A Year in the Life of an American Teenager

Chapter 9

"The Bill of Rights was written for the people in order for them to have their own freedoms without government involvement," Mrs. Robin explained in her usual loud voice.
Kendall twirled her pencil, staring blankly at the smart board in front of her; her mind somewhere else. She was thinking about her lines for the play, thinking about how she was going to tell her friends about Hunter's possible interest in her, and of course she was thinking about Ethan because it's the norm to do that. She had the urge to turn around and look to see if Hunter was looking at her in order to confirm if he was thinking about her as much as she was thinking of him.

For the past couple weeks, Hunter and her have been texting non-stop, both about the play and other things. He was actually quite nice and humorous when it was just the two of them, and Kendall found herself looking forward to their future conversations. She always had Hunter text first, since she never knew how to start the conversation without it coming out awkward. She also didn't want to give Hunter any sign of her possibly being interested in him, since she knew that he was a huge flirt and could just be looking for a good time. She wanted to play it safe, until she was sure.

As if he were reading her mind, Kendall felt her phone viberate in her sweatshirt pocket, and she saw that it was Hunter. She looked up to see if Mrs. Robin was looking in her direction. She wasn't because she was drawing her usual diagrams on the board, which didn't actually help. Then she unlocked her phone to see what he said.

Text from Hunter Dawn: They should take away her first amendment

Text to Hunter Dawn: You mean take away her freedom of speech? Hahahah can't agree more

Text from Hunter Dawn: Yeah, cuz she talks so loud
Text from Hunter Dawn: I think I'm going deaf

Text to Hunter Dawn: What? Sorry, I couldn't hear what your text said

Text from Hunter Dawn: -_- ha ur sooooo funny

Text to Hunter Dawn: I try :)))

"Mr. Dawn!" Mrs. Robin exclaimed dramatically, glaring at Hunter, who was in the middle of a text, "You lose 5 points for texting in class! How disrespectful!"
His eyes went wide in surprise and looked toward Kendall, who stifled her laughter and casually turned forward in her seat. A couple seconds later, her phone vibrated again.

Text from Hunter Dawn: ... U owe me

Text to Hunter Dawn: Um, okay yeah sure? What did you have in mind?

Text from Hunter Dawn: I'll think of  somethin....
~
Kendall was checking her assignment book to see what she needed regarding homework, when suddenly Shauna came running toward her with shock written all over her face.
She shut Kendall's locker loudly, and cut off Kendall when she started to say, "Hey what the--" by shushing her and hissing, "You won't believe what I just heard."
"What?"
"I heard Ethan's seeing someone new."
Kendall's stomach dropped, but she ignored it by saying in her best carefree voice, "So?"
Shauna eyed her, then put the back of her hand against Kendall's forehead and asked, "Are you feeling alright? Because lately you've been all moody whenever Ethan has been brought up, and now suddenly you're cool with it?"
Kendall shrugged, and swallowing her shock, she replied, "I'm done with him. Why would I still be mad about it?"
Shauna crossed her arms and said, "Because you're the queen of holding the longest grudges. You're still mad that I beat you in a drawing contest in fourth grade."
Kendall glared at her and said, "No, I'm over it. I haven't even brought it up recently."
Shauna raised a teasing eyebrow and said, "You brought it up last week when you beat me in Phase 10: 'Ha, take that! You deserve it after beating me in that drawing contest!' And then you danced around the room."
Kendall reopened her locker, putting the open door against Shauna's face and said, "Well, I'm serious now. I'm over Ethan. He can date whoever he wants, and so can I."
Shauna peeked her head out from behind the locker door and asked, "Wait, is there someone you're interested in?"
Kendall just smiled at her friend and said honestly, "There might be."