Crystal Clear

Giggles and Tears

1 month, 3 weeks, 1 day, 11 hours, 43 minutes, 5 seconds, the timer on my wrist ticks.
I glance at it nervously every 2 seconds, even though I know what it will say every time. I doodle on the side of my class work paper in an attempt to distract myself from the ticking coming from below my hand.
Suddenly the lesson, and my thoughts, are interrupted by a loud beeping noise coming from near the door.
Tyler, who had just went to the bathroom opens the door, as Alice trips on a pencil and falls into Tyler's arms and their beeping falls into harmony. Tyler pulls her on to her feet and gives her a quick peck on the cheek and Alice's cheeks turn red and she can't stop giggling. Tyler is Alice's crush but no one would have ever guessed that they were soul mates.
The timers are unable to be seen by anyone except for the person it is attached to and if you tell anyone what your timer says, it falls off and you spend your life as an lonely outcast.
The whole class erupts into applause and I slowly join in, as they join hands and walk out the door together.
The clapping dies down and the teacher returns back to her lesson, as if nothing happened.
As soon as a pair finds each other, they drop out of school and after finding a job, have to start reproducing. People who's timers went off later in their education, usually got better jobs than those who get married younger but you cannot help when your timer goes off.
I focus my attention back on the lesson, and try to pay as close attention to the teacher as I can but math has never been my best subject.
After a long 10 minutes, the bell finally goes off and I start to gather my stuff but the teacher says, "The bell doesn't dismiss you, I do." And I groan I sink back into my seat.
Five minutes later the teacher stops writing on the board and tells us, "Ok. You may be dismissed."
I gather my books, as I feel someone striking my long brown hair.
"So beautiful." They whisper in my ear.
"You are insane, James."
I then around and sure enough, James is giving me a smirk, that makes his hazel eyes crinkle at the sides. He grabs my books from my arms and we walk out the door.
"So, what does your timer say?" He asks.
Without hesitation, I answer, "You know I can't tell you, James. You ask me this everyday."
"Aw come on baby, please." He whines, giving me his puppy dog face.
I tap my chin as if I am thinking and then I say, "No. And don't call me baby."
I snatch my books away from him and  he lets out a groan. I open my locker and shove the books inside.
I glance at the tiny mirror in my locker and notice Rachel, tossing her blonde hair behind her shoulders, while flirting with a guy from the football team. I roll my eyes.
"Damn she's hot." James mumbles.
I look over and see him staring over a Rachel with awe in his eyes.
I point at his chin and say, "I think you've got a little drool right there."
He starts to rub his face and I let out a laugh.
"Oh wait, it's just your dignity." I tease.
He gives me a glare but his face softens and he sticks out his tongue at me.
"You know you're the only girl for me, Lil." He jokes, putting his arm around my shoulder.
I squeeze his cheek and give him a grin.
"We are going to be late for physics." I tell him.
He chuckles, "Out of the 17 years that I have known you, you have never been early to a class."
I let out a huffy breath, "Well maybe I want to start now." I say and stomp away from him.
"Wrong way, Lil." I hear James call to me.
I let my head drop, and turn on my heel as I walk as fast as I can past James.
"I knew that." I mumble as I walk past him.
He reaches out to grab for my waist but a female voice calls his name and he whips around to find the source.
I notice Rachel waving him over and he turns to me as if to ask for permission but I just turn around and keep walking toward physics.
I glance over my shoulder, only to see James leaned up against the locker, as Rachel rests her hand on his chest.
Tears sting my eyes and I keep walking faster.
To say that I have feelings for James is an understatement.
Of course I can't do anything about it because the #1 rule is Never Get Attached, you have to save yourself for your assigned partner.
If you gave up your innocence before your timer goes off, it caused eternal loneliness.
Some of the kids at my school have figured out how to disable the timer for a very short amount of time. Most people just use this for hookups.
I run to the bathroom as the tears start to spill down my cheeks.
I lock myself in the stall, sit down on the toilet, and drop my face into my hands.
I hear the bathroom door open, followed by a quiet knock on the stall door.
"Lil." Anna says softly. "What's wrong?"
I don't answer but I unlock the stall door and walk over toward the sink.
I look into the mirror and my crystal blue eyes are bloodshot.
I splash some cool water on my face and lie, "Yea, it's just Rachel again."
Anna rolls her brown eyes, "Just forget about her." She tells me.
"It's not that easy." I choke out.
Anna puts her hand on my shoulder and asks softly, "Lily, what's really the matter. You're my best friend, we tell
each other everything."
Nobody knows about my crush on James, and I am not about to let anyone know today.
"I already told you." I reassure her.
"But I have a stomach ache and I am going to call my mother to come pick me up."
I give her a smile and pull her in for a hug.
"Love you, Anna." I whisper into her dirty blonde hair. "Even after you find your soulmate."
"You too Lil. Tell your mom hello one last time for me." She mumbles.
I pull away from her, "What?" I ask, confused.
"Nothing." She shakes her head, as she walks toward the door. "Just do it for me, ok?"
I nod my head, my eyebrows furrowed.
She smiles and gives me a wave.
"Bye Lil."
"Bye Anna."