After the Words

4: Casper

The warning bell rings and I have to get to first period... which I really don't want to do. First of five classes this Monday, and I don't how I'm going to survive, especially taking into account the two tests and one speech that I have today. One test in junior chem, the other in history, and a speech in english about how de facto discrimination still exists today.

"Ugh," I let out an unenthused groan when I stand up to walk to class. "Can't we just have three-day weekends?"

"Honestly!" A voice came from behind me, then I felt a hand on my shoulder. It was Garret.

"Hey, Garret." I sighed, relieved that it wasn't just some random person sneaking up on me.

"You sound jazzed. Have to do with anyone in particular?" The way he said those last few words slowly, I knew he was edging me on to talk about her... To talk about Lexa, the girl whom I've had a bit of a crush on for the last, what, like two years? It's our junior year and there's only so much time, but still, I have no idea how I could ever ask her out.

I'm not the most... confident guy... like, at all. Still, though, I have hopes and dreams, one of which is to get the attention of Alexandra Clarke-Vasquez, but I highly doubt that'd happen. Lexa is so closed off to the world, which is a pity, because she sees the world in such an amazing way. The sky isn't just blue, the sun isn't just hot, the snow isn't just cold, and the trees are more than plants; for her, everything has value, and everything has a metaphorical meaning.

But I'm just Casper... boring, geeky, unsure, tuba-playing Casper. Nothin' much.

"Dude?" Garret snaps his finger in my face. "Dang, where do you go?"

"What do you mean, I'm right here, and..." I look at my watch, "Shoot! I'm here and I have to get to class. Catch you later." I rush towards the sciences hallway.

"See yuh, Casper." Garret waves, but I can barely see him in the blur of my peripheral. I am not ready for class.