+++
When I got to school on the eleventh of November I was really angry. The night before, I had a huge argument over something that was referred to as “dangerous”. I argued with my dad about whether or not I could go to London for Christmas. Keep in mind that he lives in Vermont and this was on the phone. I just wanted to have a nice Christmas alone in my favorite city with Lisa. I had been in a city alone away from home before and I was more mature then most teenagers so I was more than prepared. He argued that I could just wait until the summer but I said that it’s better and prettier in the winter and it would be less crowded. As I packed my books for class, I recapped what happened. Why did he even argue with me? He has almost no control over what happens down here. I can go if I want, all I have to do is ask Carol and I’m all set to go. I can buy the hotel room expenses; it’s the tickets that I was asking for. I slammed my locker door shut and walked into homeroom.
After the bell rang I walked to my first period class, History. When I walk in I see Marc waiting for me, sitting like he would if he’s trying to get my attention. It worked. Marc Adams is my boyfriend. He’s tall and has some muscles, - but not too much – he has dark wavy hair, and is a mixture of funny, respectful, and serious. He is wearing loose jeans and one of the Aeropostle shirts that he bought with me when we went to the mall last week. He smiles at me when I lean on the doorway. I like Marc. Well, obviously since I’m dating him but still. He has this glowing look about him that makes me feel…special. I smile at him until he summons me over. I walk over and take my place next to him. As I set my tote bag on the ground next to me, he swings his legs over to face me. He lifts my head up just a bit so he can lean in and kiss me. It was very soft and light, a hello kiss, but enough to make me smile.
“Hey beautiful,” he whispers to me.
“Hi,” I whisper back still smiling.
“I saw you in the hall before class, are you ok?” he says. That was obviously the main topic in his mind.
“Yea, I’m fine. Just a little argument with my dad, that’s all,” I say pulling away and sitting up straight. He pulls away too and sits up mimicking me still not positive about my answer. Just as class was starting, I move my chair closer to his and lean on him. Why does life have to be so complicated? Why doesn’t he trust me? I think to myself. He puts his arm around me and rests his head on mine. “I know, I know,” he whispers to me like he heard me. We stay like that throughout class with the occasional answering questions.
See unlike other schools, our teachers respect and encourage teens to date each other. So when someone does what Marc and I were doing during class, they leave us alone. But like any other privilege, some people take advantage of it and end up getting a detention or some other school punishment. One in particular is Eric Calar. He is probably like king of detention by now. Eric is Marc’s friend and is a trouble maker unlike Marc. Eric has always tried to get Marc into one of his ‘ideas’ but Marc never does. Some of those ideas get violent because of Eric’s anger management problems. He once hurt Marc because he got too mad. It’s a surprise they’re still friends. I think about this when I see him walk over to us at the end of class. For sure he was going to again try to talk Marc into one of his ‘plans’ and again fail to persuade him.
“Well what do we have here? It’s Marc and his friend, Emma,” he says while looking at the both of us. He is wearing black-blue jeans with a black Steelers sweatshirt. It looks new so I’m guessing he bought it recently.
“Hey Eric,” I say while pulling away from Marc. I sit up again with one hand on my tote bag and the other holding Marc’s hand, prepared to leave at any moment if necessary.
“What do you want, Eric?” Marc says with a little ice in his voice.
“No need to be so cold, bro. I just came over to tell you something amazing,” Eric says while stepping back.
“What you finally got the whole cheerleading squad to go out with you?” I say teasing him.
“Yes, but that’s not really amazing,” he says ignoring my smirk and acting like it was a really question. The bell rings starting second period. I sigh for we have a free period so this can take as long as it wants. It’s too bad our history teacher takes off during this time so he can’t kick us out. He is now looking in the direction of my shirt and I have a feeling it’s not the shirt he’s looking at.
“Nice shirt,” he says with a smile. I release both Marc’s hand and my tote bag to cross my arms over my chest. I was wearing a pink and white striped over the shoulder top with a pink ruffled mini skirt and a pair of Sergio Rossi - the 5th best high heels in the world – in pink. I readjust myself and slunk down in my chair. Marc looks over at me noticing that I feel a little uncomfortable with Eric’s last comment.
“She’s mine, so back off!” Marc says with some anger. He puts his arm around me as to protect me from Eric.
“Chillax bro,” he says putting his arms up in surrender, “It was a compliment. But that reminds me. My amazing news is that I may have a chance with Virginia.” Marc lets go of me and sits up, listening with interest.
“Really? How? I thought she wasn’t interested,” Marc says with confusion.
“Yea she wasn’t but I told her that I changed my ‘Eric’ ways and she was totally into me then,” Eric explains.
“Wow. So how are you going to change?” Marc asks.
“I don’t know. Maybe go to the library, help out at the SPCA; stuff like that,” Eric says casually.
“That would mean to erase the old Eric. Do you really want to do for this girl?” Marc continues.
“Wait, Virginia Mayfield?” I asked them confused on who they’re talking about.
“Yea, tall, blonde hair, blue eyes, amazing,” Eric says drifting off.
I stare at him then burst out laughing. It was hard to imagine Eric changing himself to get with a girl like Virginia. Virginia Mayfield is my best friend other than Lisa. She is the kind of person who is responsible, like me, and would never go out with a guy like Eric. Both Eric and Marc are looking at me as I start to calm down. Marc with confusion and Eric with anger as he yells, “What? You think I can’t change?!”
“Yes, but you don’t chance with her,” I lay it out straight.
“Why not?” Marc asks still with that confused look on his face.
I turn to Marc and say, “Because she’s smarter than that. He would really have to change for her even to think about going out with him.” I stand up, grabbing my tote bag and reach for Marc’s hand, pulling him up.
“Come on, next period is about to start,” I lie, desperate to just get out of the conversation.
“Good luck changing,” I tease Eric, looking him right in the eye, while I feel a smirk start to appear.
He looks at me, still angry, clenching his fists like he’s trying to hold in the urge to hit me. Then he just sighs and relaxes his fists as Marc and I walk out the door. Just as we were turning the corner out into the hallway I hear Eric run up and yell, “You can count on it, babe.”
I tighten my grip on Marc as if I was going to get pulled away any second. He looks at our hands as he winces at my grip. I relax leaning onto his shoulder as we walk into class 30 minutes early. We sit down and I think to myself, I have to warn Virginia of his new plan.
