I open my eyes to orange light coming from my window. It may be august but the air is already cooling and leaves are turning. I breathe in and smell the fresh air that comes with open windows on a windy day. While getting ready I turn on my speakers to play music. I really love being the last one in the house everyday. I put on some jeans with the bottoms cuffed, Vans, a long sleeve shirt, my Letterman jacket (I have been on the varsity basketball team since freshman year, I am a junior now), and a Cubs ball cap. I head downstairs grabbing an apple and grab my book bag and keys and head out the door. As I step out, the wind hits me and I smile, this really is the best time of the year. I am about 5'6" with brown hair and blue eyes.
It only takes about 5 minutes to get to school and then I have about 40 minutes to get my schedule and get to my first class. I step out of my car and gaze at the students. Everyone from the incoming freshmen with their bags full and hustling to get to class early to the seniors who are waiting until the last possible minute to get to class.
These are my people.
As I am walking into the school I am greeted by my co-captain and ex-girlfriend, Jess. We may have loved each other and dated from eighth grade until the end of the school year last year but the relationship was not one for the books. We were not in love (I believe there is a difference between loving someone and being in love), she would break up with me whenever she was mad at me just to want to get back together the next day and I would get overly jealous and protective. Even though it was not a healthy relationship, we are very much best friends now.
"Hey, dip wad" she says, taking my hat and putting it on herself. Eh, she looks better in it than I do anyways. Jess is a little shorter than I am with ghostly white skin, brown hair, hazel eyes, and probably the most toned and athletic girl you will ever have seen.
"Hey, Jess. It's nice to see you too." I say laughing and wrapping my arm around her to give her a light hug as we are walking through the entrance. People are crowding around the doors talking about god knows what but the sounds of laughter lightens the mood. Whatever mood there is at eight in the morning.
"So, have you gotten your schedule yet?" She shifts her obviously heavy bag on her shoulder.
"Nope but how about we go to your locker first so you can unload that boulder of a bag and then we can head to the office."
"Thank you." She says and we walk a short distance to her locker bay. We get emails the week before school starts with our locker number and combination, It is actually highly convenient. While she is dealing with her materials situation I am leaning on the locker opposite of her and looking around.
"Hi." A girl says as she passes us down the hallway, smiling. I have never seen her before which is weird because she seems close to my age group.
"Hey." I say as my heart drops. She was beautiful. Holy fuck. As she is walking I see her hair swaying back in forth.
"Ummm... Shan?" Jess asks, nudging me a little bit. When that doesn't work she playfully punches my arm which jolts me back to my normal thought process.
"Oh yeah sorry." I saw laughing and rubbing the back of my neck. Real smooth, now she's gonna tease me about this for the next decade and a half.
"What was that about?" She asks, starting to walk in the direction of the office. She wasn't going to stop for me, she never has. It is kind of amazing in it's own little way.
I jog to catch up and ultimately accept my fate. "This cute girl just said hi to me and I kind of got a little lost in my head." I say, staring at my feet and smile.
She smiles and starts to giggle, "So are you gonna hop on that metaphorical dick? I mean you totally could; you're the star basketball player, you've got those lame jokes that girls seem to love, not to mention you're a total hottie." Jess grabs her schedule from the pile and starts to walk out. That girl is always on a mission and no one would stop her.
"Shut up, I don't even know her. Plus, I don't like to just hook up. You know that." I try to find my name in the pile of B's and finally find my schedule. Gym first, fun.
"Whatever, just get to know her then. That simple." And with that, she's gone... with my hat...
I put my earbuds in and start to walk to gym. As I get to the athletic wing I look up at the team pictures. I see everyone I looked up to, the ones who are probably in college playing basketball or studying their selective major. No one really knows, no one really keeps touch after they leave this building. I walk into the locker room and it seems like no one is here yet so I go up to the sinks to gather my thoughts for the day. I look up in the mirror and see the girl in the hallway.
Holy fuck... again.
"You okay?" She asks, turning around. Shit. I quickly look down at the sink, probably blushing.
"Uh, yeah, sorry. I just uh-" trying to quickly think of something to say. "I like your sports bra!" Smooth Shan, real smooth.
"Oh, thanks! Well I should go out there. I'm Quinn by the way." She says walking away.
"Shannon." When I see she's gone I throw my leather jacket at the wall. I'm so lame.
