Living A Cliché

Parker : New Beginnings and Old Relationships

A leaf blows by my face as I walk up to the stop sign. Waitin' for the bus doot doot doo. I click my tongue and fiddle with my zipper.

"Hey!"

I look around. A tall, red haired guy is walking up to the road. He's carrying a case for some sort of band instrument I think. I glance behind me, there's...no one else around?

"A-are you talking to me?"

"Yeah. Don't act so surprised. I don't wanna be rude, but are you new?" He asks laughing slightly.

"How can you tell?" I roll my eyes.

"I haven't seen you around and, also...you look nervous, and don't be. You're gonna be fine...um—"

"Parker Cruz, and you're..."

"Colton Martins. Are you a junior?"

"Nope, I'm a sophomore. Are you?"

"Not a sophomore, I'm a junior and you should know, I'm quite the lady's man. Star quarterback, my girlfriend's a cheerleader, I'm like the most popular dude in school."

I raise my eyebrows.

"And I'm the Beyoncé" I say dramatically flipping my hair.

"Didn't even buy it for a second did you?"

"No offense, but no, I glance at what he's holding, I assume you're in band?"

"Hey! Not all band kids are geeks. I mean I'm not a good example, but that's not the point!"

I smile, this dude's funny, like kinda cute funny. Wait, did I just say...well think, that this guy is cute? Well he is, but---

"---first period?"

Wait. What'd he say? Is this dude talking 'bout my time of the month?

"Um...what? Sorry I just zoned out."

"Oh, I just asked what your first period class was."

"Oh um...I think it's AP Euro with Mr. En...Enyaj? Is that how you say it?"

"Oh, good luck, Mr. E is super harsh. He's a good teacher I guess, but that's a lot of homework. "

"Great, I have a tough teacher to start my day off."

"You'll be fine, you seem smart."

"Thanks...I guess."

I see a yellow bus turn the corner onto our road. It stops before Colton and the two doors swing right open. A middle aged looking woman with glasses and a tired, yet friendly smile opens the door.

"Morning Cole, good to see ya."

He boards the bus with a smile and says you too. I follow him up the little steps as the doors swing closed behind me.

"Hi hon, what's your name?"

"Parker."

"Hi Parker, nice to meet you."

I smile and walk down the aisle looking for a place to sit when Colton waves from a seat near the back. He's sitting with a boy and talking to a girl across the aisle. The girl scooches over a little to make room for me to sit.

"Hi I'm Parker." I say.

"Hey Parker, I'm Quincy, but you can call me Quin."

Quin has dark, almost black hair with bright blue eyes and her face is dusted with light freckles. She has a pale completion and is wearing a navy blue beanie with a white sweater, dark denim jeans and dark brown boots. Wow. This girl is stylish and put together. And then there's me...heh, we don't talk about that.