Lil' Short Stories

Still Trying to Figure it Out

I adjust my glasses on my nose and wonder what my teacher is writing up on the board. I mumble, "I really need to get new glasses, ASAP." I scribble harder on my paper frustrated at my blindness.

"Well, then why don't you just make an appointment and get new glasses?" I hear a voice beside me whisper, he's leaned in so no one else could hear.

"Yeah, and after that I'll go up to my dentist and ask for some terrible wiring to wrap around my teeth and ask to leave it there for months," I say with sarcasm everywhere. I don't like showing my weaknesses and I definitely don't like admitting them.

"Why don't you just call them braces?" he asks laughing at the end.

"I don't know. Stop talking to me, I need to concentrate." I quint my eyes even more trying to make out the letters and numbers Mrs. River's writing.

He slides back over to his desk and sits properly. He sets his pencil down and leans to the back of his chair. "Why'd you stop?" I ask still trying to read the board.

"I finished. You can use my notes because you're obviously struggling over there. And plus I know you already understand what she's talking about," he says pushing his papers over to me.

"Why are you being friendly? This is the most we've ever talked before, without your accomplices alongside you."

"Can I not talk to you without them here?" he pushes back some hair falling onto his forehead with his narrow palm and sets his arms crossing each other.

I shake my head and thank him for the notes. My hand cramps from writing so quickly and I try massaging the sore muscles; Jarrett notices and takes my hand in his and examines it very closely. "What ar-"

"You're fine, just cool it on the grip. You look like you're one-handily strangling your pencil. Just calm down." he says coolly.

I smile, trying to be as polite as I can be, "You didn't have to do that, seriously; but thanks I guess." I pick my pencil up and continue copying his notes.

Once I finish, I sit back and mock the exact way he's sitting.

"Ha ha. Don't try to be cute." Jarrett says shuffling in his seat, so we're no longer sitting the same position.

"I don't know what you mean. I'm just sitting down like every other laid-back basketball player." I say sitting back up with my arms folded nicely in front of me on my desk.

Mrs. River dismisses the class; it's lunchtime.

I'm usually the last to leave the classroom, but today I got packed up with Jarrett, so I was ready within 2 minutes before class ended. I was the first to leave the room and the first to get to Ms. Daniella's room. She doesn't let us call her by her last name because "it creates boundaries between the students and the teacher," and I think it's too unprofessional and call her with a "Ms." in front.

"Hey, guys! You all ready for lunch?" she asks with her same bubbly attitude.

Everyone patiently settles into their seats, waiting for her to dismiss us for lunch. She examines everyone silently waiting for her to line us all up. It's like she's torturing us. I haven't eaten since 6am and it's around noon, now.

"Alright, line up. I didn't know you could all get that quiet. Now, you've raised my standards."

Everyone rushes out of the room and jumbles up with everyone else out in the halls migrating to the lunch room. Jarrett wanders over to my side with his hand stuffed in his pockets and walks with swagger.

"You know, you're the most laid-back person I've ever met. I don't think I've ever seen you worried or stressed out about anything."

He glances at me with side-eyes and smirks, "Hmm. I'd call that the biggest compliment I've ever gotten."