Brighter Than the Sun

chapter 2

“You’re late,” Katherine Hoe said as I ran into my class 5 minutes after the late bell rang. Katherine had a prep-period during 1st period since she had a 0 period. 

“Thank you Miss Holt,” I forced myself to say with a fake smile. Today I was wearing some jeans , a creme colored long sleeve collard shirt with roses on it, and a pink shirt over that. I had planned to look a little professional but my shirts were untucked, my ponytail was off to the side and I had several hairs sticking out and coming out of the ponytail. “All right class please take out your homework and pass it up, also begin writing in your journal and answering the question of the day, no books,” I say as I throw my stuff under my desk. 

“What was it this time Brenin,” Katherine said. I glared over to her. I had hoped she’d left. 

“I ran late,” I said as I sat down. 

“You’ve ran late twice this week and it’s only Wednesday,” Katherine said with a raised eyebrow. 

“Mind your business Holt,” I replied. 

“I wonder what your boss would say if he found out,” Katherine said then turned on her heel and went into her class. I sighed and collapsed down on my seat. This was bad. 

Luke and I haven’t always been ‘friends with benefits’. You see, not long after he and Julia called it quits he moved into the apartment above mine. Luke had little money and he was barely getting by with the rent, so he was always at my place getting food and watching ‘the game’ (which is really when his favorite team is playing and he has one for every sport so he was here all the time AND he likes to know how the ‘competition’ is doing which is every other team). So, one day we were sitting around watching some TV, when the power went out. It was completely dark, and it was a foggy night. So I began to move around to try and find some candles, and Luke got up too. We bumped into each other and landed on the floor. We laughed only for awhile because the next thing I knew we were making out (among other things). Anyway, by the time the lights were turned back on I was panicking and I basically kicked him out. The next day we talked about it and decided that it was one time thing, but a few minutes after we were kissing again. So, we decided on staying just friends, but with a little benefit. We kind of stop when I date, but only when it’s really serious, which it hardly ever is. So, before my ex-boyfriend broke up with me, I told Luke that we had to stop for good and he was ok with it, but now we’re both single and in need of some company, so why not right? “Brenin!” Gray said as he waved his hand in my face. I sat up straight in my chair and looked over to my friend. 

“Helloooo,” I say with a smile. Lucky for me, Gray and I both have the same prep-period. 

“What’s this I here about you being late?” Gray said as he sat on the desk in front of me. 

“Only like 5 minutes,” I say with a shrug. 

“Bre, you can’t afford to be late anymore,” Gray says. I sigh. 

“I know I know, it’s just....” Damn. What am I going to say? It’s just that Luke and I got carried away?

“I thought you were going to start trying to show up on time,” Gray said. And he was right, after  I broke things off with Luke, I told Gray I was going to start showing up on time. There’s just something about Luke in the mornings that drives me nuts; but that’s not the point. 

“I’ll try harder,” I say, and by that I mean waking up earlier. 

“Maybe I should start stopping by to make sure you get there on time,” Gray says. 

“No need for that,” I say with a forced smile. 

 “Maybe I’ll just tell Luke to make sure you leave at the same time he does, that way you’ll be extra early just in case you get a flat tire again, or stop for some doughnuts.”