Revolve Around Me

First Day: Madeline

The world is the beautiful, the tinting of the leaves turning their fall brown, holding on the last days of summer. The wind whistles through the trees, into my thin bones, I put my sweater closer to my chest. I walk down the sidewalk of our neighbourhood, on each side of the road, maple trees tower high and over the road. The smell of maple and asfault of the newly paved road tickles my nose. I fall back into my own world as my steps hitting the ground starts to fade. My curiosity of different planets orbit my mind like it is the sun in the middle of a universe. Keeping my eyes on the ground, the bus stop comes into view by the sounds of my peers mingling about the parties this past weekend. I count the slabs of the sidewalk keeping my distance by two and a half slabs from the lingering society. The bright yellow school bus of James High pulls up with the squeaking folding doors open, the students of ripped jeans and flashily tight tops pile in and I walk up stepping in last. Looking up slightly, everyone sits in the benches with friends of years hugging, laughing, and of course flirting. I flop into the front seat behind Hank, the driver with a good morning to him. "Good morning dear, how was your weekend?"
Hank is a middle aged man, with greying hair, and the sweetest smile in the whole school. Him and his wife are my family's neighbours in a blue townhouse. They have been a blessing to welcoming us to our new home and new school.
"It was good I guess, I finished the book series you let me borrow, I can drop it off after school?" I give him a faint smile.
"Finished already? Wow that was fast, yeah Maggie has a gift for you, I'll be home around 4:30 after driving these students home." He speaks loud over the chaos behind us.
"Okay, I will come before supper! Think I could borrow another series? I can't buy another book till I get a job." I say to him as I see the school coming into view of the morning horizon.
"For sure Madeline, you know, Maggie is looking for someone to help at the bookstore on Main Street if you're interested?" Hank smiles in the top mirror, scanning the rest of the bus for safety.
"Oh, yeah? That would be awesome, I will talk to her when I come over." The bus stops and everyone stands to leave, I'm wave to Hank from outside. I pull out my novel reading it into the school and to my locker. My mind spins the dial like second nature and the door screeches open, it felt like it would shatter the world but nobody looks my way. Gathering my books for the morning classes stuffing them into my black backpack Mike leans down over me, "Hey Madds!" I jump up to see his ocean blue eyes through his dark grey glasses. He barely wears them since he on the football and rugby team the nerdiness of them the coaches don't like. I always tell him he looks cute with glasses, "Hey Mike, how was your weekend?"
"It was great I read that book you gave me for my birthday two weeks ago? It was great, I would love another book to read!" He smiles, man, I love that smile, he white teeth and the stubble coming in on his jaw line. The many times I tried to capture his image in my words of writing but nothing ever comes close to his image.
"Yeah for sure! Do you want to come over after practice? I'm getting some books from Hank and Maggie at 4:30." I reply with closing my locker.
"Uh...yeah I think that will work. Can I drive you home? Practice doesn't start till 3pm." he smirks while we walk to History.
"Are you sure you won't be late getting back?" I look up to see Courtney and her cheerleaders giving me daggers through their eyes. Many girls in the school don't understand why Mike ever talks to me, sometimes I don't get it either. But he told me that he likes to hangout with me because I'm different, a girl who supports his love of reading, not just being assistant captain on both teams.
"No way, anything for my bookworm," he laughs putting his arm around me and holds me tight.
"Okay sure I will meet you outside the front doors?"  I reach my classroom and he lets go, I never want him too, but he always does. Dustin comes up behind him with his muscular arms and they both laugh together.
"Yes Madds see you then! Have a great morning, see you in English!" They walk away talking about their weekend game and the perfect try Mike got in the last 8 seconds. I always cheer for him, we go to every game, I sit, he plays.
The bell rings for the end of the day, I step softly through the halls to my locker to put my books away and go out the dark red front doors to wait patiently for Mikey. Courtney and her gang of fakes walk pass me giving swords this time for looks, one shoves my shoulder with a thick elbow. They all giggle their evil laughs walking past Mikey waving to him.
"What is with those girls?" He says smiling to me and takes my backpack without asking, he is a gentleman when it comes to me.
"It's obvious that they love you...and hate me," I climb into the passenger seat of his blue Mazda that his parents got him for his 18th birthday. He puts my backpack in the back seat and opens the drivers door to sit. Mikey turns his keys, with a keychain of a picture of us that he got made for him and I. He loves it and always shows it off to people like we are a couple but we are fair from that, at least I think.
"Well I like you, that is what matters right?" He smiles and turns on our favourite song Not Today by Hillsong, we jam out until I look up to my house.
"I will  come right after practice," he reaches back to grab my bag, "can I shower at your place after?"
"Yeah for sure, so 4:30?" I smile.
"Yup you got it Madds, see you then dear," he winks