(Un)Wanted

Different Day

Bad Era

     When I was in the shower, I was dreading the Monday of school to come because I knew it would be the same as every other day. I sat in the warm water for an hour, thinking of excuses to tell my parents so I could get out of it. Nothing worked, and I just accepted the fact that I have to go. I have to go deal with the obnoxious sophomores who think they're better than the freshman, the obnoxious freshman who think they can get with the seniors, and juniors who worship the seniors in hopes of getting their likes. And of course, I had to deal with the fact that I couldn't graduate today, and I still had 7 months to go. I got out of the shower and threw my hair up into a heavy towel and put on some sweatpants and a t-shirt and began my homework. As per usual, I didn't understand it. Trigonometry never made sense to me. So I just gave up and lied on my bed. The softness of the blanket and the oh so welcoming thought of sleep made me drowsy, but I fought to stay awake. I got on my phone and I read the many texts I received from my best friend, Caroline.         

     "Arie, did you hear about the new senior coming to our school?"
     "Answer me! Hello?"
     "Aurora, answer me this instant!"
     I replied with a simple "No, I haven't heard." and asked no questions about it. Quite frankly, I was uninterested in this new kid and needed to know not a thing about them. Caroline was a bit more preppy than I am, and I guess that's why we get along. She's more excited, and I'm more laid back and we two needed a little bit of both in our lives to even each other out. Considering she has been in love with the same guy since sophomore year, I don't know why she's so excited about the new student. If they leave me unbothered, they're welcomed here. Speaking of being welcomed here, why would someone want to come to this small little town? There is not a thing to do here and if you do want to do anything, you have to go across the bridge to a whole different city. If someone wants to take someone out to dinner, they would have to go into the city. Not unless you want to eat crappy, processed fast food. How romantic!
     My thoughts were interrupted when my mother busted in my room and asked if I knew about the new kid. Everyone knew each other here and everyone knew about anything that ever happened, mostly. I told my mom that I didn't know about the new kid. Being the mother she is, she told me to be nice and welcoming and try to befriend the kid because they're probably having a hard time with the new move and transition. I told her that I'd try, not that I would succeed.

👣

     I suppose I drifted off because I was awoken by the obnoxious sound of my alarm going off. I checked the time, and it was 6:30 a.m., the Monday I was dreading so terribly last night, had arrived. I took my hair out of the towel I fell asleep in and blow dried it. I put on a pair of leggings and sweater with black boots and let my long, dark brunette hair flow. I put on a little bit of mascara and powder and some lip gloss. I tried not to over do it because I knew I'd end up taking it off later anyway. I grabbed my book bag and keys and walked downstairs to head toward the door. I was stopped by my mother calling my name. I turned around and surprisingly, there was a huge feast of breakfast. "What's the occasion?"
     "I just wanted to make you some breakfast before school, Aurora. Can't I just be a good mother?"
     "No, because you never make breakfast unless you're trying to bribe me. So I ask again, what's the occasion?"
     "Well, we have some news." And just on time, my father walked out of the living room and into the kitchen. "Your father got a job relocation. We could be moving to Boston. And we know how you've always wanted to get out of this little town, so we wanted to make you a proposal. We could move to Boston to where your father is working, or of course we could stay here while he goes to work on his own. The choice is yours."
     "I don't know, Mom. That's a big decision to make on my senior year when I'm about to graduate..."
     My mother threw her hands in front of her, "No, Arie, please don't feel rushed to make the decision. We have at least 2-3 months before we have to decide. So please, take your time dear."
     "Okay...?" My response sounded more like a question. Again, I checked the time. It was only 7, so I decided to eat breakfast with my parents. There was 15 minutes of awkward silence before my father decided to chime in.
     "So, Arie. Have you heard of the new kid?" Here we go again. Why is this new kid such big news?
     "Yeah, 3 times now. Why?"
     "Just wondering. I heard he's a good looking kid."
     "Yeah, I know the rules, Dad. You have to meet him first." My father is a bit overprotective, but I am his only child, so I guess I understand.
     "Actually, I wasn't gonna say that this time. I was actually gonna see if you'd like to bring his family a house-warming gift. They live right next door." Of course they do! That's my luck.
     "I guess? I don't even know their names."
     "They're the Jacksons" my parents responded in unison.
     "Well, give me the gift and I'll take it over. It's 7:30, I've got to get going." My father excused himself from the table and retrieved the gift and handed it to me. A painting? "Why a painting?"
     "Well, we figured their new house would be a little empty considering they're just now moving in." My mother explained. That's definitely something my mother would do. I picked up my book bag and my keys and called goodbye to my parents. I walked out the door and turned right towards the Jackson's house. They're house was nearly identical to ours. Most of the houses in the neighborhoods around here looked the same. The only difference was that our house was a different shade of paneling and we had an extended porch. I walked up the steps of their small porch and rang the doorbell. No one answered, so I figured they were probably out shopping for new things. I left the painting leaning on the railing of their steps and started going down. I heard a door click open and I continued going, hoping they wouldn't try to stop me.
     "Uh, hi?" I heard a kind of angelic voice call out. I turned around and smiled.
     "Hi", I turned around and responded awkwardly. I wish I would have kept going because the face I met... was something that I could stare at for days on end. With a face structure sculpted by the gods, his dark brown, dough eyes and perfect eyebrows complimented his tan complexion perfectly. His nose was something of perfectly shaped, and his curls. Oh my. Dark, ebony curls that hung a little lower than his ears... I realized I was staring at him for an unreasonably long amount of time, and I quickly looked down at my feet. He chuckled when he realized what I had done. His laugh made me somewhat weak in the knees. Now, I see why everyone was so hyped over this new kid.
     "A gift? Oh! A painting. You shouldn't have." He chuckled again at the sight of the painting. I slowly walked back up the stairs.
     "Yeah, my mother thought that your house could use some decorating since you all just moved here" I smiled a bit.
     "Thank you. A weird gift, but we appreciate it none the less. I'm Michael." He held out a welcoming hand. I stared at it for a second in amazement. Those hands... Wait, what was wrong with me? I quickly grabbed his hand and shook it so he didn't think I was all that weird.
     "Aurora" I shoved the name out of my mouth as quickly as possible. He probably thinks I'm slow.
     "Aurora" he repeated to himself. "That has a nice ring to it."
     I laughed a bit, "Thanks, people call me Arie for short."
     "Well, people call me Michael, or Mike if we're close enough." He winked. Geez, I have to get out of here.
     "That's nice." I tried to say warmly. "I've got to get to school though. Nice meeting you." I smiled and let go of his hand, and realizing we were holding hands that entire time. Walking down the steps, I heard him call out again.
     "Wait, you go to NorthPoint, right?" I was half tempted to say no so he wouldn't look for me there because if we met again...
     "Yes, I do." I smiled.
     He smiled big in response. "Okay, see you there."
     "See ya." I walked off and got in my car and drove to school. On the way there, I couldn't get Michael out of my head. He was driving me crazy. Who cares, though? He is probably gonna end up being a player. But what if he wasn't? I have to stop thinking of him. Maybe today wouldn't be like any other day. Maybe today would be a different day.

I hope this doesn't flop lmao