Bouquets of Laughter

Chapter 5: Dust

It's been weeks since I've thought about Richie. I can finally say I've moved on from someone who didn't even talk to me on a regular basis.

No more chasing pavements.

No more chasing people who don't need my attention.

No more.

-

It's 7 A.M. waking up in the morning, gotta be fresh, gotta go downstairs.

I run out the door, completely ignoring the fact that I haven't eaten breakfast yet.

Morning food is for losers.

My stomach grumbles mercilessly, but, momma ain't raise no bitch. I'll just have to survive without breakfast.

I throw my bag into the passenger seat of my car as I hop into the driver's seat. I start the car with fire in my eyes.

Me? Being late? Yeah, right.

-

Traffic is and always will be the worst. Glancing at the time, I grimace at the sight of 7:24 A.M. That means I have exactly six minutes before I'm late to school. If I'm late, then that means it'll be my sixth tardy...and afterschool detention.

This traffic doesn't seem to easing up, either. I guess detention is going to be my new best friend.

-

"Sahara Northernlight! You are late! Go to the office and get a note!" yells my Chemistry teacher, Mr. Eago.

Mr. Eago may be well into his mid-twenties, but he is one fine piece of man. I'd tap that ass any time of the day if a student-teacher relationship wasn't illegal.

Ah, but if we were a thing, wouldn't that make him a pedophile of some sort?

I'll just stick with dudes my age, then. No pedophiles 'round these neck 'o the woods.

"Sahara, exit now before I expunge you myself," he says sternly, his brown hair glistening beneath the light.

I gladly walk out of the classroom and shut the door behind me. I take a quick peek through the classroom door's window and I see him pointing angrily at me and mouthing "go." Laughing lightly to myself, I shake my head and make my way to the office.

On my way to the office, which is in a different building and is across the football field, I spot Angelica and someone else loitering around behind the bleachers.

It looks as though she's trying to desperately stifle her laughs (she's notorious for her hearty laughs that can echoe throughout mountains)

The guy seems intent on making her burst, however, and keeps trying to tickle her. Dorks.

This is all very cute and all, but...is he an official boyfriend? How could she be skipping class right now? I thought she was an angel, hence the name!

Huh. She never told me she had a boyfriend. I carry on and hope she'll tell me about this excellent news.

I yank the door open and walk into the main office.

"Hi, yeah, do you think I could get a pass? I came to school a little late," I say to Marriam, the front desk lady. I have gotten considerably close with her.

She shakes her head and warns, "This is the sixth time, Sahara. The sixth time. Anymore than this, and the principal will want to have a chat with your parents!"

I wave in dismissal and assure her, "This will be the last time! I swear! I won't be late anymore, Marriam."

"Don't be late again."

"Yes ma'am!" I give a quick salute and she chuckles. She hands me my slip and bids me farewell. With the slip in my hand, I slowly walk to class and waltz right back into Mr. Eago's and give him a small wave.

He scowls and I take it as my cue to go to my seat. Class officially begins.

-

"Ahhh, I'm so hungry," says Melissa. She stuffs her hands into her pockets and nudges me with her shoulder.

"Are you eating today?" she asks. I shake my head as we enter the cafeteria. I've got a mission to do.

She speedily hops into the lunchline and frowns at me.

"You really should eat, you know. You'll turn into a walking noteleks at this rate!" she tells me.

I snort at her comment. "Noteleks" is "skeleton" backwards. I didn't expect her to actually use it in sentence, but then again, this is Melissa we're talking about. Anything is possible.

I wave to her a goodbye and she waves back with a smirk on her face knowing she put a smile on mine.

At the table that my group normally sits at, I place my backbag on my seat. I'm not ready to sit my ass down just yet.

I take note that Angelica hasn't arrived. Probably running around with her newfound boyfriend. I frown at the thought that this new "boyfriend" might be another fuckboy.

Oh Angelica! Poor, poor Angelica.

So young, so naïve.

I bolt out the cafeteria's exit, and speedwalk to the center of campus; which happens to be the football field. All four school-buildings surround the field, so if Angelica is anywhere on campus (like she's supposed to be), I'm bound to find her.

Desperately searching for her, I look high and low. I looked behind all the buildings and even at all the parking lots. I looked inside hallways and I looked towards the roofs.

Defeated, and feeling like a dumbnut for being the only idiot running around the entire campus, I head back to the cafeteria.

I feel lightheaded and dizzy. I'm so exhausted. I probably shouldn't have went looking for her.

The next thing I see is the bright blue sky and the pillowy soft clouds.

And then bam, darkness.

-x-x-x-

Stay tuned, I guess.

What's gonna happen to Sahara now!? We'll never know.

(And thank you Rukhsana_M for being so kind and commenting and telling about yo man Manu lmfao)

Published March 4, 2017