An Ode to Maria

Everybody knows the feeling of the last few weeks of school. That carefree feeling that you get right after you finish your exams and do nothing but pick your nose.

While these feelings come and go with every new year of school, it was a special kind of feeling when it was your last year in University. It was your absolute last year for schooling of any kind unless you were going to come back for whatever reason. Mostly though, this last bit of school acted as a gateway for your dreadful years as an adult.

For Jeremy these last moments of school consisted of him working up the courage to confess his attraction to somebody he has been chasing for years.

Maria Finley.

She sat next to him during many of their classes during his 4 years in high school, (due to Jeremy's pleads to the teacher, or conveniently changing the names on the seating chart) and she had lived down the block from him their entire life. Jeremy went to her University just for the sake of her being there, in a seemingly desperate way to become closer to her.

Still, it seemed that no matter how much fate told him that they would be together, she still managed to get away from him. She still couldn't remember his name whenever he forced himself to walk up to her to make conversation.

Jeremy didn't exactly 'stand out' per say, but he was nice enough to people and tried to make friends with those around him. He was kind of quiet, and he kept to himself for the most part. Even still, Maria refused to get to know him. Yet Jeremy didn't give up. He believed that after 8 years of being near each other, they would become a staple in each other's lives; as they have become so close... right?

What an ignorant man.

Right now, it was the last day of school and everyone was getting back their art binders and projects they had worked on over the year. Maria was an aspiring artist and went to art school to fulfill her dream. Jeremy had gone to said art school too, but for different reasons. It wasn't an exceptional school, just the good ol' community college.

Jeremy watched solemnly as Arthur, Maria's boyfriend, talked to her about the new idea she was thinking of painting. She wanted to challenge herself to use watercolors, which was a type of paint that she wasn't used to yet. Arthur held her hands and they swung their arms as they talked, looking helplessly in love.

Jeremy wasn't jealous. He knew that they weren't actually dating. He knew that he still had a chance with her. It was just a fling that young people have before they decide to grow up and marry with a stable relationship, and when Maria realized that, Jeremy would be right here waiting.

My dear Maria, I'm sorry.

He looked away and focused on helping the teacher hand out their art binders, which was filled out throughout the year with a multitude of drawings, paintings and the random essay they had to do at the beginning of the semester, based off of the 7 elements of art. The binder itself was turned in and considered the 'final'.

Soon enough, Jeremy got to Maria's binder and saw a very detailed picture of her and Arthur walking into the ocean on the cover. "To four years together' in calligraphy at the bottom of the artwork.

He handed her binder to her upside down, so she wouldn't have to look at the picture. You know, in case she didn't want to be reminded of her mistake of a relationship. Jeremy couldn't blame her.

He flushed when he handed Maria's binder to her. She just took it with her left hand and set it down on the desk in front of her. She smiled with a thank you, looking directly into Jeremy's eyes. He could have died right there. Immediately, she went back to talking with Arthur, but Jeremy turned around and stared off into the distance for a considerable amount of time. He could have sworn that there was a look of admiration in her eyes. He could have sworn that she blushed when she saw him.