Coffee Meetings

Chapter 8

When the alarm clock went off on Friday morning, i yelled in agony. I was still so tired and was not ready for today.

When I got to Kathy's house on Friday, she cried even more and we had  4 tubs of ice cream....which...actualy... Wasn't that bad. She complained that she would never love again, and, in the end, forced me to sleep over so she could rant on Eric and his new girlfriend.

Then, on Saturday and Sunday I crammed for a Science project and weekend homework, while Aron had his music on full blast causing me to write the worst essay ever due to the lack of concentration.

Then, all of the school week was spent with hours of homework and projects and plans for Kara's  hangout and math class and  ... KARA'S THING IS TODAY!!!

I jumped up in bed, again smacking my head, causing pain to my list of disabilities today.

As I rubbed my head, I threw on my new outfit, making me feel a little happier as I looked at it in the mirror.

When I got out of Carter's car on Friday, he whispered for me to either straighten or curl my hair to impress Kara, and think about what I was gonna say to her to make her like me.

I had been going over compliments and makeup facts in my head since Saturday, and had straightened my hair last night. But now, through my tiredness I no longer remember my plans and the tossing and turning in my bed has ruined my hair. I was gonna have to wing it.

As I threw my hair up in my ponytail and got ready, I was thinking...what if I disappoint Carter. What if our whole friendship and connection gets washed away in a matter of hours. If this was a regular friendship I would just forget about it in a month or so...I mean, that's how I deal with things. But Carter is different. He's like a warm blanket that you wrap yourself in. He's like A tissue that takes away the tears. He's like someone that you can always depend on no matter what. He's like someone that I love so much, and I would do anything to keep him.

A thew minutes later , my car skidded to a halt in the only empty space in the school parking lot. The lot was vacant of any teens. Ugh...IM SO LATE.

I rushed up the stairs and to my locker to retrieve my books for Ms. Burn's class, since I'd missed all my other ones.

Once I reached the door, Burn, as I like to call her when I'm annoyed, gives me the strongest glare I've ever seen. She walked out the door slowly and slammed the door behind her so the students couldn't hear the wrath she was about to deliver to me.

" Late again, Huh? Well, Ms. Elissa Johnson, this is the fifth time you have been late to my class this semester. I've tried to be calm with you, but not this time ,MISSY! I expect you to sign up for tutoring during lunch today, since you are unbelievably passing math this year. And if you even think..." She said, wringing her hands, but I stupidly interrupted her.

" An if I even think about skipping...I'll get a detention." I mumbled under my breath, not expecting her to hear.

But she did, and hissed with rage in her eyes," Open that darn door...and take your seat." She said jabbing her finger at the door.

I walked over to the door and twisted the door knob, making a huge squeaking sound as the  door opened. The maintenance guy really has to fix that thing, because due to the sound every one turned toward me and gasped.

I was confused. They gasped at me. What was wrong. As their eyes followed me to my desk, I covered my mouth with my hand and scratched my teeth, to see if something was stuck in them. But nothing was their. What were they looking at me for?

" You look super hot right now." A football player whispered to me as I sat down, smirking and sending me a kiss.

Ewwwww. What the heck was that for? As I studied myself I sighed. Ohhh. Everyone was looking at me because of the outfit. I guess the skirt did show a lot of my legs.

Now this was going to be a great day...note the sarcasm.

                                                                            ***

As the warning bell signaling lunch break rang, I nibbled on the last of  a gross cafeteria sandwich and sipped on a juice box as I walked into the library where the tutoring would take place. As I stepped into the room, the librarian and tutor  coordinator , Ms.Hoffman, pointed me over to a girl in the corner.  And guess who she pointed at...Kara.

Kara smirked at me as I walked over. What was that for?

" You know, you actually look decent today." She said a few minutes later as I tried, key word 'tried', to teach her about what we were trying to learn in math this week.

I shrugged," Well, I actually like to present myself nicely. Shopping is one of my favorite hobbies." I lied. I was doing all of this lying to get invited to one little hangout? What was I...wait, this is for Carter. This is for Carter.

" Oh. That's cool. So what are your favorite stores." She said, twisting a piece of her blond hair while copying the notes I wrote for her on how to do the math problem.

Uhhh. Wait a second. I remember this one," Oh, Brandy Melville all the way." I said fake smiling. Carter told me that was Kara's favorite store. I preferred no store, actually.  

She smiled a wide smile. She's never smiled like that to me before," Yay! Mine too. You know me and my friends are actually going to the mall and my house after school. You could come, I guess. Only this once though. I'm not thinking about making  you a permanent thing yet." She said, studying me from head to toe.

" Uhh...sure?" I said confused because of the last part.

She squealed so high pitched that it almost burst my ear drum," Yay! Meet me at the front steps at the end of the day. If you don't come, that's your loss." She said as she walked out of the library, all the nerds heads following her.

" But, we haven't even finished the session." I yelled after her. But she had already slammed the door, awakening Ms. Hoffman from her sleep behind her desk.

I smiled in my seat.

I did it. I actually made Kara like me.

                                                                      ***

I ran out of the room and into the cafeteria, searching for Carter. I needed to tell him what happened.

I ran over to his table and he sat there, talking to his muscular, popular, attractive friends.

I tapped in his shoulder, trying not to draw attention to myself. I didn't want his friends noticing.....

" Oh look! What are you doing here dork ?" Mark Ruffalow, Carter's best friend said, causing all of the other guys to look at me.

" Nice outfit." One snickered, covering his mouth to hide his laughter.

" Be quiet Alex. What do you want?" Carter said rudely, winking at me to say that he was acting rude to cover up are friendship.

" Um, I heard Ms. Burn asking for you in hall. She said for me to come get you." I lied...terribly.

Carter stood up, said bye to the guys at the table, and we walked into the hallway.

" What is it?" He said smiling at me. He was happy to see me. That is the best feeling in the world...being wanted by him.

I smiled back at him," Well...I think I'm gonna' be hanging out with Kara after school." I said and did stupid little jazz-hands.

He gasped and wrapped his arms around my waist and hugged me. He hugged me tighter then he ever had before, and it felt amazing.

" Thank you, El'. Thank you." He said into my shoulder.

I hugged him back.