her mood seemed to improve once I had entered her field of vision. Dakota began to sprint over in my direction to meet me halfway.

"Hey good morning Finn! Oh, is it okay if I call you Finn?" she said curiously. I was surprised at how careful and courteous Dakota was with her words. Maybe I could actually learn something from her. I mean I definitely know I'm not the best with thinking before I speak.

"Morning and yeah, I don't mind you can call me Finn. My whole family does" I answered with a slight laugh.

"Come on follow me!"

"How has your morning been so far?" I asked as I gestured her to follow me up the front steps. Dakota then initiated to follow me. She actually resembled somewhat of a lost puppy. It was extremely cute to be honest. I giggled as Dakota attempted to catch up to me as swarms of fellow students continued to cut through her path. She reminded me of myself just a couple months ago when I started at Roman Jean High. So naive,scared and nervous but unlike me she actually had a friend to face new challenges with. I'm glad I could be that friend for her and make the transition to the school easier. Maybe I could make Dakota's high school experience a little more enjoyable than mine was.

"Hectic but enjoyable actually!" she said as she finally caught up to my side.

"I just can't wait to get to my classes and get the day started!" Dakota said as she gazed at her schedule periodically. She gripped that schedule so tight that there were wrinkles spread across the entire page.

"Can I see your schedule? Maybe we have some classes together!" I took the crumpled piece of paper in both hands and examined it thoroughly. We ended up in the middle of the commotion of the main artery of the school. I tried my hardest to remember the itinerary of my school day as my eyes scrolled down the first column on the page.

"We have Algebra, Physics, Humanities and Digital Tools! Great, we have all of the boring classes together!" I groaned. Of course all of the classes I have with Dakota would be the classes I hate the most.

"It's okay! Lets be positive Finn! We can suffer together!" Once again Dakota's exuberant personality infected me. I couldn't do anything but smile. We both looked at each other and busted at the seems laughing hysterically. I took her by the hand and dragged her to our first class. Then our day had began stuffed with boring classes, terrible teachers and adolescent drama.