Just Keep Swimming

Chapter 12

(May 9)
•Monday•

I wake up and stare at my necklace. I love it so much that I never take it off. I sigh as my alarm clock goes off a minute later. I stand up, turn it off, and get ready for school.
     When I'm done, I go downstairs and see my mom there drinking her tea. She looks up from her phone when I enter the room. I move to the cabinet and garb the "Cinnamon Toast Crunch" and pour it into a bowl. I open the fridge and pour the milk onto the cereal. I sit next to her and start to eat.

     "I was thinking," my mom says looking at me," maybe we should get you a car."
     I choke on my cereal. I'm amazed to hear her say this," really? My very own car!," I reply.
     "Why not! You got a license," she responds.

     Silence takes over the room. I finish my bowl and start putting my books into my bag. I zip up my bag and go to walk out of the kitchen. My mom scampers to her feet and throws her cup into the sink. Her high heels tap quickly in my direction.
     She catches up to me and walks out the door with me. When I walk out the front door I find a car that is not usually in my drive way. I look back at my mom and she hands me some car keys. I squeal and hug her.

     "Thank you, Thank You, THANK YOU!"
     "Why don't you go drive to school in your super new car," she comments.
     "Okay, I will," I say jumping in.

     I start the car and head over to school.

~•~•~

     I park my car, walk into school, and go to my locker. I throw my books into it and grab the books for my first 4 classes. I look at the inside of my locker door. All the pictures of me, Cameron, Katie, and the guys. As I close my locker I see All of them stomping over to me.

     "Where were you," Katie says.
     "Yeah why weren't you in the bus," Jackson adds.
     "Who cares," Brandon blurts out.
     "WE DO!," they shout back.
     "Guys I bet she has a perfectly good explanation," Cameron replies.
     "Yes I do," I respond," I got a car!"
     "Fine you're off the hook this time," Katie says," but next time, TELL ME FIRST!"

     Katie, Jackson, and Brandon walk away. Cameron opens his locker door and grabs his books. He gives me a kiss and starts to talk.

     "I have a very important question," he says.
     "Okay hit me."
     "Have you been dress shopping for prom yet?"
     "Nope, Katie are going sometime time this week though," I say," it's not for two weeks so I got time!"
     "I know but I'm so exited!"

     He closes his locker. He puts his arm around me. We head to English class together.

~•~•~

     "YAY LUNCH TIIME!," Brandon yells as we sit down.
     "Yummy," Jackson says biting into a ham and cheese sandwich.
     "Darn it I forgot I packed a lunch," I say," I'll be right back guys."
     "No wait I'll come with you," Katie says jumping up out of her seat.

     We walk into to hallway. We start to talk about Junior Prom. I heard Jackson is going to ask her. She says he asked asked her yet. We get to my locker and I pull out my lunch.

     "That sucks," I say," I bet he will soon though."
     "Yeah, he better," she says," but who knows."

     I close my locker and turn to her. We walk over to the restrooms and she goes in. I wait outside the door. A couple people pass by, going to their locker, the bathroom, or just to talk to their friends. She walks out and we start to head to the cafeteria.
      The cafeteria is filled with people. A couple people bump into us to get us out of their way. When we get close to the table someone knocks me to the ground. I stand up and brush myself off.
     I look up and a slushy is thrown at me. I'm covered in a blue, sticky drink and ready to cry. I wipe the slushy out of my eyes and see Kennedy with a empty cup in her hand. She snickers and then pretends to feel bad.

     "Oh I'm so sorry," she says," I guess I've gotten a little clumsy over the years."
     "Yeah sure okay," I reply, holding back tears.
     "I hope I doesn't happen again," she says walking away.

     I walk to the table and sit down. I grab a couple of Jackson's napkins and wipe off the slushy on my face. I look up and Cameron is irritated. I can tell. He looks over at Katie and she tells him it was Kennedy. Both him and Brandon go to stand up, but I stop them.

~•~•~

     We finish our lunch, and Brandon, Cameron, and I walk to the trash. Then to our lockers. I grab my stuff and leave for my next class. I close my locker pick up my backpack and try to slip by other kids.
     I'm knocked down again and I look up and see Kennedy and 2 other people with her they all have cups inn their hands. I try to crawl away but I'm trapped. If I try to back away, I'll get stepped on. I just throw my hands up and a close my eye.
     She laughs and counts to three. All of them throw their slushies at me. I'm covered in green, blue, and red. I stand up and run back to my locker. Cameron is still here. I stand a few feet away and he closes his locker, turns around, and stares at me.
     I can't hold it in many longer, and I just fall to the floor and cry. He walks over to me scoops me up, and takes me to the office. I tell him no and just leave it alone. He doesn't listen to me though.
     He opens the office door and asks to see the principal. They tell us to wait in the seats in front of her door. He puts me down in the seat next to him and holds me in his arms. He's covered in the slushy, too.

     "I'm sorry," I say to him.
     "For what?," he asked.
     "Getting slushy on you," I reply about to cry again.
     "Don't be sorry," he tells me," it's not your fault, Avery."

     Mrs. Jamison walks out of her office. She looks down at us. She has a smile at first, but falls into a frown when she sees our clothes. She brings us into her office. She asked what happened and I brake down in tears. Cameron explains the whole story.

"Ugh, that's bizarre," she says when Cameron finishes,"has anything like this happened before?"
"She calls her a freak all the time, too," he answers.
"I promise, there will be a lot of consequences."
"Thank you Mrs. Jamison," I say whipping tears from my face.
"You're welcome," she responds," how about you guys leave early today, my treat."

We walk out of her office and we put everything away in lockers. I drive Cameron home and I head to my house and take a shower. I get a new outfit, change, and walk to Cameron's house.

"Hi," I say," I don't feel comfortable being alone, right now."
"That's okay," he says hugging me," I don't want you to be left alone."

He closes his front door, picks me up and throws me on the couch. We sit there and watch "Baby Daddy" on Netflix. I put my head down on his shoulder. I start to fall a sleep.

"I love you," I say looking up at him.
He looks down at me," I love you, too."

He grabs a blanket and places it over me. I fall asleep on him with a smile.