Leave Your Lover

For Adam

It's Monday and Lisa still isn't back in school. I need her to hurry up and get better so I can apologize to her stupid face and Adam can forgive me. I think. I ran into Adam on the way to first period.

"Hi."

"Have you apologized yet?"

"No Lisa isn't here."

"Then we have nothing left to say."

He's really pissed. I need to say sorry to Lisa. Even though I won't mean it. But anything for Adam. Anything to make him happy.

Lisa comes back to school today. Tuesday, the day my words will have zero meaning. I saw Lisa at her locker. I walked over to her preparing for what happens next.

"I'm sorry. I was heated and I shouldn't have just attacked you like that."

"Sorry doesn't fix my face dumb fuck."

"I know but it's all I can do."

"Well...?"

"What?"

"That's not all you can do. You can wash my car, carry my books--"

"Doesn't Adam already do that?"

"Not if you want me to forgive you." You can spend your whole life hating me for all I care. "You can do my homework, clean out my locker, pay for my lunch. Oh and you can pay for my face you broke." Greedy bitch.

"That's a lot."

"You want me to forgive you or not?"

It's for Adam. It's for Adam. "Sure."

So I did it. For Adam. For tall, dark, and handsome.

I spent the entire week carrying her books to her class and being late to mine in the process. I washed her car every day after school. As if once a week isn't enough. I paid for her lunch. Everyday. I worked extra hours at the McDonald's to pay for her face. I did her homework and mine. Everyday. I cleaned out her locker. Everyday. I had no idea a girl could be so messy. What was crazy is that there was not one picture of Adam in her locker. Usually, when you're in love with a person, you keep tons of pictures of them in your locker with hearts drawn around their face. There was nothing. No love poem. No love letters. Nothing that shows her passions. Her fears. It was empty of what makes a locker yours.

Friday finally came and I was worn out. I went to her locker to carry her books and I asked: "Is this my last day?"

"Last day of what?"

"Taking care your responsibilities."

"Sweetheart this is only the beginning." Oh hell no!

"What!"

"I have scars because of you."

"But my back is killing me and I'm exhausted. I haven't slept in three days."

"You shoulda thought of that before you punched my beautiful face."

Lisa dropped her heavy books in my hand; they pulled me down like an anchor. I was doing this to myself. Why? For some boy? Yes. A very cute, sweet, down to Earth guy who keeps it real. A guy whose smile sparkles more than his eyes. A heartbeat I can listen to for hours on replay.

As I laid on the ground, Adam saw me. Maybe he'll have pity on me and make the suffering stop. "Lisa, what are doing?"

"Getting payback. But she's not quite down yet." I made myself look like I was suffering more than I actually was.

"I think the poor girl has learned her lesson."

"I don't think she has. See I am queen. And this thing needs to know that nobody messes with the queen."

"Queen of the dickheads."

"Excuse me!?"

"You're excused." Adam took the books out of my hands. It feels like a weight has been lifted off of my shoulders. Literally.

"Adam she isn't done."

"Yes, she is. Look at her. She's a wreck." That hurt coming from him but it was working. "I got it from here Lisa. You can go to class."

"Thank you," I replied. I started walking to my locker to get my books for class.

"And hey! I forgive you. But that doesn't mean we're friends. It's clear that you're sorry."

It's finally done. I did it. For Adam.