Both Sides Now.

Chapter 10

 Tightening my backpack straps so they fit around covered arms I open the front door of my house and head out into the Crisp fall air. School restarted today and I already hate it. Opening the car door that I shared so many awfully beautiful moments whether it be driving home loud rambunctious spontaneous teens or driving alone with one forgetful soul. Of course I’m talking about the one and only Luke. Because I think I’ve fallen in love with him once more. And Clint too. I’m a horrible person. With horrible life choices.

Abby opens her door and gets in and I instantly feel more uplifted and amazing. 3 cups of coffee are in a tray by her feet and she’s already drinking it when I pull out of her driveway. And coffee boy or Alfie or whatever his name is wasn’t there so I don’t know what's up with that. But he’s probably somewhere reading a book.

Luke enters the back seat and Abby hands him his scolding drink. My mind is busy at a stop light when Abby points at my shaven face.
“Did you shave?”
“Uhh yeah, why” I ask as I pull into the school parking lot it’s busy and chaotic and I can tell this is going to be a lot.

The smell of fresh pencils and new backpacks fills the area with bright white sneakers and fancy new clothes taking up the rest of the space. I’m walking in with the same old clothes and a soiled stained backpack from last year. Not that it matters. Heading to home room Im greeted with massive amounts of ninth graders cluttering the hall. Jesus just move out of the way! I think squeezing through the smell of cheap cologne gives me a headache. And their chattering mouths sound so annoying accompanied with hip clothes and name brand shoes. And everything they’re wearing is hella baggy.

“Hey” I hear from the other side of the hall I turn unexpectedly as a hand grabs my strapped shoulder and I feel his warm grasp. It’s Clint the beautiful muscle bound jock who gives me butterflies every time I see him and his beautiful fucking face. His fair skin wavy brown hair and beautiful baby blue eyes make me blush and smile and act ridiculous.
“Hi!” I say without really thinking. He gives me a chuckle and we walk to home room together. Trying to catch up on awkward conversations.

Sitting in wooden desks and watching our homeroom teacher who’s been Balding from the moment that I met him. When his bulbous body moves to write something on the board. But I think he’s going through his mid life crisis. And I can’t tell Clint that I need him and I can’t tell Luke.
Picking up my schedule I head to first period. I gotta get as far away from Clint as possible.

Mrs. Kendrick’s biology 12. I’m in grade 12 that’s a little hard to believe since I won’t be coming back next year when I’ll be considered an actual adult. Heading up the cold Stone stairs I feel the hustle and bustle of people chatting about how great their summers were and how they should have hung out or whatever.  Walking into the classroom Alfie’s there. He’s sitting alone of course he is. But his bright green eyes find my blue ones. And I smile showing all my teeth going to sit next to him.
“Hey!” I say and he smiles and looks down
“Hi glad to see a familiar face” he says his soft voice.
“Hey yeah! Let’s hope we both pass.” I say getting settled.
“if you need me to help you I’ll be happy too do so!” he says and I smile and Quinn the incredibly short but intimidating senior comes through the door and she’s wearing a bunch of pins attached to her backpack. She’s insanely adorable. She sits next to me and introduces herself to Alfie. He does something awkward and the bell rings.
“You never told me you we’re a senior” I say opening my fresh binder with untouched paper and crisp unsharpened pencils.
“It never came up in” he says and I’m caught acting like an idiot.
“Ok well. I’m glad you decided to become my friend.”
“Uhh it was more of a forceful one sided thing but I guess I’m glad too”
“Ok ass hole.” I say jokingly. And then Clint walks through the door and my gut retches and I feel queasy and his fresh jock smile finds mine and I feel my cheeks burn.
“Hey Tommy!” he still calls me Tommy. I’m glad that we still have that going on.
“Hey! Uh Clint. Hi” I say awkwardly as I can’t believe we didn’t just go to bio 12 together. No instead he had to make it all dramatic and come in 2 minutes before the bell rings. But I’m glad he’s here.