Breaking Point

Chapter Three

Who knew a yearbook held more history than a history book? Not I, and I have a 140 IQ. Well, at least the last time the school checked it a few years ago. These books don't only include the history of the school but also the town's. I thought to myself while flipping through the pages. This book is so stereotypical it hurts knowing that it hasn't ended. I look at these pictures and seeing their excitements when it came to pep-rally days and homecoming week. Sadly, nerds don't exactly get to enjoy any of these events. We are the tech team, the group of people who stays behind to make sure everything in the school is running. We all take turns every time there's a pep-rally to make sure everything goes accordingly. The others that aren't participating get to go home early.

"We've been at this for an hour, when will you realize that the names are fake?" Josh asks with annoyance in his voice. I roll my eyes at him. We are currently in the library doing research for our project.

"I didn't ask you to join Josh—"

"I didn't have a choice," he says interrupting me as he flips through the book.

"Actually you did," I said finally looking away from the yearbook. "You said we'd never be seen together at school," I reminded him carelessly as I go back to the page I left.

"Sometimes things don't work out as planned," he states with an attitude in his voice. He was trying his best to keep his cool but is failing badly. Usually I wouldn't care to carry a conversation but for some odd reason I find myself responding and attempting to carry the conversation.

"Not if you plan it right,"

"Yup... 'cause getting cheated on is something you can count on happening," he snaps, as my face went to a complete shock. "I'm..." he started to say after seeing my face. "I have to go," he added grabbing his belongings off the table and speeding off out of the library and out of sight.

I sigh knowing I poked the bear a little too hard. But can you blame me? I didn't know that's what he was thinking of. He was perfectly fine yesterday after leaving my house. Something must have happened between last night and this morning. Really? You don't say Mrs. obvious. The voice in my head retorted.

"You might as well live in here," I heard a voice I would recognize anywhere says.

"Haha" I said looking up at him while he kisses my forehead as I smile at him; before going and pulling the chair where Josh was sitting. "hello to you too Nate,"

"You okay? You seem a little off," he asks caringly as I nodded. I didn't have it in me to tell him about Josh but I'm not supposed to. I'm lying to one of my closest friends, soon enough I'll be lying to both of them and they will slowly drift away and soon they will hate me and no longer want to be friends with me anymore. Which means I won't be the maid of honor at Jackie's wedding, or the the godmother of her first born. And I'll die alone because Jackie won't be there to find me a boyfriend, who will become my husband. I sigh knowing that I might be overthinking the small situation. I decided to pack my stuff and head to my first period of the day. I said goodbye to Nate and headed out of the library, as he looks at me strangely.

I walk the ghost like halls seeing everything as if it's the first and last time. Classes don't start until 8:30 a.m. and it's 7:14 a.m. The only people that's ever here this early are the janitors, the athletes who are downstairs in the gym, Nathan and Jackie.

The halls were quiet, the wall decorations were easier to see, the red and white painted walls stood out more. I read every poster and looked at every ceiling art. Realizing how much I'm not able to see with the division of the jocks and nerds. The separation between the groups prevent us to see the bigger picture. It prevent us from seeing things like the unfair privilege that each group has. Each group has expectations, like the nerds are expected to be smart and have a GPA of 3.5 and up; while the jocks are expected to focus on the game and win state championship every year regardless of their grades.

I sigh seeing how much pressure both groups are being put under. I just wished they'd see and feel it too. The pressure isn't the only problem, there's also a lot of restrictions. Nerds can't go to parties, winter formal or prom. While jocks stay away from the library, chess clubs, and debate teams. The groups don't realize that our paths were already chosen for us before we were even born. Sadly but surely.

"You haven't said a word all day," Nate states taking a seat next to me. "and I come to find you here in deep thought," he added. I'm currently on the rooftop. The rooftop is my getaway from the school, the drama, and the world. I come up here every time something is too much for me to take.

"What is bothering you so much A.P?" he asks studying my body language. I stood up and walked towads the balcony. I looked at the beautiful horizon. I look at the angle where the sky and the ground meet, where the earth ends.

"Do you ever wish you could attend the winter formal or the parties?" I ask not taking my eyes off the view.

"Attending formal would be awesome but parties I don't know. Why you ask?"

"Three people, just three people changed and created our future. They didn't even try and they changed everything,"

"A.P.–"

"James, Amanda, and Robert. My grandmother tells me the story of how high school used to be when she attended. It sounded amazing, it was a time we can only imagined of. Where everyone got along and didn't care rather you played sports or not, they didn't care rather you were smart or not. It was a time where friendship was all that mattered. But along the line three people lost that. Three people changed everything," I said with an attitude but keeping my posture, which instantly fell apart when Nate hugged me. He simply hugs me and allowed me to feel whatever it was I was feeling. And at the moment that's all I needed as I buried my face into his chest as my body start to shake as I cry; as he rubs his hands on my back comfortingly and caringly, treading me like a fragile yet delicate flower.

Jaqueline Rodriguez is pictured