The Fire Escape

Chapter Four (Vega)

        I awoke the next morning to find Luke sprawled out next to me in bed.  Normally I would have pushed him off but he left the window open and his body heat was soothing.

        It was 6:30.  My mom had a poetry convention to go to and she was gone at 6.  I had to get to school so I sat up and slowly slid out of bed.

        I put my notebook full of awful poems in my otherwise empty backpack and stumbled to the kitchen where I ate half a granola bar and then went to the bathroom.  I was ready within five minutes.  I laid next to Luke for an hour wondering why I wouldn't just date this kid.  He was beautiful.  He had beautiful skin.  He was so pale and his hair was so black.  The contrast was so incredible.

        At 7:30 I aroused Luke because if I didn't he might have still been sleeping there to this day.  He woke up and put his hand up my shirt and scratched my back slowly.

        "You have to go," I said pushing his arm away.

        "Why?  Why do I have to go?  Why do you have to go?  Why do you push me away all the time?"

        "Because my  mom will be home before me and I know how long you sleep.  Because I have school.  And because we are just friends Luke," I answered rudely.

        He got up and climbed out the fire escape.  I watched him as he awkwardly jumped down on to the cold alley pavement.

        Then I went downstairs to the lobby where I grabbed the mail and started walking to school as I flipped through it.

ANNABELLE CLAIRE

323 N. Lake apt 4A

MISS CLAIRE

323 N. Lake apt 4A

ANNABELLE M. CLAIRE

323 N. Lake apt 4A

TRINITY

THREE.TWO.THREE

NORTH LAKE

APARTMENT FOUR-A

        Only a few people address a letter this way and only one would address it to me.  I threw all of my mom's mail in my back pack and tore this letter open.

        DEAR TRINITY,

        I enjoyed the last letter you sent me.  Yes, Jasmine is real nice.  No, she does not have kids and DUH she is pretty.  I talked to you mom and she said you can come down for Thanksgiving and stay for a couple months!  I'm sorry this letter is so short, Dad has been riding me on my school work!

        SEE YOU SOON!!!!!

        -VEGA

        Vega's my half sister.  I'm not sure why she's called that.  Her name's Victoria Glory Tate (as you can see my dad has a very unique set of names planned out for his children).  Vega keeps me up to date on my dad's like in Arkansas while I'm here in Chicago with my mom.

        I love her letters and they are also informative!  This Jasmine he has been dating is the forth woman this year and he seems serious.

        I stuffed the letter in my backpack and continued to school.  When I reached the front door Ashley Anderson was holding it open.  Ashley was that girl.  The one who is evil on the inside but tries to be nice to everyone.  Today her blond hair was put int two braids that ran all the way down to her breasts, covering the image on her hot pink shirt.  Her jeans were way too tight and she was wearing those stupid UGG boots.

        "Good morning Trinity-August!"

        "Good morning Ashley," I said mocking her, "you only have to say Trinity."

        "But that's not your name."

        "Think of it as a nickname, like when people call girls named Kaitlin, Katie."

        "I'll think about it.  Have a great day Trinity-August!"  I rolled my eyes as I walked away.  Classes were boring as usual.  But when the bell rang at 3:30 I knew the day wasn't over.  Poetry was daily.

        I stumbled into Room 304 and sat in the back corner.  Mrs. Winde entered wrote: "ONOMATOPOEIA" on the board in her beautiful cursive handwriting that for some reason all English teachers have.  "Mrs. Winde.  Please come to the office, you have a phone call," the secretary's voice said over the PA.  I slouched in my seat and looked out the window.  Staring back at me was Luke.

        I was not the only one who saw him because I noticed the girls next to me pointing and giggling.  Luke is attractive.  They always act like they have never seen anyone attractive before!  He waved me over and the girls seemed disappointed that Luke was there for me.  I shook my head and the group of girls looked even more annoyed.

        "Come on!"  he mouthed.

        "NO!"  I mouthed back.  he grabbed a rock and lifted his arm as to throw!  I ran to open the window before he broke it and he smiled.  That was what he wanted.

        "Let's go!"

        "No way!"

        "And why not?"

        "Because..."

        "You don't have an answer do you?!"

        "I'll see you when I get home!"  It was obvious that the girls were watching.

        "No!  You are coming with me now!  You have to!"

        "Why?"

        "Well actually not now in like two minutes when your teacher gets back."

        "What?"  He closed the window and I heard Mrs. Winde's heels on the tile flooring in the hall.  I ran to my desk.

        "Miss Tate?" she said.

        "Yes?"

        "Your doctor just called and said that you had an appointment at three!"

        "Oh yeah!"  I said playing along because I had no idea how to get out of this.

        "You may be excused then."

        "Thank you Mrs. Winde.  And sorry for the disturbance."

        "It's okay just go," she said annoyed.  I got up feeling the eyes of the entire club (12 people) starring at me as I left.  Once outside I looked for Luke.

        "Did I do a good job?"  I heard from behind me.

        "What the hell are you doing?!?!"

        "I wanted to see you," he looked dejected.

        "You couldn't have waited an hour?"  He was silent.  "Well?  Here I am!"

        "Right!" his mood changed suddenly. "Let's go!" he was so excited.

        "Where?"

        "Just follow me!"

        Needless to say I followed Luke.