This is a work of fiction.
Are you kidding me?
Those were the only words in my mind when she told me the mistake she’d made. I didn’t know what to say.
I couldn’t stop thinking that I had done something terrible.
2 hours earlier:
“So, what do you think?” Tara asked. “Is it just me, or was that the most boring class in history?”
“I don’t know,” I replied. “I think maybe second most boring. History was pretty bad.”
“That’s true.” she said, beginning to walk away, “Hey! Sal, Kirsty, come on!”
The three girls walked towards the door. No, I couldn’t leave it like this! I had to ask them now before we had to split into different classes. Now or never.
“Um, hey,” I began, realizing this may not have been the best time to ask. “What are you doing for lunch?”
“Oh, you know, the usual,” Kirsty said, “We’re gonna get pizza, then go to the café to sit down.”
“Can I come with?” I asked. This was it. The moment of truth.
“Sure,” replied Kirsty. “Let’s meet in the lobby.”
YESSSSSS!!!!!
And then there was science class. Normally I would love it, but I was so busy looking forward to lunch, I could hardly concentrate. When it finally ended I ran out the door and down to the lobby.
They weren’t there let when I went down. I assumed their class was probably just late. But at 12:15, fifteen minutes after lunch began, they still weren’t there.
There was no way their class could be that late. Maybe my class had been really late. But I hadn’t bothered to check my watch when I got down to the lobby.
Darn it!
They had probably forgotten about me. Or maybe they just got impatient and left without me. Or maybe they hadn’t wanted me to come with them in the first place, they had just said it so I wouldn’t get upset.
Ugggghh.
I walked to the café, annoyed. And I saw them, happy as can be, sitting and talking like they hadn’t just ditched me.
I just stood there for a second. I didn’t know what to do. I was so upset. They didn’t even bother to wait for me? I couldn’t have been that late. They were just stupid and impatient.
I couldn’t think of anything else to do, so I decided to confront them.
I walked in the café and up to their table.
“I see you’re enjoying yourselves” I said angrily, “I’m glad you’re very happy without me.”
The three girls looked up, shocked.
Tara broke the silence. “We waited a really long time for you! At 12:15 we decided you weren’t coming.”
“Yeah right,” I said, “I was there before 12:15. And it’s only 12:18 now. How did get here so quickly?”
“What do you mean 12:18? It’s 12:24! We all looked at my watch!”
Tara showed me her watch. Sure enough, it did say 12:24.
We stared at each other awkwardly.
“Um, guys?” Sal said, “my phone says 12:18.”
“Oh, sorry” Tara said, “I guess my watch was wrong. I thought you were really late but, well, you weren’t.”
Are you kidding me?
Those were the only words in my mind when she told me the mistake she’d made. I didn’t know what to say.
I couldn’t stop thinking that I had done something terrible.
“I’m sorry!!!” I said. “I’m so sorry for coming in here and being mean. I thought you ditched me on purpose!”
“It’s okay,” said Kirsty, “it’s an honest mistake I guess.”
No it’s not, I thought. I still felt like I was a terrible person.
“You can stay here for the rest of lunch,” said Tara, “however much of it there is left.”
No, I didn’t deserve it.
“No, maybe tommrow,” I said.
Maybe.
