I rise the next morning, bright and early. The sun has barely swept over the horizon, and a fine print of circles are surely decorating the skin under my tired eyes.
There’s only three days left until spring break, I tell myself.
A frown crosses my features as another thought weaves it way into the picture.
And until Scotty leaves.
I recall my phone conversation with Erica, and decide that I should tell Scotty to come over after school so we can talk. My father and Jessica will be at work until five, which gives us plenty of time to discuss what will - or won’t - happen come Wednesday.
I ruefully slide through the motions of getting ready, stumbling out the door and into the fresh morning. The air smells like spring already, and a warm breeze indicates the forthcoming of a beautiful day. It’s a shame that I have to spend such a day cooped inside learning things I don’t care about, when I could be spending it with Scotty.
The fact that the next three days will be cut short due to school angers me, and I approach the bus stop with a not-so-welcoming demenor.
Steph is already there, munching on a granola bar. A coffee mug is in her hand, and her blonde hair is pulled back in a ponytail. She hears my footsteps and turns to look at me, and the hint of a smile crosses her lips before her happy words do.
"I found a boy!" she squeals.
I stand there, not really knowing what to say. My mouth twists into what I hope is a convincing smile and ask, “Really? Who is it?”
Steph gives me a confused look. “I thought you’d be more excited for me.”
"I am excited for you, I’m just having a bad morning. I really do want to hear about this new boy," I tell her, half-smiling.
She doesn’t linger on the subject of my bad mood for long, and soon launches into a tale of how she was forced to go to the grocery store for her mom on Saturday after she helped me with my outfit. There, she - literally - bumped into a dark-haired, bright-eyed boy who said he lived in the next town over and attended the local community college. And he not-so-smoothly asked for her number so he could call her sometime.
"He is so perfect!" Steph says with a dreamy sigh. I can practically see the stars in her eyes. "He loves country music, and he has a truck!"
I can’t help but roll my eyes as she continues to tell me how they went out yesterday, and that they have plans for another date later on this afternoon.
"Wow, I’m really happy for you," I say. "He sounds really great."
"He’s amazing and so cute, you have to meet him! Speaking of cute and amazing boys, how’re you and Scotty?"
"We’re…fine."
Steph notices my hesitation and tilts her head. “Okay, what’s wrong?”
"Nothing, he’s as wonderful as usual. I’m just…unsure."
"About what?"
"About…what’s going to happen Wednesday when he has to leave," I tell her softly, blinking back tears.
"Well, have you talked to him about it?" she asks.
I shake my head and as expected, I’m met with a series of groans.
"Alexa, you can’t just let it go like that! You two need to figure out what you’re going to do, so nobody gets hurt. Especially you."
"I know, I know. I’m going to talk to him today," I say, not sure if that’ll hold true.
