Class of '97

2. Dropout

Seventeenyear old Kyle Holland sat on top of the picnic table in front ofZimmerman Public High School in his lace-up boots and a short sleevedblack shirt his mother got for him from Johnson's Thrift Shop at thebeginning of the year. His black back pack sat in his lap and helooked from the school's side door, to the sidewalk by the parkinglot for Corey "Doom" Gross.

Thesun beat down on Corey's long dark brown hair that he pushed behindhis ears. His face was red and he looked tired as he climbed thecement stairs to the picnic table where Kyle sat.

"I'vehad enough, Kyle," Corey said sharply, "I'm dropping out."

Kylelooked at his boots and scooted over to give Corey a spot on top ofthe table. Corey threw his old backpack into a bush and sat downheavily.

"Why?"Kyle asked softly.

"Why?Why do you think? I'm sick of everyone here! I'm gonna drop out, andI mean that for real, Kyle, I'm not just saying that."

Kylegave him a moment. "You can't drop out, Doom-"

"YesI can." Corey said sharply.

"No,you can't. What are you gonna do, huh?"

Coreyavoided looking at Kyle who stared him down.

"Whatare you gonna do, leave your best friend here to rot? Is that youridea of what friends do? Leave each other in hell when the path tofreedom opens up for just one of them?" Kyle demanded.

"Shutthe hell up. It's not freedom, there is no freedom. If I dropped outI'd be working my ass off, but at least I wouldn't be here." Coreyraised his middle finger to the school building.

"Doom,I swear to god...no. I swear on my mother's life, my sick, disabled,dying mother's fucking life, that if you fucking drop out and leaveme here alone, I swear to god, I'll take the first gun I get my handson and blow my fucking head off," Kyle said bitterly. "And thenit would be you, the one without a friend to rely on. Cause I'd bedead, Corey, D-E-A-D, dead."

"Shutthe hell up," Corey mumbled.

"Just...whywould you do something like that to me?" laughed Kyle.

Coreylooked up at him confused. "Why are you laughing?"

Kyleshook his head and laughed some more. "I don't know, but I'mcompletely serious." He covered his mouth with his hand and shookhis head again.

Coreysmiled and laughed softly along with his hysterical friend.

Kylestopped abruptly and cleared his throat. "Listen, I don't care ifyou don't go to any classes except the one we both have. I don't careif you skip every other day. I don't care if your grades go toshit...do I look like I give a fuck about your grades? No. I don't.Just don't drop out on me, please. I need someone, and you're my bestfriend. I wouldn't choose anyone else to...endure hell with," Kylesmirked.

Thedoor to the school opened and two tall, muscular football playerswalked out. They glanced at Kyle and Corey in disgust.

"G-G-G-Gross,"one of them mocked Corey's nervous stutter.

"Whenare you two gonna get married already?" the second teased as theylaughed and walked down the stairs to the parking lot.

Coreylooked at Kyle.

"Don'teven say anything, I know," Kyle said flatly.

Coreyshook his head and laughed. "Who were those guys?"

"Idon't even know."

"We'remore popular than we think!" Corey laughed.

"Wannaget the fuck outta here?" Kyle asked.