Short Lived | Ongoing

1| The Mentioning

I lay staring at the ceiling of my room; wishing time would rewind and go back to the minute I went to bed. Oh yeah, I forgot that wasn't long ago, anyway. I reaaally don't wanna go to school. Why wasn't I home schooled? Ugh. Then I wouldn't have to get up so early, too early, in the mornings to catch a 6 am bus. Plus the transport system in Jamaica sucks so it would be wise if I left earlier than 6. But I just. can't. move. I don't want to. It's January 11th 2013, a Friday and the first day of the second semester of grade 11 and my final semester before the big exams. Okay, let's weigh my options. If I don't go to school my dad will have my head but if I do, I'd have to interact with people who I really don't like. SIGH. They both sound so painful. I roll my eyes in complete exasperation at the fact that I just can't miss school. I lay staring at my ceiling for another 5, 10 minutes maybe, thinking about ways to convince my dad that going to school at the end of the week doesn't make any sense. I'm startled and taken out of my deep, failing plots by my alarm clock. I glance over to see it's already 5:30am and I need to be out of the house by 5:45. CRAP.

I arrive at school only 10 minutes late. Thank you sweet Jesus. Just in time for my first class, English. Ugh. My school is very strict about punctuality, plus I'm a prefect so a part of my duty is to set example, and blah. I attend an all-girls catholic school, The Covenant high school for girls, which is a traditional school. In other words, one of the best and oldest schools in Jamaica- or so they say. It's my final year of stuck up head prefects, weird teachers, snobby lower schoolers and long days with my two dear friends, Ashley and Bria. Oh I'm going to miss them so much. Of course I have more friends but they are my closest friends here in this hell hole, my rocks really and I love them.

The campus was buzzing with girly chatter and giggles. The school is always like this after a holiday, girls sharing interesting holiday stories and reconnecting with hugs and exchanging late Christmas gifts. I'm at my locker when in a distance I hear my name being called out and within a split second two very strong hands have me in a very tight, almost suffocating hold. Oh Bria, I've missed you too.

"Jordin! You look so different, in a good way." Bria smiles brightly at me, amused no doubt by my reaction to her very random remark.

"Please tell me how looking like a pregnant hippo is a good thing?" I scowled at her attempt sarcasm.

"Well at least some of that junk went to your ass!"

"Yeah, but its in competition with what went to my stomach and arms. It's a tight race if you ask me." And with that said, we both laughed and headed for English.

I arrived at class right on time to answer to my name being called by my teacher Mrs Blake. She was the craziest of them all. I mean don't get me wrong, she isn't a horrible person but she's just not knowledgeable in the English department and yes it is possible that you can be bad at teaching the language you speak, Mrs Blake for one is living example. Bria and Ashley were in a different English class way across campus which resulted in me making new friends in my English class.

"RY!" I squealed with excitement when I saw my English buddy seated in our regular spot waiting with what seemed like Christmas goodies with my name written ALL over it.

"What took you so long?" she stood and greeted me with a very weak, dingy hug, which may I say, was a real proper hug in her book.

"I got caught up with chatting with Bria a little earlier, are those for me?" I asked eyeing the poorly wrapped goodies on her desk.

"They were but you look like you ate a cow over the few weeks we got free so no not anymore" she snatched the satchel so quickly off her desk and placed it in her bag. Ah yes, Riley the ever so blunt one. I can always count on her to keep me on my A game and what she just did showed me that I really needed to do something about this holiday fat and fast.

The day flew by so quickly and I must admit that it was a good one. I got to see my girls, my fav teachers and get fresh air. Despite the way I was feeling earlier this morning I knew deep down I really wanted to attend school today plus I needed the fresh air and temporary freedom that came with travelling to and from school. But for some reason my dad decided he wanted to pick me up from school today, cutting that oh so sweet freedom short. But its whatever, I get to save more money.

I sat under an old tree after school waiting patiently for my dad to come. I was alone and bored. My friends who were here with me earlier left ages ago leaving me with one of their friends who I voluntarily kept as nothing more than an acquaintance during my four and a half years here at The Covenant. Britney Buhari. I rolled my eyes at my mental mention of her name. Britney is your typical spoiled, slightly bitchy, self-centered girly girl and she was a head prefect whom I had to obey and for that I didn't favour her much or at all.

"Have you ever been set up with a guy before?" I familiar voice broke my trail of thoughts.

What? Is she talking to me?

"What?" literally the only thing I could manage to say.

"Can I trust you?" she asked once again replying to my question with a question. I hate it when people do that.

"I'd say I'm pretty trust worthy." I said firmly and completely confident in my answer. Its true though, I am trust worthy and I give great advice or so I've been told. "Why?"

"Well I wanted your opinion on something. And I'm doing this because I can't ask my friends cuz they're the reason I'm in this predicament."

"Well okay go on" I beckoned her to continue.

"So I've been with this guy who my friends set me up with a while back. We've been together for 6 months now and I just don't think I can go on with him. I mean he's sweet and all but I just don't see myself with him anymore and I don't want to break up with him cuz I mean, well, look at me" Typical Britney! UGH. Did I mention she's self centered? I looked away and rolled my eyes knowingly that she could've seen me but I didn't care, she ain't all that and a bag of chips. Mmmmmm, chips.. JORDIN STOP IT! THINK SLIM! I snapped myself out of my daydream starring some unhealthy potato chips.

"Well if you don't like him I think you should move on not just for him but for yourself. What's his name? ..if you don't mind me asking" I'd be surprised if she told me I mean this is Britney after all. Even though she is self-centered, she really does have the looks to go with it and I mean a girl like her would never be with an old typical guy so I'd understand if she wouldn't be so quick to spill the deets. Probably worried I'd try and go after him. Girl bye. I'm a pregnant hippo and I ain't chasing nothing unless it's the pizza man.

"You probably don't know him. His name is Zayne Rivers" Never heard of him. Well I guess he's a nobody popular, which makes sense why she doesn't want to be with him anymore.

"You're right. I don't know him but all I'm saying is, if you know you're not interested anymore, let him go. Don't have him thinking its all good while you go looking for another potential boyfriend. Its unfair to both of you. Its unfair to you cuz you won't be able to date freely and its unfair to him cuz he'll be caught up in a lie, alone." I looked over her shoulder to see my dad's car pulling up at the entrance of the school. Thank you sweet Jesus! I was actually starting to feel really awkward talking to her like this. THIS should never happen, ever.

"I just don't want to break his heart. I mean look at me, I'm perfection but I get what you're saying. I guess you're not as lame as I thought you were" She smiled thinking that was a genuine compliment.

"Whatever." I rolled my eyes, picked up my bag and literally ran to my dad's car.

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I got home that evening just in time to do the bare minimum. EAT. SHOWER. BED. But while in bed that night I had trouble falling asleep, all I could think about was the weird exchange I had with Britney Buhari and how sad I felt for her boyfriend, Zayne.

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"What's meant to be will always find a way" ― Trisha Yearwood

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Sincerely,

Islandmiss, xo.