Crash

1: May, June, July

Her chin was rested in her hand as she leaned over on her desk, staring at the whiteboard and Mrs. Corinna. April was bored, it was obvious. I give myself at least ten more seconds to quit staring at her before it got creepy until--

"Casper?"

I hear a loud annoying voice that makes my headache worse. Shit.

I cough and reply, "Yeah?"

"Could you read number 23 for the class?"

I thought about that stupid vine that everyone has been talking about. How Jared was 19 and how he can't fucking read or some shit.

I open my mouth to read, and as the words came out my voice suddenly cracked and I saw April giggle from across the room. I'm not sure if she's trying to be cute, but it didn't help. 

Mrs. Corinna stopped me after a few paragraphs and made some other kid read. I sighed after my turn was over, but I couldn't stop thinking about how April laughed at me. Was she supposed to laugh at me? Does she dig me? Do girls who dig guys laugh at them? I mean, if I was a girl, I wouldn't laugh at someone whose voice cracked while being singled out in front of a class.

I feel a buzz come from my desk and I glance over at the screen, trying to be low key.

James: hey, wanna ditch 6th period? i got stuff on my mind and im sure you do too.

I look around to see what Mrs. Corinna was doing. She was sitting at her desk on April's side of the room, so I could quickly respond to James before the last four minutes of class pass by.

I pick up my phone and open up James' message. Staring at it, I think of a better way to say "yes" without being too ecstatic. I wanted to get out of here. My headache was never going away if I kept staring at April's bright red hair. This was my only class with her. I hated it, but I loved it.

Casper: sure, wanna hit up chipotle? im feeling a burrito rn.

Quickly, James responds:

James: sounds good cya in like 2 seconds

I count to two, even if I knew he wouldn't be around.

---

"So dude, you're not going to believe what just happened to me," James spoke, buckling his seat belt in the passenger seat of my blue PTcruiser.

I always knew what kind of story he was going to throw at me. James was the kind of guy who always had something interesting to say. Something to talk about. A story to tell. They almost always start with "yo, you're not gonna believe" and that makes me pay attention. This time, it felt different because he had so much going on at home. I could believe what was happening to him.

"Spill."

"So my mom this morning decided to SPEAK to me," he starts to say. I finally turn on my car and let out a big sigh,

"Was it that bad?"

"Yeah, it was 'that bad.' I didn't know this woman could be so pissed at me for wanting to move out before summer starts. She knows she can live alone with the stupid cat. Maybe she's just jealous because I can actually get somewhere with my life." James roared on the last sentence, and I could tell he didn't mean it.

James loved his mom and took care of her when she needed it, but I knew about their relationship. It was better than James thought it was. They would watch movies together and go to concerts they've never heard of.  His father had passed away when he was 11, and now that he's 18, things are changing for both of them. James was still one of the best people I've known, and I can proudly call him my best friend. Even if he was a little loud.

After discussing with James about being more patient with his mom and how she's been acting, we drove for a few more minutes. I knew that Chipotle was a little far, but I didn't complain because I got to spend time with James and not the rest of the boys.

Pulling into the Chipotle parking lot, James turns down "Slippery" by Migos and claps his hands together like he had a fantastic idea. Approaching a parking spot, I take my hands off the wheel and look over at my friend to see him holding up a ten dollar bill.

"THIS is for driving me places and being the bestest friend in the world," James made his voice a little higher on the last part of his sentence.

Grabbing the money, I laugh at him and mutter "gay."