The New Kid

Time Goes On

December arrived too quickly. The air started to cool, school started to wrap up for Winter Break, and Ryan and Barbara were always together. After word got out that Ryan and Barbara were an item, they were praised the title of “School’s Cutest Couple”. My friends would do their best to help me avoid seeing them together, but that didn’t always work.

Watching them walk down the halls, hand in hand, made me hurt. Watching Barbara plant kisses all over Ryan broke my heart. But what killed me the most was when Ryan would make eye contact with me from where ever he was. His eyes would be completely focused on me, with a hurt expression of longing. But that was only when he would see me, if he didn’t know I was watching him, he would be laughing and having a good time. I was not over him.

Winter Break was really good. Christmas rolled around and I decided to try to forget Ryan for a while and be thankful for what I had. Dad got me one of those children’s ‘touch and feel’ books as a joke along with $20, Mom gave me the movie I wanted, and Sissy hand drew me a gift of our ‘family’. Michael, Lindsay, Ray and I threw our own little party at Michael’s house the next day with his new TV and Xbox One system.

My real mom and dad visited for New Years. It was really great to see them again. They stayed at the Ramsey’s with me until school started up again, then they returned back to England. I decided not to bring up anything to do with Ryan because they might have freaked out again and might have wanted to drag me back to England. So I kept quiet.

* * *

January was slow. School took over most of my free time. The new semester took its toll on me in Physics class. Without Ryan to help me, I had to study a lot more to understand it. Luckily Mom knew some about it so she was very helpful.

In French class, it was very boring. Professor Fontaine would use me to help teach class and help anyone who needed assistance. Basic teacher’s pet.  Ryan sat on the other side of the room from me and would always reject me if I came over to help him. I would sometimes help pass back papers and Ryan’s always had big red ‘D’s and ‘F’s on them. I would place the papers on his desk and he would shove them into his folder and not even look at me.

* * *

February arrived soon enough. The hallways began to become pink and red for the dreaded holiday. Then came Valentine’s Day. Michael and Lindsay did a good job at not ‘rubbing it in’ at school for me. But Ryan and Barbara did not do as well. Ryan and Barbara rolled up in his Ferrari, her getting out in a sparkling outfit and new purse she was showing off. Ryan grabbed a giant red-heart balloon out of the car and handed it to Barb. It had two cartoon cows kissing on it and it read: “Happy Valentine’s Day. Let’s sMOOch!” The cheerleaders screeched and giggled at the balloon and the football players swooned at the car.

“Hey, Gavin? You alright, man?” Ray asked, looking at me staring at the ‘cutest couple’.

“Huh?! Oh…yeah…let’s just go somewhere else.” I sighed as I walked away from the scene.

* * *  

It was then March. School was boring. My family planned for our ‘Spring Break’ trip in April. Dad was really excited to have a ‘son’ this year on their annual camping trip. I have to admit I was pretty excited myself.

* * *

April started and people went crazy over their plans for Spring Break. The cheerleaders would cheer and sing at the front of the main building before school for a fundraiser to help fund their ‘Miami Getaway’. Barbara would stand in the front of the group with a bra for the students to drop their money in. Kara held a kissing booth, five dollars for a kiss, ten for a make-out session. Lindsay said that she saw Joel hand her a hundred dollar bill.

I decided to go see Mr. Burns to see if there is anything he could give me to study over the break to prepare for the big Physics exam coming up in May. The last day before break, I walked into his classroom at the end of school to find Ryan leaning on Mr. Burns’ desk, talking to him. When I walked in, Ryan turned and saw me, instantly standing taller.

“Uhh…Mr. Burns? I was just wondering if there is anything you can give me to prepare for the exam after the break?” I approached his desk slowly, eyeing Ryan eyeing me.

 “Oh yes, Gavin! I have a review packet on the Newton’s laws and momentum and energy and all of that…is that what you want?” Mr. Burns asked as he reached down into a drawer in his desk.

“Yes, sir. That would be great.” He handed me a thick packet of paper.

“Okay-dokie, anything else I can help you with, Gavin?”

“Nope. This should do it. Thanks. Have a good holida—err, vaction.” I corrected my British term and started to leave the room.

“Wait, Gav! Wait up!” Ryan belted running after me out the door and down the hallway.

“What, Ryan?” I said irritated.

“Look. I know it’s been a LONG time since we talked, but I think I need to tell you now.” Ryan spoke softly but with sincerity.

“Look, if this has anything to do with our relationship…” I started.

“Yeah! It does!” Ryan interjected.

“…then I don’t want to hear it. You chose Barbara and its okay. I understand. Look, I gotta go, have a good Spring Break then, Ry.” I kept walking down the hallway and out the glass doors to the student pick-up.

I thought I heard the feint sound of Ryan saying ‘I still love you’ but I figured it was just my imagination wanting it to be true.