The Boy I've Always Loved (Completed)

Hard Times

By the end of first period, I look forward to the next when Mercedes, my best friend, comes up beside me.

" You would never believe how horrible my day has been!" She exclaims loudly.

"How come? Didn't you just come out of your favorite class?"

"Yes, well some days even your favorite class can be horrible. I'm ready for the day to end."

"Mer, the day just began. Now how about you help me think about how to get Zack talking to me again. Do you have any idea why he isn't talking to me?"

"I have a theory. But I don't know. I don't want to tell you something and then it be completely wrong."

"It can't be worse than not knowing anything. Johnny says it was right after Homecoming. I don't understand why though. He was the one that... You know nevermind."

"Regardless of what happened that night, you need to make sure that you know exactly why he is avoiding you."

"Is there any way you can find out something?"

"I'll try and see. But you know Zack, he is stubborn. Just like you really."

I smack her shoulder for saying that even though she is right. We walk into Spanish class and there he is. Our eyes meet for a split second before he turns and looks the other way. It unnerves me and I happily set my books down and pretend to be unmoved by his indifference. Señora Zavala begins the class saying,

"Buenos días clase, espero que hayan hecho su tarea. Favor de pasarla hacía enfrente. "

I understand homework so I pass it down. I discreetly look Zack's way and see his wavy hair and it reminds me of when his hair started to get wavy.
We weren't in the same class but we were in the same pod. We caught each other in the hallway on the first day of school of sixth grade when his hair began to get wavy. He asked where my locker was and I couldn't believe his hair.

"Wow! Your hair got curly all of a sudden didn't it?" He laughed at that, pushed his hair to the side, and said,

"Yeah, I know it's ugly."

"No, it's not. I like it." We stood there awkwardly for a few seconds until he said,

"Thank you?"

"Don't get any ideas and get to class."

" See ya!"

Sixth grade was hard. Faith went around telling everyone that I was bullying her, and those people were letting me know about it. I tried to ignore it and not let it get to me. But my attempts at ignoring her were futile. Soon everyone thought that I was a bully. No matter what I did or how nice I was to people they didn't care because they just saw me as the bully Faith said I was. I was also worried all the time because my mom was still not feeling well. Doctor's out of state had found that she had Lyme Disease. She was in bed a lot and I had to help with the laundry, cleaning, and cooking. I didn't mind because I knew my family needed me. I helped my dad cook, cleaned the kitchen when it wasn't Ava's turn, and washed laundry. So I really couldn't tell anyone what was going on at school. We had mom to worry about. It stressed us all out. Moms are supposed to take care of us, not the other way around, yet this was happening. And although this was our situation, we worked things out really well. Ava made a cleaning schedule and we were careful to follow it because when we didn't things would get bad. Clothes would pile up, dishes would hide the counters and table, and the whole house looked like the inside of a trash can.

I spent most of my sixth grade year without an intimate friend that I didn't share with my brother. Zack was still someone I could talk to, but he and Johnny were inseparable after summer theater camp. I had to share him. And even though he came around the house often we didn't speak much unless he sought me out, which was hard, because he was always on UTube, Roeblocks, or Minekraft with my brother, Johnny. There were a few times that he sat on the floor of my room and we talked about anything and everything, but that was only when Johnny had someone else over. Johnny liked having friends over, but it wasn't a weekly occurrence and Zack coming over was. Having Zack in my room, talking about the things happening at school, made it easier to deal with. But when he wasn't in my room, which was usually the case, and when I did decide to come out of my room to watch something with Johnny and Zack, it usually felt like I was the third wheel. Mercedes, whom I had made friends with in the fifth grade, talked to me at the beginning but soon the rumor Faith spread got to her too and she stopped talking to me. Bailey started talking to Faith again and she was acting just like her even though she had called her mean for the things she herself was guilty of.

Needless to say, that year was not my best year with the exception of having some of the best conversations with Zack and a great night that I will always remember. The end of the year dance - the traditional luau which they had every year which my sister Ava attended when she was in sixth grade. Fortunately for me, my mom was having a good day and she did my hair and helped me with my costume. Zack's parents and my parents went in together on a ride for Zack, Johnny, who had to be there because he was part of the fifth grade dance committee, their friends and me. It felt like all the year's problems died away for that one night. I danced the night away with Zack and Johnny because they mostly just played dance songs. Zack and I said we would dance the last slow song together but we did not get to. He and Johnny were playing around and I was tired from all the dancing and jumping, so I sat down instead.

Just as I finish recollecting on those moments that seem light years away, Mrs. Zavala calls on me to answer a question. I obviously look stupid and confused and everyone starts giggling. I look around to see if Zack is but he is not paying attention either, and I wonder what he's thinking about when Mrs. Zavala speaks.

"Si estuvieras poniendo atención, sabrías la respuesta Señorita Sadie."

"No sé." I respond shrugging my shoulders. The whole thing would have been embarrassing if Iwasn't worried about Zack.