Jawbreaker

Monday, January 23rd, 2017

7:00 am

Beep Beep Beep! I turn on my side and glare at my alarm clock. Beep Beep Beep! I hit off and get out of bed. I walk over to my closet and start getting ready.
I pick out a pair of gray joggers and a white crop top and pull a loose blue knit cardigan over myself. It doesn't look too cold outside.

7:33 am

After a quick breakfast I start heading for school. I walk a block and head for the subway station. As I wait for the subway, something catches my eyes. A flash of orange. No way, I must have been imagining it. I only know one person with hair that vivid.

Ugh, get a hold of yourself, Nani!

Lots of people are gingers, and besides why would Parker be here. I mean, the world isn't that small. Its been three years since I've even heard from him. I need to let it go.

Let it go, let it go!

Ugh, I'm such a dork. What is wrong with me today?

7:45 am

The subway rolls into the station perfectly on time, which is a first. I hop on thinking of Parker. My move was so sudden and so painful for both of us, but that's how the military works, we both understood that. It wasn't even like we were a couple on anything, just really close friends. Still, that move was more painful than my other ones.

                                    *Flashback*

"Morning Nani," I cringe not wanting to ruin Parker's chipper mood, but also wanting to put the facts out into the open.

"Parker-" I begin.

"Uh oh, I feel a lecture coming on, 'not listening mode' activated." God, what a dork.

"Parker while you were away-"

"I'm sorry did you say something." Yelled Parker putting a hand to his ear.

"While you were suspended." Putting an emphasis on the last word. Parker just grinned sheepishly up at me, I crossed my arms and pouted.

"I'm leaving Parker."

He was listening now, all playfulness draining out of his freckled face.

"Nope." He said shortly.

"What?"

"I am having a perfectly good day Nani Adams, and I will not have you ruin it." I sighed frustrated with him."Now, we will pretend you never told me that and we aren't going to talk about it anymore. Understood?"

And we didn't, not even on my last day. He didn't even know it was my last day. It was too painful. It was torture, but i promised not to talk about it.

One day I was there and the next day I was gone.

                                 ************

7:55 am

When I finally arrive at school, I head strait for the library. I not a huge nerd or anything, I just need to mull some things over, and everywhere else in school is too loud. I grab a book at random and pretend to read it in an oversized armchair next to a window that overlooks the football field.

"Uh..." I am vaguely aware of someone talking to me."You're not pregnant, are you?"

I turn around to see Matt laughing at me. What was he playing at?

"Excuse me?"

He snorts and then points at my book. For the first time, I look at it. "Dealing with Teenage Pregnancy" I throw the book down and stand up on the chair.

"Oops." Is really all I can say. I can tell I'm blushing from head to toe.

We are approached by the school librarian, Anna. She's only eighteen and a high school dropout. Pretty much the exact opposite of what you would expect of a school librarian. She dropped out of school when she was my age because she had to take care of her cancerous brother, Jimmy. The school felt bad for her so they gave her a job.

I spent so much time in the library this year that we had become close friends. Wow, I do sound like a nerd.

She looks at the book on the floor and throws her head back, laughing.

"Ms. Adams, Mr. Towell..." She said between giggles."I have come....to inform you to..." She stops laughing and grins at us profoundly. I roll my eyes and Matt groans. "I have come to inform you to...SHHH!" She walks away giggling at herself and her favorite joke. What a dork.

"You haven't answered my question." Matt whispers looking legitimately concerned.

"Really?" I ask him."Did you really just ask me that?"

He looks sheepish and scratches his wrist like he always does when he's uncomfortable. Its a weirdly cute gesture. "I don't know? I mean...it happens."

"Let me rephrase that, did you really just ask me that?"

Realizing I was teasing him, he teased back, grinning,"You're right. Good little girl like you." He reached down and put a finger on my nose."Dream on."

He walks away laughing as I stick my tongue out at him.

Jerk.

"He is so into you." Anna says from the checkout counter.

"What?" I don't think I heard her right.

Me, into me?

"You are so blind, Nani. He literally cannot make it anymore obvious."

Dream on.

I walk out the library completely and totally confused.

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What do you think? How do you like Matt?

Just warning you, I'm coming up on finals week, so I might not post as frequently. So, sorry in advance. Love ya!

Femi