Darkness

Friends One Last Time

I went to school on Monday like everything was normal. Staying in the car with my brother gave me extra time to think, or finish any of my homework I hadn't gotten to. I had track today which made me really happy because I wouldn't have to deal with anyone other than my team for two hours after school. When we walked through the doors of the school, and I started my walk to my first period I had a weird feeling the whole walk there.

When I arrived and started to walk to my seat, I noticed there was a larger ice coffee and a chocolate sprinkled doughnut sitting on my desk. I asked the kids around me if it was meant for me and they all nodded their head yes. The coffee was exactly how I liked it, three sugars and three creams. I figured it was from Payton, so I sent her a quick "thanks" before slipping my phone into my bag. I was a happy person all through math, and when the bell rang to go to second my coffee was half way done.

I didn't walk the way I would to see Payton, instead I went my old way, and arrived to second on time for the first time in a long time. Payton still hadn't texted me back, nor had she read my message, so I wandered if she had even come today. If she didn't give me the breakfast, then who did? I didn't pay attention in second or third period, and by the time I got to fourth I was ready to see Payton.

"Have you seen Payton today?" I asked Allie

"Yeah. Why?"

"She hasn't read my messages, and I haven't seen her yet."

"Oh, well I'm sure you'll see her when we go down to band."

I really hoped I would. Last night was so amazing, and I knew she was happy too. At least, I hoped she was. My mind was set on seeing Payton the whole class period, and I hadn't written a single thing down from the board. The bell rang and I asked if Emma if she could send me the notes after school. My head was turned over, and I almost ran into the table as we left class.

Allie and I took an unusual way to band which surprised me. It was longer and went up around the library instead of going by the auditorium like we always did. After I said bye to her I waited at the end of the hall for Payton, but three minutes after the tardy bell she still hadn't come. I headed up to lunch, and when I got to my table there was six roses where I normally sat. I asked my group where they came from, but none of them said anything, just smiled. I ate my salad with the roses in my lap, and after I was done eating I went to the bathroom to wet some paper towels to wrap around my roses.

In fifth period my friends asked who gave me the flowers, but I couldn't give an answer because I really didn't know. I wanted to believe that it was Payton, but my mind at this point really didn't know.

Sixth period came, and I saw Payton walk in. It was the first time I had seen her today, and as soon as I saw her a smile was across my face. She didn't look at me though, not at all. We were taking notes in class, so I couldn't look back at her, but now my hopes were dropping that she had done the sweet things for me this entire day. As sixth period came to an end we started to pack up our stuff; Payton turned away from me.

The one hundred and fifty-eight steps I took to health that day seemed to drag on for way too long before I ended up at my seat. Payton came in right before the bell, and for the whole class she didn't mutter a single sound. The sound in the room seemed different without her talking, but there wasn't anything that I could do about it. The bell rang for the end of the day and I headed out to wait by the door for her. She didn't look at me as she turned left out of the door, through the cafeteria, and out the doors to her bus.

I checked my phone when I had sat down in the locker room. There wasn't anything from Payton; she hadn't even opened my text from first period. Something was up, and I hoped she would tell me soon.

I opened up my locker to get my stuff out when I noticed a letter on top of my bag. It had my name on it, and as I opened it, and read it I was excited yet scared. All it said was to make sure that I looked nice tomorrow, but that wouldn't be too hard for me since I did that every day. I was stunned by the compliment, and now I wanted tomorrow to come sooner. The other girls had gathered in the room now, and once we were all finished changing we headed up the weight room. Being Monday, we had a hard workout, but a light run. I loved it. Especially because it was too cold to run outside so we would get to run the hallways. This made it fun because any teacher that was still in the building got to watch us run as we made our big "circle."

Track finished around five, and when I got home I started on my homework while I waited for dinner. I didn't text Payton since I didn't want to upset her.

Homework was complete, I had eaten, and I had showered. I stood in my closet trying to decide what I wanted to wear. Tomorrow was originally planned to be a hoodie day, but since I was told to dress nice I wanted to change what I had planned. Finally, I settled on my dark wash jeans, white high-top converse, and a baby blue long sleeve shirt with white stripes down the sleeve. I placed it on my dresser, and then started to pick up my room.

It was a little before eleven by the time I had gotten into bed. I was exhausted, and I hoped sleep would come to me soon. I turned on my computer for the light and sound like I always did and the rolled over. For a few minutes I laid in bed thinking, but with my eyes closed it didn't take long to go into a slumber.

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