All Grown Up!

"A Revelation"

"Kimi!" I reluctantly turned my head towards the sound and sighed. "What do you want Chuckie?" I asked. "Lil's here!" I perked up immediately and headed towards the front door. Lil stood there and glanced at me curiously. "What did you want to talk about?"

I shushed her and brought her upstairs to my room. "I have a confession to make," I said as I twisted my purple hair around my finger. "I-" I took a deep breath, trying to get the words out. "I- I like Tommy," I blurted.

Lil's jaw dropped. "No. Effin. Way." I looked at my shoes. "I do. And I think I want to tell him about my feelings this year. We are going to be seniors after all..." I trailed off. Lil looked like she was about to explode. Then she squealed so loudly that I'm positive the neighbors next door heard her.

"I knew it, I knew it, I knew it!" She sighed with contentment. I let her have her moment and then clear my throat. "How should I tell him?" Lil shrugs. "I don't know. Just don't reveal it too early or you could ruin your friendship with him. I sigh, "Yeah, I guess. But what if he likes me back?" Lil grins. "Then you should totally go for it." I nod and change the topic to something else and we talk until she has to leave for dinner.

****
"Kimi! Wake up!" I slowly open my eyes to find Chuckie leaning over me. "It's senior year! We have to get there early so I can avoid the bullies this year." I slowly get up and head to the kitchen to eat. After eating, I go to my room and grab my back-to-school outfit. I'm going to wear a dark purple top with a black skirt and my favorite black combat boots. I put my hair up in a ponytail and head to the bathroom.

I stare myself down in the mirror, looking at my appearance: the black eyeliner under my eyelids, the barely-concealed bags under my eyes, the silver nose ring, my messy purple hair. "This is it. The year that things are finally going to change," I whisper to myself. I smile at the tired girl in the mirror and leave for school.

****

Right when I get to school, Tommy's already waiting for me at my locker. Great. Just my luck. "Hey Tommy!" I wave to him. Tommy grins. "Hi Kimi! I missed you all summer." He hugs me tightly. I think I'm internally screaming right now, no joke. "Who needs a job when you could've been hanging out with this guy all summer?" He points to himself and I laugh. "If you pay for my trip to Japan, I'll gladly hang out with you all summer rather than work."

Just then, Phil and Lil walk up together. Tommy and Phil bump fists and start talking, so Lil and I say bye and go towards our first period. "How are things with Tommy?" she asks, her voice going a bit higher at Tommy's name, and waggles her eyebrows. I shrug. "I dunno. They're normal. It's not like he knows, so it's not any different." Lil nods knowingly. "Bummer," she says. I spot Z as we're walking towards class and wave to him. "Listen Lil, I just saw Z so we'll talk later, K?" Lil nods and walks over to Phil and Tommy.

Z walks over and leans against a row of lockers. "Sup Boot Girl?" "Not much," I shift my bag on my shoulder. "Did your band end up getting a gig this summer?" I ask. I can't help but get butterflies in my stomach when Z's around. He's just such a chill guy and it's so easy to be with him. "Yeah. We actually got a ton, and it's all thanks to you. Man, if you hadn't booked us the gig for the coffeehouse, we wouldn't have had any." I blush. "It was nothing. Honestly. I was just trying to help." Z starts to talk but the bell cuts him off and I leave for class.

Lunch comes sooner than I expect and I'm suddenly nervous about sitting by Tommy.
I need to get it together! Snap out of it Kimi!
I head to our usual table and sit down by Lil. Tommy slides in right across from us and Lil grins mischievously at me. I shove her and we both start giggling. Phil and Chuckie have a seat next to Tommy. They're arguing about who's gym locker smells worse, so Lil and I start talking.

"What'd you think of our Chemistry teacher?" Lil asks.

"Total hottie, for sure. But," I lower my voice, "I only have eyes for one man this year." I wink at Lil. She and I bust out laughing and Tommy glances over.

"What's so funny?" he asks.

We glance at each other and that just makes us laugh harder. The boys all give us a weird look and then keep talking. Lil and I calm ourselves down and eventually the whole group starts talking about our hopes for the year.

"This year, Kimi and I are finally gonna get boyfriends," Lil says. Tommy and Phil roll their eyes at us and Chuckie just stares off into the distance.

"I have bigger dreams for senior year. I'm going to get a scholarship to the New York Film Academy," Tommy says. "What do you want this year Chuckie?"

Chuckie shrugs. "For a girl to like me back," he says miserably. We all laugh.

"I'm sure you'll get a girlfriend this year, Chuckie," I assure him. "Alright, Phil. Fess up. What do yo-" The bell cuts me off. We all gather our lunch and head to class.

****
The rest of the periods go by quickly and it's finally time to go home. "Can you believe we got homework on the first day?" I ask Lil. "I know right! I'm actually kinda missing Harrison's class right now."
We shudder quietly, reminiscing about our horrible teacher, Mrs. Harrison last year. She was extremely rude to kids who didn't behave and assigned heavy things on dance days. When Homecoming arrived last year, I couldn't even go because I had so much homework. It took me 4 hours just to do her assignment, and 2 more to finish my other classes'.
"Are we still on for Java Lava though?" I ask.
"As far as I know... You should double check with the guys." Lil says. I nod and take out my phone.

Diaper Buds ;)

Me: Hey, are we still meeting at the Java Lava?

Sent at 2:47 P.M.

I get a reply and see it's from Tommy. My heart starts to race and I click on the notification.

Tommy: Yeah. Why wouldn't we?

Sent at 2:48 P.M.

Kimi: I dunno... Anyway, see you there!😝

Sent at 2:49 P.M.

"We're still on," I tell Lil.
"Are we carpooling in my car today?" Lil asks me.
"Yep!" I reply and we head to the parking lot.

Published: June 25, 2018