The World I Know

Chapter 1: Alex

       "Just two bialves Mom!" I yell down, after she once again reminds me that, the bright sun is about to set, the silver-moon is rising, and I'm going to be late for school. I race down the steps with my sweater in hand, grabbing my backpack along the way. Ice-season is coming, but it's going to be a warm one, so we haven't even picked up jackets from the local shop yet. I race past my mom as she reaches out her hand and stops me.

         "Alex, darling, you must stop doing this, try getting up before the sun sets, maybe you might actually have time to eat some food before you leave." She's always so concerned, but so is everyone's parents. She tries her hardest so the best I can do is try to keep her happy.

         "Okay Mom, I'll do it tomorrow. And also, don't you have to work today?" She's what I guess is called an EP? She only just told me like, last month what she does for work. An EP is an emergency personnel? She doesn't really do much but sit and wait and study and do paperwork, since there are never any emergencies. Everyone knows immediate aid, it's required to learn once you turn 8, and relearn every year.

         "No, I have today off for once," she said, with her usual resentment, though not as strong. She hates sitting around all day, and since Dad left, she hates being home alone. 

       "I could always skip school?" I asked, with a bit of hope. Hope that I could somehow make up for making Dad leave. Make up for ruining our life. She never talks about it, but I'm sure it's my fault, whose else could it be?

      "You know better. Besides, Cams's coming over." She shrugged, suggesting it was no big deal.

      "Cam's coming over," I repeated, the statement not quite connecting yet. Cam is mom's boyfriend, and someone I approve of. "Cam's coming over? Oh, my, word. Cam's coming over!" I shouted while jumping up and down. It finally clicked "Yes! Yes! Yes yes yes! Alright, I'm leaving for school! Have fun with Cam!" I turned out the door and started my morning run towards school.

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      "She?" my best friend, Payton, asks while looking me up and down, catching up to me in the hallway. Payton is one of those natural beauties that wear makeup simply because she enjoys putting it on. She only uses mascara to brighten her amber doe eyes, and sometimes a bronze concealer when necessary.

"I was actually considering getting my nails done today," I mentioned as nonchalantly as I could, just waiting to see her reaction. Almost every day she asks me if I want to get my nails done with her.

"You're kidding, right? You've got to be kidding! Oh my yes! I'm going to skip Analization class just to run over and set up an appointment! I'm so happy!" Throughout all of this, she's mimicking my excited movements from when I found out Cam was coming over. Right! Cam!

"Guess what else you won't believe," I said mysteriously.

"What?" Payton answered her usual response.

"Cam's going over to my house later," I said semi-bluntly, trying to hide my excitement.

"You're kidding!"

"Nope!" There was no use hiding my excitement. We both started jumping up and down screaming at each other in uncontainable excitability. Ending our excitement was the tone for classes to start. We both stop dead, and looked around, noticing all the other student had already left the soft blue colored lockers closed, and the hardwood floor bare.

"Shit!" Payton exclaimed, very loudly.

"Payton! Hush! Don't you dare get me in trouble to ruin my mom's day!" It was the last thing I wanted to do, ruin one of the best days in my mom's life.

"Too late," Payton pointed out as we pounded past the tan walls with dark trim, to my Advanced Problem Solving Class, and her Future Planning Class. "See you later! Mall, 09:00?" She yelled as we branched off different directions.

"Yes!" I exclaim back just before slipping into my classroom as quietly as I could. As I slink towards my seat someone comes up behind me and taps on my shoulder. I turn to see the instructor, standing with her hips slightly cocked to the left, hands resting on them.

"Good try Alex. I heard you devilishly planning to go to the Mall while you were skipping my class?" She asked looking me up and down, questioning. She is taller than me, about 6"2', had soft, brown hair that effortlessly looks gorgeous no matter how it's put up, harsh, oval-shaped brown eyes that show a kindness she tries to hide but fails, and a hint of amusement she doesn't bother to hide. She has full, gorgeous lips that are always painted a darker red, almost maroon. Now they're pursued as she waits for my reply.

"Yes, but can I tell you a secret?" I whisper as I lean in. Kate is my favorite instructor, my school mom.

"You always can. What is it?" She can obviously see my excitement, and her eyes start to light up, as she guesses before I can even speak. "Cam's coming over?" She asks in a hushed, elated voice. She somehow seems more excited than Payton was, even though she is the calmest person I have ever known. I nodded, smiling from ear to ear. "Then go to your seat and tell me about it tomorrow." She gave me a little push and turned to begin the class.