Kayla woke up that morning with, surprisingly, no head pain. It was amazing. Feeling happy, she threw on her favorite shirt, the one that read 'Saxy and I Know It', packed a purple sweatshirt into her backpack, blue jeans that made her feel, well, 'saxy', and a pair of tennis shoes. She even straightened her hair. After a quick double check to make sure everything matched perfectly, (even her underwear), she headed out the door.
"So Kayla, what color dress do you want for homecoming?" her mother asked conversationally as she drove Kayla to school.
"I'm thinking a muted shade of orange." Kayla declared.
"Yes! Yes, I think that it would look lovely with your coloring. And some black heels, a clutch purse, maybe a statement necklace-"
"Mom." Kayla cut her off. "I don't wear heels. Where am I gonna put a purse on the off chance someone asks me to dance? And, fine, maybe a necklace."
"Kayla, honey, but heels! They would really highlight your calves."
"Mom. No. We'll find some cute flats or something."
"Okay, fine." Her mom sighed, then brightened. "What about a date? Got anyone on the horizon?"
"Please, Mom. It's me, your daughter, Kayla, remember?"
"Yeah. You. My beautiful seventeen year old daughter who, if she would try to be even remotely social, would have boys lining up to date her."
"Whatever, Mom. Look, I'm getting a ride home with a friend today, so you don't need to pick me up."
"Okay!"
Kayla got out of the car. "I love you! Have fun at school!" her mom yelled.
"Bye!" she hollered back without turning around.
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That day, everything seemed to just be perfect. They had a test in Math today, so Kayla finished it early and was able to quickly complete her German homework, which was due next period. They watched a German movie to practice translations, so no real work needed there, and Science was a 'feed the animals and clean their cages' day. Everything was falling into place perfectly.
Maybe, Kayla even thought, Aron would ask her to Homecoming today. Nah. But a girl could dream.
Aron was mustering up his courage across the school. He was going to do it. He was going to ask Kayla to the dance in Band today. The ticket was in his pocket, along with a pretty bracelet his sister had picked out. He felt like he was going to throw up. Kayla probably didn't even like him. He was just going to end up feeling like a stupid, humiliated idiot. Unless she totally professed her love for him. Nah. But a guy could dream.
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Band was a total bore. Kayla fought to keep from snoozing in the middle of one of their repetitions. Aron didn't talk to her much either. Unbeknownst to her, he was struggling to mount up enough courage to ask her out.
"Hey, Kayla, I-"
"What's that?" Kayla asked. Her head had suddenly started to throb.
"Well, I was just wondering if.....um....if you...Kayla, are you okay?"
"My....my head." Her head was really starting to hurt now.
"Do you need a-"
But his voice had gone, instead there was only pain. Raw blinding pain, that banged, pounded. It left no room for thought. For anything, there was only pain bright hot scalding burning throbbing digging at the back of her mind oh oh couldn't anyone stop it please stop stop stop the pain why wouldn't it go away oh god please please make this go away go away goaway g oaway goawaygoawaypleasepleasecouldntanyonestopstopstopstopstopstopstopstopstopstopstopsTOPSTOPSTOPSTOPSTOPSTOPSTO
YOU ARE READING
Sax and the City
RomanceKayla is a senior and leader of the Alto Sax section. Aron is a sophomore and second chair. It seems like destiny meant them to be together, but Aron is doing everything he can to avoid her. Is it meant to be? Or just a sax-ident waiting to happen?
