A Spark of Love

Hunter

When the graduation ceremony is finally over, we head back to the car.

"Do you mind if I drop you off at Kevin's? I want to go check on your mom."

"Sure. Of course."

We don't talk again until we reach Kevin's house.

"Just call when you are ready for me to pick you up."

"I can find a ride or walk. It's not that big of a deal."

"Alright, but if you want me to come get you, just call."

I take off the gown and throw it in the back seat, on top of the cap, and close the passenger door of his car. I stand on the curb and watch as he turns around down the street and I wave to him as he drives by. He doesn't wave back. I don't think he even saw me. His mind must be a million miles away. If I know him, he's probably worried about Mom.

I hope she's alright. The music blaring from Kevin's backyard draws my attention back to reality and I put a smile on my face as I walk around the side of the house. I'm going to try to have fun. I don't know if I'll be able to, but I promise myself that I will try.

Once I make it to the back yard, I'm greeted by the smiles of many of classmates that have just graduated, many of them ready to party, but I don't stop to exchange passed pleasantries. I want to see Kevin. I finally spot him, by the food table, where there is a group of people gathered around him, mostly what looks to be members of his extended family that came to town for his graduation, so I lean against a tree and wait my turn.

Every few minutes, one of the family members moves and I catch a brief glimpse of Kevin, and each time I wave to try and get his attention, but he doesn't notice me after three tries so I give up.

Defeated, I look around and do some people watching. Everyone seems so happy. It's kind of weird. Usually, I would be right there with them, laughing and having a great time, but it all seems so pointless now. I feel like I have nothing to look forward to. Thank god for Kevin. If I didn't have him I don't know what I would do.

"Hey, Bella."

I turn to the voice I don't recognize. I think his name is Hunter. I'm not sure, though, I've never actually talked to him, but going to a school the size of mine, it was hard to not at least have some idea of who everyone was. He smiles at me and pushes his glasses back up on his face. They instantly slide down and come to a rest right on the edge of his slightly upturned nose.

"Hey."

I'm not sure what to say to him.

"So, are you looking forward to State?"

Blegh. The thought of State made me sick. I didn't want to talk about what my life was turning into, not with anyone and definitely not with Hunter.

"Yeah...I'm really excited."

"Me too! I can't sleep at night. It's going to be so amazing."

I nod. I want to scream. I want to grab him and shake him. I feel a hand come to rest on my shoulder and I turn around. It's Kevin and he hands me a red, plastic cup and gives me a kiss on the cheek.

"What did he want?"

I turn back around, but Hunter is gone and I don't see him anywhere. Weird.

"I have no idea."

"What a weirdo," Kevin says.

I wrinkle my forehead at him.

"What? He's a total nerd. He was on the chess team."

"I didn't know we even had a chess team," I say.

Kevin laughs.

"He was the only one on it. What a freak."

Kevin's hostility toward Hunter is strange and making me feel uncomfortable. I take a sip out of my cup, which turns out to be punch and look past him at the food table.

"I'm hungry."

I walk past Kevin, toward the table and set down my cup and pick up a plate. I'm not really hungry. I actually don't have an appetite at all, but I wanted to get out of that conversation. Kevin, who was always kind and nice to people, was acting strangely.

The thought crosses my mind that Kevin could possibly be jealous of Hunter, in some way, but it sounds crazy.

I put some potato salad and a roll on my plate and takes a seat at one of the folding card tables. People I've known for years walk past me to get food, not even glancing in my direction, and I suddenly feel very alone. And invisible. I want to run away. I want to leave all this behind.