Graduation

Part One: A Romance

Richie looked around him. No hand was up and Ms. Bilecki was looking for an answer. He raised his hand slowly. All heads turned to him as his hand fully extended into the air. "Richie?" He darted his eyes to Avina, who was looking straight at him; and then back to Ms. Bilecki who was now waiting for an answer. "The chemical name to bleach is Sodium Hypochlorite."
"Very good Richie. You may as well be a chemist one day. Class 8-6, this is the example that you should all be following. Do this and-" The bell rung and interrupted Ms Bilecki mid sentence. She spoke over it but no student could interpret what she had to say, nor did they care. Even Richie himself was too focused on Avina to hear what she had to say. The way that her skin glowed against the late afternoon sun, the way she parted her hair with her delicate fingers. When Richie was looking at Avina, everything was ok.
"Please read over Chapter 4 and 5 for this weekend and complete all of the questions." The class groaned. "Also, have a happy final weekend before graduation of eighth grade!" This seemed to cheer everyone up, but also make everyone sad at the same time. "Why are we getting homework if it's the last weekend? This school shit makes no sense." Exclaimed Matthew Truong. "Shhh, don't be too loud Matthew, Ms Bilecki might hear us!" Giggled Avina. "Damn, I didn't know whales had hearing!" Said Matthew. Avina giggled a lot more. She had to turn away from everyone and quickly grab a tissue to her face. A booger had burst out of her nose due to Matthew's joke. Of course, no one else knew that. To Richie, she looked like a princess, elegantly dabbing away excess moisture from her skin.
"Hey guys, the grad dance is coming up. You guys got partners?" Said Mark. "Yeah, I heard you're going with Avina." Said Sulaiman as he looked at Richie. Richie blushed and quickly hid his face under his hoodie. Embarrassed, he yelled at Sulaiman and told him to shut up. Sulaiman laughed and said with a sly smile "Ouuu, so it is true. Look how embarrassed you're getting. Clearly, a telltale sign of loveeee." Meanwhile, Avina was also getting embarrassed but not in the same way as Richie. She just didn't feel that way towards him. "Guys, don't bully that poor thing. We're all just friends!" "Sure thing, if you're just friends with Richie, then I'm just friends with my dog!" "Uhhhhhh..." Mark looked at Matthew weirdly. "Wait nevermind, gotta go." Matthew quickly picked up his backpack and left the classroom.
"Yeah guys, Sulaiman and I are gonna go to. We have some studying to do and we're gonna go on that date we planned yesterday." Mark said. Avina thought in her head how cute it was that Mark and Sulaiman had ended up dating. She had always wanted a relationship like it, but no guy was ever there for her. Other than Richie, every guy she had ever talked to had either been gay or a dick when it came to romance. She looked up and caught Richie glancing at her. He quickly looked away. Richie blushed slightly. "I'm gonna go to. I have to babysit Robert today." "Isn't he your twin? Isn't he older than you?" Said Avina, confused. "Yeah but I just have to." "Um, ok..cya." Said Avina, smacking her lips. Richie walked away and looked back before leaving, expecting a wave, but just got a weird stare from Avina.
Hmm, maybe she likes me too, he thought. Avina was thinking about what flavour of ice cream she was going to get today.
The weekend came and left quickly. By the time the gang had all made it to school on Monday morning, the school doors had been locked. They all stood outside in the rain, helpless to the elements that splashed on and around them. Mark and Sulaiman decided to leave together by sharing an Uber and decided to go to Square One and spend as much time together as possible, before Sulaiman had to leave for Saudi Arabia. Matthew had started balling up by himself on the new rim that Mr Ali had installed the previous month. For Richie, this was the perfect time. He was alone with Avina and he had practiced the same speech a thousand times.
"Avina, I've wanted to talk to you about something for a long time. Ever since I met you, you've always been a great friend to me and supporting. I don't know if you'll feel the same way but-" "What is UP dudes, whip whip nae nae bioches!" Aleks came huffing to the doors and interrupted Richie before he could finish. Avina checked out Aleks in his sexy black body suit and promptly kissed him on the cheeks.
"I don't remember if I told you yet, but this is my new boyfriend, Aleks." "Totally dude, we just like, connected and stuff and like, yeah dude. She thought I was boyfriend material and I know I am, so yeah broo." Richie was taken aback. How could such a devastating monster like Aleks have stolen his girl. And right when he was about to ask her to the grad dance. Meanwhile, Aleks started peppering Avina with kisses and they both wooed at each other. Richie swore he could hear Avina purring lightly. Richie ran off in tears, without showing anyone. He cleaned himself up and then entered the school through the back door. At this moment, he then bumped into Janet. His ex-lover. "Oh hi Richie, wow you're soooo wettttttt. What happeneddddd honeyyyyy." She said in her high pitched voice. "Oh nothing, just the rain. And I've been meaning to ask you.." Richie thought about Avina, then Aleks, and then the grad dance. He mad a decision right there and then. He would have to get back together with Janet to flex on Avina, no matter how annoyed he would be with her. He always knew Avina had some jealousy for Janet's looks.
"Janet, I..I think that I still love you. I really want us to get back together and I would love to dance with you tomorrow at the dance. Do you love me back?" "Oh. My. God. Richieee of course I still love you!!!!!! I cannot wait for this dance!" And with that, Richie sighed. At least he would have a date.