Reconnect: The Story of an old flame

Part 19: Going in circles...

August 2002

"You're early." I heard the voice from behind me say as I looked through my notes.

"Plenty to do today." I muttered, beginning to put them away. 

"Homework? It's the second day of school." Jake said, still watching over my shoulder. 

"Tell that to my teacher." I replied coldly. 

"So?" He asked. I looked up at him. 

"So?" I replied. 

"Are you going to tell me what happened yesterday?" He asked. 

"What do you mean?" I said, moving to stand. I was caught off guard as he outstretched his hand and took mine, helping me up. 

"Why were you late?" He asked, releasing me once I was standing. 

"Shouldn't you have asked that yesterday?" I asked, annoyed. 

"Look, I'm sorry I lost my temper." He said. I looked at him for a second. Unlike yesterday, he looked contrite and relaxed, almost as if nothing had happened. 

"Me too." I said.

"So what happened?" He asked again. 

"It's kind of personal." I said, not wanting to disclose it. "But I did give a note to Mr. Pine. Legitimate excuse." 

He looked at me for a moment. 

"Okay." He said with a shrug as more people began to come into the room.  

I began to fiddle with my cymbal straps, pretending I wasn't watching him but I couldn't help it. Carol had walked in and he was leaning against the door on the opposite end of the drumroom, laughing at something she was saying.  I noticed the way he was so relaxed around her and the way she casually flirted. Honestly, they were pretty good together. I remember thinking that. I remember seeing them and thinking they were a good match and I remember that it bothered me. 

Carol was about 6 inches shorter than I- her hair was the same dark brown except she wore it neatly trimmed above the shoulders and it was straight. Mine was long, beneath my waist and unruly. Unless I brushed it out for a while there was no way I could wear it down. We could be considered similar, after all, we both managed to look effortless. Of course, it was for different reasons. I really took zero effort into my appearance and Carol did just enough to shine. She made it look easy, with those big pretty eyes, the same shade of brown as mine.  I wondered if he like petite women, or if he liked brunettes... then I thought of Connie who was closer to my height and realized it must be brunettes. Although there wasn't a whole lot of variety around these parts. 

I turned to the other door, trying to distract myself and as if on queue, Amy walked in. 

"Hi." She said, looking like death. It was always the same, she wasn't really a morning person. 

"Hey." I said quietly, checking the straps on my cymbal and deciding they were tight enough. 

"How was work yesterday?" Amy asked as she noticed how somber I looked. 

"It was okay. Busy." I said, placing my cymbals on the floor outside the drumroom and then turning to grab my set book. 

"Morning!" Jake said, turning towards Amy who was now setting up.

"Hello." She said. 

"So where do you work?" He asked, saying a few hellos to the guys who were now taking out their drums. The room quickly filled and there was chaos everywhere.