Across The Universe

I

I stumbled out my door calling goodbye to my mom as the morning air filled my lungs. I was running late, as usual, but it wasn't because of me. Eliza my best friend, or as she calls herself my 'better half', had gotten up late, delaying our drive to school together.

"You know im going to get a detention if you keep this up!" I scolded her, half joking half hoping shed get the message, "and if I get a detention theres no way im getting into my dream school and if I don't get into my dream school-" She cut me off " You'll never become a doctor and then you'll never marry a surgeon and then you'll never have the most perfect life living in New York City with your two kids and three dogs blah blah blah Ive heard this all before."

I rolled my eyes but smiled, sometimes I felt like when I talked she didn't listen but times like these made me think other wise.

"Plus it doesn't even matter! Its April, you really think the teachers care if were late or not, we're seniors!" She argued back, stressing the fact we were seniors. I hated to admit it but she was right, all the teachers had basically given up, but I couldn't seem to, I hate that about me.

We pulled up to the school not 10 minutes later and i jumped from the car racing to get to homeroom on time.

"You have 3 minutes you know!" Eliza called after me, her voice fading as she got further and further away. Sometimes I wish I could be that carefree, there was always a longing inside of me to be someone different, I hate myself. I made it to my class seconds before the final bell rang and plopped down in my seat, out of breath from my unexpected morning cardio.

"Hey are you ok?" Atticus leaned over to me and whispered, noticing my red face and deep breaths.

"Yeah, I'm fine" I squeaked out, turning more red if that was even possible. Atticus Laney had been my crush ever since the second grade when we were in Ms. Ahrens class together, he was my line buddy. His blue grey eyes and dark brown curls made my stomach do flips and every time he spoke to me I could barely get any words out. The rest of homeroom continued on, filled with information on the civil war and interesting facts about George Washington, plus an assigned project. I was dozing off when suddenly the shock of the bell signaling the period was over filled my ears. I packed up my stuff, scurrying out the door to wait for Eliza by her locker. I leaned against the cold surface, scrolling through my phone and sighing loudly to myself as I thought about the events that occurred with Atticus this morning.

"What are you sighing so loudly about," Eliza popped up next to me, opening her locker and shoving in the one folder she had.

"Atticus talked to me this morning, I completely froze up I'm so embarrassed!" I shoved my face into my hands and groaned. Eliza started laughing, then pulled my hands away from my face.

"Relax, im sure he didn't think anything of it, besides why do you care!" She argued back.

"Thats the whole point! He probably didn't think anything of it which sucks because he's so cute! I just wanted to speak to him once, its senior year, after this I wont see him ever again." The reality of the situation was hitting me hard, why couldn't a guy that I like just like me back!

"Whatever, hey you're still coming over after school right? Chinese food and face masks, our Friday tradition?" Eliza tried changing the subject. I sighed, knowing what she was doing but my sadness subsided when she mentioned later.

"One hundred percent, haven't missed it for the past 18 years why would I now," I laughed. The bell signaling second period rung and I trailed off to my next class. Normally I would never be late to a class but the teacher doesn't show up until 10 minutes in everyday so I knew I'd be fine. I walked into Pre-calc, sitting down in the back and pulling out my notes.

The last bell finally rang, forcing a wave of seniors to run from the building to their cars parked in the senior lot. I waited outside Elizas car, leaning on the hood while I waited for her to come out of the doors. My head was down in my phone and I was scrolling through my Instagram feed when I felt someone hit my shoulder lightly. I looked up thinking it was Eliza but when my eyes met his beautiful blue grey eyes I froze.

"Hey Ariella, so, about the history project we were assigned today..." I was shocked, "I was hoping maybe we could work on it together, you're pretty good in the class and I could use the extra help and plus I kinda wanna hang out with you" Atticus stuttered nervously. He scratched the back of his neck and looked around waiting for me to respond. I stood in disbelief that he was actually speaking to me, Quick Ariella say something you've been waiting for this all year! He wants to hang out with you! Just do what Eliza would do I told myself in my head. It felt like an eternity before I decided to answer but in reality it was probably 2 seconds.

"Yeah! totally, Id really like that, how about tomorrow, if that works for you its whatever im always free?" I stuttered but smiled and nodded, not knowing what to do. I thought to myself in my head Always free? That made you sound like such a loser, having no plans ever.

"Well if you want to give me your number we can text about it tonight?" He suggested, handing me his phone. I blushed and grabbed it, punching in my number and adding my contact. He smiled as I gave it back, our hands touching for a quick moment.

"Ill text you later ok? See ya" He tapped my arm again, running off to his friends that were standing by his car. As he left, Eliza was walking towards me, pointing back and forth from Atticus to me very confused. I hopped in her car and waited for her to bombard me with questions about what just happened. She threw her bag in the back then turned to me, wide eyes with an open mouth.

"Did I just see Atticus Laney ask for your number?" She excitedly squealed. I rolled my eyes and blushed, even I couldn't believe it just happened. The entire ride home was filled with Eliza making up stories about him and I going on dates and marrying each other and growing old together, she was a bit over dramatic. We pulled up to my house and said our see ya laters knowing within 2 hours we would be together again. Thats the max amount of time we can spend apart, we've never gone longer than 2 hours without talking or hanging out. Except for the one time Eliza got mono and I wasn't allowed to see her, we still video chatted even then. I plopped down on my bed, and pulled my laptop from my bag. I opened up to Netflix and set an alarm on my phone to wake me up in 2 hours. I pressed play on the next episode of How I Met Your Mother and slowly drifted off to sleep.