Winning Skylinn

34

I stayed up all night reading, until I finished the book. Tears sprang to my eyes at certain points, and I let them fall.

I wanted to text Denver, but I still didn't have his number, and my mom was asleep so I couldn't rant to her, either. All my thoughts jumbled together, but I tried to hold on to them. Just a few more hours til I'd see Denver and be able to talk to him.

When my alarm went off a few hours later, I immediately regretted staying up so late. I was extremely tired, and when I finally dragged myself out of bed, I saw that there were major bags under my eyes.

"Ugh," I groaned, running a hand through my tangled mess of brown hair.

After getting dressed and braiding my hair, I left for school. Jonny and I walked to the bus stop.

"You look tired," he acknowledged.

"Thank you, captain obvious," I said flatly.

"Whoa. Someone's in a mood."

"I'm not in a 'mood'," I said, making air quotes, "I'm just tired from staying up all night."

"Doing what? Texting what's his face?"

"No, and his name is Denver, thank you very much. If you must know, I was reading."

"Ah. What's your book about?"

I was about to start ranting, but I stopped myself. It wasn't that Jonny hated chick flicks; he just hadn't read the book and I didn't think he would understand my pain.

"Nevermind. I'm too tired to function."

We got on the bus and slumped into our usual seats at the front.

"You can rest, if you want," Jonny said, lending me his shoulder.

"Thanks." I leaned my head on it and tried to sleep through the bumpy ride.

I could hardly stay awake in my classes. It was in English that I finally woke up.

Denver walked in, a few minutes late as usual. Funny how I'd noticed his habits in just these past three days of knowing him. He came around to his seat and took out his books.

"Rough night?" he whispered to me.

"Is it that obvious?" I replied in a low voice. "I was up all night finishing the book."

"Me too."

"You're done with it?"

Before he could reply, Mrs. Williams snapped to attention. "Miss Porter and Mr. Rowley, will I need to see you after class?"

"No, ma'am. Sorry." I slumped back in my seat, waiting for her to go back to her lesson.

When she did, Denver passed me a note. We'll talk after class.

I looked at him and smiled.

Thirty-two years later, when the bell rung, we rushed out of class and into the slew of students.

"So, you finished the book?" I asked excitedly.

"WHAT IS THIS MADNESS?!" he yelled back.

I laughed. "I know! How could they do this to me?!"

"I told you that man was a terrible writer. He just...trampled my heart and left me bleeding on the floor."

I recognized that quote from an old movie I liked, Little Manhattan. I hadn't seen it in forever, but I could still quote every line.