Sweetheart

Chapter 1

Another boring day; the drive to school seemed longer this morning but maybe it's because I left the house earlier. Becky asked me if I could help decorate Andrew's locker for his birthday today and I agreed because he's one of my best friends. I park my car across the street and grab my backpack from the passenger seat then jump out of my car and lock the door. While I'm waiting for the speeding cars to clear, I pull out my phone to see two texts from Becky; they read "You coming?" and "Where the hell are you?" Jeez I didn't think I was that late. As soon it's clear enough, I cross the street and walk through the parking lot to get to the front doors. I hate that I can't park in the lot but I don't have $200 to spend just to park there for one semester. Anyways, I walk in the entrance and veer towards the hallway on my left. Through the small amount of people in the senior hallway, I see Becky and Eleanor at Andrew's locker, they already started without me. Becky spots me "There you are! We're almost finished!"

"Alright, alright." I pull some signs out my bag. "Here. Oh and the tape!" I pull the clear tape out of my bag as well.

"Thank you." She tapes the signs to the locker and we all take a step back. The locker has blue colored wrapping paper on it and stickers and even bows and ribbons, then my signs wishing him happy birthday. "This looks great!" Becky says. "Oh Tori, let me tell you about the inside. So Eleanor came up with this great idea last night, she went out and bought balloons and we put them in his locker. There isn't a whole lot but it'll be cool when he opens his locker!" Becky gets too excited about this stuff. She is always over dramatic with this kind of stuff, but we love her for it--she really knows how to make someone feel special. Not long after we finished, Andrew comes strolling down the hallway in a nice dress shirt and pants.

"Looking good Schmidt!" I called out as he approached.

"Thank you, I try." He winked. "So what's this?" He points at the locker.

"Oh nothing." Eleanor said. "Just something special for a special birthday boy." Andrew chuckles.

"Aw really? This is so sweet of you guys!" Andrew opens his lockers, and the balloons spill out. He looks at us, and we begin to laugh. We all start to pick up the balloons and throw them back into his locker after he puts some books on the top shelf.

"So how does it feel to be an adult now? The big 1-8!" I say, giving him a nudge.

"Great, I feel kind of free. Is that weird?" The three of us laugh.

"No, it isn't. I felt the same way when I turned eighteen and then I realized that I had to go to school for the rest of he year and felt like I was back in the same place. I don't mean to disappoint you!" Becky says.

"It's ok Becks, I actually understand what you mean cause that's how I feel now." Becky nods. I understood what they meant but I haven't experienced it yet because my birthday is at the end of the school year; a May birthday for me. Same situation for Eleanor, her birthday is in March. I had a good six and a half to seven months before I turned eighteen and it was already killing me.

"So are we gonna party tonight?" Eleanor says as we walk to our classes.

"Yeah, sure. Got any ideas?" Becky says.

"I do! So I just heard about this new drink at Starbucks and I was thinking that we should go and buy some shit there, then head back to my house and my mom could help us set up a bonfire." Andrew exclaims.

"Gosh, you really love Starbucks!" Andrew shakes his head and then we all start laughing. Once we reach the main hall, or what we call the overflow, we stop and gather into a circle.
I pull out my phone and check the time. "Ok, we've got like 6 minutes to get to class so how about we meet at the front doors at lunch and we can go to McDonald's or something, Andrew's choice." I grin at him.

"Aw thanks." He grins back at me.

"No problem. So see you guys later!" Eleanor and I walk towards our Government class, while Andrew walks to Trigonometry and Becky to English.

"God, I can't wait to be eighteen like them." I sigh.

"Yeah, I totally understand. Just sitting around and waiting for it to happen while all your friends get to experience it really sucks." Eleanor says. We continue to walk towards our class as we are silently thinking about our birthdays. Once we get inside and take our seats, Mrs. Kelly writes down our plans for the day on her whiteboard.

"Ugh, I'm already sick of this class and we haven't even reached the 2nd semester!" I whine to Eleanor. She laughs and nods her head as she reaches into her bag and grabs her folder. Mrs. Kelly starts the lesson with a sheet of "fill-in the blanks" notes. The way we do notes has become clock work for Government that I can burn through them so easily; though I don't like the class, Mrs. Kelly is one of my favorite teachers because of her enthusiasm. Throughout the rest of class, we go online and fill out another sheet that goes along with an article. Eleanor and I work together and once we finish, we play a game against each other on our phones. As second period starts, I put in my headphones to drown out the sound of everyone, and do my work on a school computer. Occasionally I stop and look around the library and notice the kids who are skipping class and the ones who aren't even trying to do work. I shake my head, and continue to do what needs to be done. After third, fourth, and fifth period, lunch arrives and I meet my squad at the front of the school. "Hey." I say as I see them.

"Andy decided on Wendy's today. Also I'm driving us." Becky says dangling her keys in front of her. I look at Andrew and he grins.

"Cool, are you guys ready?" I say.

"Yeah we were just waiting for you slowpoke!" Eleanor laughs. We start to walk out the front doors and down the path to Becky's car.

"Coin's class is so boring, I wish I had Keith as my teacher instead!" Eleanor groans are we reach Becky's car. Andrew hops in the front with Becky and Eleanor and I get in the back.

"I feel ya!" Becky laughs.

"Gosh, don't even mention Coin." Andrew rolls his eyes. Within 4 minutes, we reach Wendy's and pull up to the drive-thru. "Hi, I'll have two Doubles with fries and a large Coke."

"I'll take a Baconator with fries and a medium chocolate shake." Eleanor says.

"I'll have a Deluxe Double Stacker with fries and a medium chocolate shake." I say. Becky places the order and after we get all of our food, we rush back to school.

"Thanks for today guys." Andrew says as we walk in. He stuffs some fries in his mouth and tries to smile, causing us all to laugh.

"We love you." I laugh. After lunch ends, we disperse and go through the rest of the until we meet up in 8th hour. Throughout the whole class,  we laughed and talked about Andrew's birthday plans. Once the bell rang, we rushed to our cars and went our separate ways. I went home to do my homework before I had to get ready for Andrew's party, and also to pick up a gift. 7 o'clock came and I was on my way to Andrew's house. When I arrived Eleanor and Becky were there and so were some of Andrew's friends, Michael, Lewis, and Carrie, then someone unexpected showed up: Jayden Parker.