Choices and Mistakes

Chapter 3: "All He Thought About Was Football"

CHAPTER 3

     I'm lost in thought, allowing myself to disappear for a while when someone knocks on my bedroom door. I drop my pen and look at the clock. I'm going to be late, I think frantically. "Come in!" I answer, panic at the edge of my voice.

     "You ready Jan?" mom asks me. "You're going to be late honey, better get a move on it."

     I sigh, grab my bag and quickly follow my mom down to the car. "Shotgun!" I squealed jumping into the car. "Go go go mom! You've made me late. Agaain," I continue unhappily.

     "Patience is key Janie. Patience." Ah, mom and her inspiration quotes.

     Mom drives fairly quick, not enough to break laws, and gets me to school with a few minutes to spare.

     "Love ya, bye," I say shutting the door. Turning towards the school doors, I look up and think to myself, well SFBH here's to our last day together, at least it's a short one; each class 30 minutes. I step through the doors and look around. Everything looks normal enough. I keep my head down and pray that I can get through the day without any pain.

     Two minutes into the day, I knew that this prayer wasn't going to be answered. Today's already a bad day. Sitting in homeroom, I plug my earphones in and ignore Mr. Anee's daily announcements and the rest of this idiotic group of kids. I was just sinking into a daydream, when I was hit at the back of my head with something. I look down and see a crumpled piece of paper. Sighing, I use the edge of my shoe to kick it over to the garbage.

     I miss. Miserably. To my luck, Mr. Anee notices the crumpled paper and strides over to it. His mouth turns down at the edges, "come on guys, it's the last day. Who's is this?"

     I feel my cheeks heating up and I quickly look away. Though, a voice from the back answers his question, "it's a note for Janie, sir." People erupted in snickers and giggles. My cheeks grew red, like a tomato that was too ripe.

     "Is that right Ms. Fray?"

     "Umm...I-" Before I could finish my answer, people were laughing. Harder. I shrink in my seat, unable to bear what's coming next. Please don't read it sir, I don't want to know what's written, please, I beg of you, I think to myself.

     "Quiet down class!" He unfolds the note as the class slowly stops laughing. He skims over the note and a quick look of horror passes through his eyes, but he quickly covers it up with utter blankness, as if he hadn't read what he read. "Boys, see me after class," and with that, the bell rang. Ah, saved by the bell never felt so good.

     Luckily, it was time for break. One more class until this horrid school year ends. I stand in the cafeteria line up, hoping to buy a snack and just as I was a few people away from doing so, someone stands over my shoulder breathing, quite heavily. "Hey Fray, like our note?" the voice said, with such a deep, raspy sound, most girls would've fallen for it but I'm not like most girls.

     I turn my head slightly and see that it's one of the football players from home room, "as a matter of fact, Peterson, I did. Though you misspelt something." A hint of sass is all these boys ever need to get them fuming.

     "Oh really? And what was that?"

     "Your dignity." I give him one devious smile and step out of the line. As quickly as possible, I walk to the one place that's peaceful and quiet. The library.

     I spent the rest of break writing in my notebook and hiding from those brainless jocks. They've never used their brains, at least the ones I know. I tried tutoring a jock years ago and he didn't get anything. We were in 5th grade and already all he thought about was football. His name was Russel, my ex-best friend's current boyfriend.

     On my way to my last class, something hard slams into me, causing me to drop my notebook. I reach over to pick it up but a large shoe steps on it. "Hey Scars," they sneer. I look up and see that it's Russel, beaming as if he's just won the lottery.

     "What do you want?"

     "Nothing, just here to say, see you around."

     I roll my eyes, could he be anymore oblivious? "See you never, and the name's Janie." I shove his foot off my notebook and under his fierce glare, I gather up what's left of my pride and head to class.

     I sit at the desk closest to door, ready to leave as soon as the bell rings. To clam my beating heart, I blast my music, draw and ignore the world. When my hand starts to get numb, I stop drawing. I sigh and look up at the clock. Just less than a minute until this school year ends. I'll finally get away from these people. I'm nothing to them, only a failure. I made a mistake, but doesn't everyone?

~~

{unedited}