Who's the One?

Chapter 21

My door flings open, banging against the wall, and I fly up in bed.

“Wake up! First day back, don’t want to be late”, Doug yells.

“Geeze Doug, can’t go to school if you give me a heart attack”, I put my hand over my racing heart.

“Sorry Lil. Next couple months are classes only, getting ahead so when baseball and swim come around we’ll be set. I’m pumped. Why? Not sure. Get ready.” Doug dashes away.

“Okay”, I grumble to myself. I’m not sharing Doug’s enthusiasm and energy this morning, I didn’t get restful sleep.

I get out of bed and do a couple of stretches to get my blood flowing. I run to the bathroom to brush my teeth and wash my face before the boys take over the bathroom.

Max walks in. “Hurry up. I need to shower.” He scowls at me through the mirror.

“Doug got you up too?”, I ask through the foamy toothpaste.

“Yeah. Why does he get so crazy when school starts? Did he jump on you? ‘Cause he jumped on me.”

I laugh. “Nope.” I wipe my face, then pat Max’s shoulder. “It’s all yours.”

I get back to my room and grab a pair of light jeans. “Alright. What shirt?” I scan through my closet and pick out a striped t-shirt and a grey hoodie. “This’ll do.”

“What do you want for breakfast?”, Doug pops his head into my room.

“I’m not very hungry. I think a shake will be fine.”

Doug smiles. “Easy. I can do that.”

I laugh and shake my head. I get dressed and throw my hair into a high ponytail. “Yup. That’s all the effort I’m giving today.”

Our doorbell rings.

“Got it”, yells Doug.

I grab my backpack and water bottle then walk to the kitchen.

“Who was-”, I freeze up.

“Hey Lil.”

“Hey Dyl”, I smile. “I’m guessing you said yes”, I say to Doug.

“Yeah. I don’t have to do extra work, so why not?” Doug shrugs his shoulders.

“Thanks man. You’re really saving me”, Dylan laughs.

“No worries. Hungry?” Doug throws some chopped bananas into the blender.

“Nah, ate at home”, Dylan replies.

“Let’s get this day over with”, Max says as he walks in.

*    &    *

“He’s carpooling with you guys?”, Dani asks.

“Yup. It’s not a big deal guys, it’ll be fine”, I try to convince them.

“Oh sure, ‘cause seeing the guy who’s in love with you every morning isn’t going to complicate things”, Dani says her words dripping with sarcasm.

“Maybe it won’t. It will be fine, Lil. Just keep it friendly”, Anne says.

“Friendly. I can do that”, I nod.

“Yeah you can. That’s why you have guys falling for you”, Dani laughs.

“Shut up”, I can’t help but laugh with her.

The bell rings so Dani and I head off to French class to start the day off.

On our first day back from break, we already have instructions for a project on the whiteboard.