These Broken Pieces

Friday, February 16 

"Connor, please give it back! I need to go to class or else I'll be late again, and then Mrs. DeFranco will have even more of a reason to hate me!" I whined, jumping up and down in attempt to get my phone back. As he alternated his eyes between my phone and me, Connor used his left hand to scroll through my phone and the other to keep swatting my desperate hands away.

"Oh? What's this?" he said dramatically, his eyes widening in fake shock. "When did this happen? Oh my gosh, Autumn... I never knew you as that kind of girl," he whispered, shaking his head in disbelief.

"What are you on about, sir?" I questioned, wondering what he possibly could've found on my phone that's apparently so terrible.

"Well, maybe you should see for yourself. I don't feel comfortable explaining," he mumbled as he shoved my phone in my face, far enough away so that I could see the screen clearly but out of hands' reach. I looked with a questioning face and saw a picture of me kissing my cat, Guadalupe, on his little, pink nose. My face scrunched up, I cocked my head, and I gaped my mouth as I took in the "horribleness" of this picture.

"Guadalupe? What?" I asked in surprise, questioning Connor's sanity right about now. "Connor, there really is somehting wrong with you," I rolled my eyes, annoyed that he was wasting my time, knowing in the back of my mind that he was purposely trying to make me late for Anatomy.

I looked up at him with the angriest expression I could manage, my brown eyes slit and full of venom, only to find him doubled over in laughter. "Oh, Autumn, that was too good! Your face was priceless, girl!  You gotta loosen up," he teased in between gasps of laughter, using his height advantage to ruffle my naturally black hair.

"Stop!" I protested, crouching down so he couldn't reach my head. It was of no use, as he just leaned down and continued to mess it up. "Connor, I'm serious. Stop it," I said in a not-so-serious tone and crossed my arms, attempting to glare at him. Good luck, my brain told me, because I proceeded to burst out in laughter, much against my will. He joined in, his deep laughter filling the halls of Pine Ridge Senior High.

I took in the moment to study his features. His black hair fell into his blue-green eyes that were currently filled with happiness. I had the sudden urge to swipe it away, but only because that was my biggest pet peeve. But we all knew that couldn't happen, unless I magically grew 6 inches right now, considering I was 5'5" compared to his 6'1". Curse you, shortness. Come on, one more growth spurt isn't gonna hurt, right?

"Okay, fine, here's your precious phone back," he said after he finished laughing, lowering his arm so I could reach my cellular device that I cherished so dearly.

"Thank you!" I huffed. "Now I'll see ya later, k? Meet me at the usual place after school," I told him and turned around to walk away.

"Excuse me? What's this?" Connor exclaimed. I turned back to see him clutching a hand to his heart and his mouth open in disbelief.

"Oh, sorry, I forgot!" I apologized frantically, face palming myself. "I was trying to get to Anatomy so I wasn't going to be late. Unlike you, my next period class isn't right across the hall," I added sarcastically. How could I forget to to Connor's and my handshake? For God's sake, we do it after every single time we talk.

"Better?" I asked after we did it, and he nodded happily like a little boy getting a cookie after he was upset. I smiled at the sight.

"See ya, Autumn!" he called over his shoulder and I waved in response.

Ugh, that boy talks way too much. I checked my phone, which now read 1:30 p.m. Crap, the bell was going to sound any moment now! I rushed through the hallway, and plowed through everyone in my way. Practically diving through the doorway to Anatomy, receiving a frown of disproval from Mrs. DeFranco as I did so, the bell decided to ring, signaling the beginning of the last period. I shuffled awkwardly to my seat in the back row next to my best friend Naomi. It's nice when your best friend's last name is eerily close to yours, and when the teacher puts you in alphabetical order. Otherwise, who knows what weirdo I could've been stuck with! I shudder at the meer thought of it.