The Next Day
I had trouble falling asleep last night, but I still manage to beat the morning alarm. My phone says it's five minutes before ten.
Up. Big day ahead...
1. Wake Up [ x ]
2. School [ ]
3. Dream Shift [ ]
4. Early Birthday Fun [ ]
5. Check Application Statuses [ ]
6. Go Home [ ]
I start with my stretches and an apple from the refrigerator fruit bin. Then, it's time for school. At home. In my room. Comfy in sleep shorts. A typical day is an average of two hours. Teachers say an hour per class, but I only do what I have to with the help of textbooks and my phone.
Cheater.
Rule-bender.
I go down the list of my classes. There's reading to do for history and a math test...I thought was tomorrow. Reading's quick. The math test? Why? When am I going to use polynomials in my life?
This test.
I'm done before one. I'd nap until three (when Kenzie comes home), but I'm too anxious, so I scribble thoughts for an online learning YA.
***
Three Hours Later
"Stephen?"
I spring up from my bed. "Hm?"
...Dad could've knocked first.
"You're quieter than usual today. Doing okay, kiddo?"
My name's quieter, and I really am kiddoer than usual.
And that came out wrong. Anxious?
Every day.
"Big test. Kind of wore me out. Heh."
"Aw. Well, get ready. I'm starting the car in ten."
...Already?
Dad's offered to drive us to work today, so I'm not riding the breeze. We opted to walk back, but later's not now. I don't know if I want it to even be later because of the two texts I reread on my phone.
Stephen: Hey! Let's meet at the Maple Park GoSpresso Friday night. The Club wants to celebrate my birthday early.
Stephen: Sorry! Tomorrow after work?
I couldn't fall asleep last night because I kept thinking about tonight. Kenzie and the dream shift. Kenzie and GoSpresso with Em and Becka. Kenzie and...telling Kenzie. Playing every scenario out in my head until it read like a perfect script (it still doesn't).
Our dream shift? I'll have to treat it like it's another shift.
GoSpresso? I know Em's going to be Em and do something. I can feel it. She's going to hammer me over...you know what.
And Kenzie? I...can't tell her at work or at the party because...
Look, all you're doing is celebrating your birthday early with friends at the local coffee shop.
Yeah. Friends. That...that's how Kenzie and I should be, but I had to go and catch feelings like an idiot!
I'm going to let that slide.
YOU ARE READING
Earhart & Noonan: An "Us Club" Novel (#1)(NaNoWriMo15)
Teen FictionFor the first twelve years of Stephen Vaughn's life, just trying to get others around him to pronounce his first name the right way ("Stee-vehn Vawn") has felt like the hardest task he's had to try and cope with. That is, until his perfect life with...
