Runaway Thoughts

Chapter 5 - Drew

A polite little bell rang overhead, just twice, as I pushed open the door. I walked down a short hallway that flowed into a large room. There were four rounded counters in the middle of the room, creating circle. A lady who looked in her mid-thirties looked up from behind one of the counters, and peered over a pair of reading glasses. I walked over to her, recognizing the familiar Attendance sign hanging over her head. "Nicole, you're late," was all she said. 

She typed my name, phone number, first period class, and parent’s names into the computer. All of which she knew too well. I impatiently tapped my fingers on the counter and looked around the room. The plaque on the counter in front of the computer read Miss Starr and I studied the way the last r in the name was carved out. The printer whirled to life to print out the late pass. Blue walls, blue carpet, red counters, white counter tops. All these things I had come to recognize. 

"Oh dear," My head swerved around at the sound, and saw a very discouraged Miss Starr standing by the printer. "It seems to be having some problems," the lady bit her lip, and looked up. "You know a lot about electronics and all that, right?"

"Er… kind of," I replied, shifting my weight. 

She motioned to the little break in the counters, and I walked into the circle. It was strange, almost creepy being on the other side of that counter for once, after all this time of standing outside them.

I walked over to the backside of the counter and pretended to examine the printer, making appropriate umm-hmm and I see noises at the right times. I could see the late pass halfway sticking out, the ink smeared. I tugged at it, trying not to rip it, and prayed that it would budge- at least a little. I crouched down, and gave it a little nudge with my foot. "Linda?" a deep voice requested Miss Starr from the back of the room.

She murmured something along the lines of, "I'll be right back, dear," and scuttled off out one of the doors that surrounded the counters. I took a breath and leaned back on my heels. 

"Alright printer," I muttered, my voice low, "We can do this the easy way, or the hard way,"

It only gurgled in response. I stood up, and started to shuffle through desk drawers and boxes, looking for something fairly sharp that could be jabbed into it to get the paper out. I looked up from the desk, and saw one boy, the only other student in the room, sitting in a chair outside the circle.

"Hey, hey you!" I yelled, gathering glances from nearby office ladies. "You, with the hat!" He looked up, black hair falling over his eyes. "Can you come here?"

As he approached my heart all but stopped. "Hey, Drew," He stopped in front of the counter and brushed his hair out of his eyes.

He replied tentatively, “What’s up?”

I did everything that I could to avoid eye contact. I don't want to hear his thoughts. I don't want to know what he's thinking. Especially after what Pete said on their date. I pointed to the printer, which was now attempting to spit out the late pass, and looked like it was throwing up. "Can you help me?"

Drew crossed his arms and rocked back onto his heels. "Nah, I don't think so," He turned on his heel to walk away.

Always stubborn. Exhaling, I slunk back over to the printer, and sat myself down.

"Come on printer. Please?" I begged, but it only spewed more and made a loud clanking noise. "Alright then…" I placed my foot against the front, and grabbed the paper with both hands. "We'll have to settle for the hard way." It gargled again and I pulled hard. I could feel the paper slowly rolling between the ink cartridges as I pulled. Pressure built on my foot, coiling up like a spring, as the paper smeared its way out. 

Then, there was a sickening sound. It was one of those cloth-rag types of rips, and it was coming from the printer. I paused, loosening my pull for a second. Beep, Thud! A quick high-pitched noise, followed by a bang startled me. The vibration made its way all the way down my back, jolting me for a second. I didn't have time to react before I was tumbling backwards, the piece of smeared paper in my hands. 

I sat up, paused, and looked at the paper in my hands. It had a little bit of the bottom left corner missing and was totally illegible. I looked back up at the printer. Drew was standing over it, his fist on the top, and other hand on a button on the side. Smiling. "WH-what?!" I screamed, jumping to my feet. "I thought you said you wouldn't help me!"

I made the mistake of making eye contact with him then. Those bright blue eyes glowed, she's cute when she's confused. I quickly broke the gaze and self consciously lifted a hand to fix my hair. He shrugged, and took his seat in front of the Principal's office.

"Thank you Miss Starr." The principal's office door opened, and out came Miss Starr, with a stack of papers in her hands. "Mr. Klife, please come here." Drew jumped up and walked into his office.

Miss Starr walked over, "Did you get the paper out?" I held up my hand, the smeared paper still clutched in a fist. "Oh dear! This will not do!" She scurried over to her desk, and pulled out a pen and a piece of paper. After scribbling something on it, almost as illegible as the smeared piece of paper, she handed it over. “Now go on! Get to class!"

I took the paper, wondering why she couldn't have just written that to begin with, and looked up to thank her. I can't believe he kissed me. What do I tell my husband? Do I tell him at all? I took a startled step backwards, darting my gaze downward. I did not need to know that.   I hurried out of the office, and back into the bright sunlight. The wind had died down and I walked to my first period class, English.

Opening the door, and stepping inside the classroom, I was immediately met by the stares of every student in the room. I pulled my bag higher up onto my shoulder and walked to the back of the classroom where I dropped the tardy note on the teacher’s desk.

Again? She glanced at over her reading glasses.  

I groaned, fought the urge to roll my eyes, and made my way to my seat.      

I remember when Drew moved in down the street. I was in third grade, and he was home schooled until we were both in sixth grade. Because he was home schooled there were always a lot of rumors floating around before he joined public school. But, also because he was home schooled, I was one of his only friends.

We grew up together, hung out everyday, he taught me how to play basketball, and I taught him how to be social. I might have done my job a little too well.  

Middle school came around, and he switched into the public school system. I remember the first day of sixth grade. He was more nervous than I was, but we promised to stick together.  

We walked through the front gate together, the smell of sweat, sunshine, and new sneakers in our nostrils. Drew didn't look like a lot of the boys in our grade. His hair was longer, black, and pulled back in a short pony tail at the nape of his neck. His eyes were a bright blue contrast, giving him a slightly feminine look. I remember when it first happened.   

Kids are ruthless, especially in middle school. It started when a boy, Jacob, came up to us during lunch and straight out asked "are you a boy or a girl?"  

Drew seemed calm, he cleared his throat, and proudly proclaimed "I'm a boy,"  

I lost it. I stood and pulled back my fist. "How dare you ask that! That's not okay! Who do you think you are?" Fortunately for him, Jacob ran before I swung.  

Even though Drew insisted that it didn't bother him, the next day he arrived at school with a brand new haircut.   During lunch that day, Jacob made another appearance. "Hey, are you new?"  

"Back off," I muttered in what I hoped was a threatening tone of voice.  

At the same time Drew spoke, his voice strong and steady, "Yes,"  

I stared at him, startled. Jacob smiled and pointed at his group of friends on the other side of the cafeteria, "Wanna sit with us?"  

Drew bit his lip and glanced at me for approval. I swallowed my pride and smiled, "Go ahead, I'll be fine,"  

He left me that day. He didn't come back. Jacob and his friends changed Drew. In 7th grade he got suspended for ditching too many days of school. Freshman year he got detention nearly every day for smoking on campus. Sophomore year he got expelled for having a bottle of Vodka in his locker. Since that day he left me, I'd only seen him a handful of times. I'd heard the loud music of the parties he would throw when his parents were out of town.. and the sirens that followed. I'd seen him skate boarding down the block, looking angry with the world.   

Today was the first day that I'd talked to him in 2 years.   He was back.