It was a crisp fall morning. The colorful leaves rolled down my driveway and sped across the street. I didn't want to get up. I didn't even want to function. As any normal teenager, I just wanted to stay in bed, watch YouTube and sleep for the rest of this gloomy period of life called "high school". But, still I went just like any other reasonable person would do.
My brother Nick drove me to school, my car decided to take a shit last week, and I ran to first period. There's always something about first period. It's the class you dread the most and is the least interesting, and I always seem to fail it. But somehow it's funny to watch people actually try and succeed in the class they hate the most.
"EMMMMAA!", I hear as I sit at my lunch table. I turn around quickly and I am surprised by my close friend Katie, or Kat as I say.
"What's up?"
"You will never believe who just asked me to homecoming?...."
"KYLE?!"
" Yes! I still need to find a dress and shoes, and oh don't forget we should get our nails done an-", I zone out as she talks because I realize that I still don't have a date. I have been hoping that this week someone would ask me. I wouldv'e ditched today but I really just want someone, ANYONE to ask me I mean I-, "Emma! Are you even listening?" Kat says.
"What yeah, sorry I'm just like the only one without a date."
"You'll find one! I have a feeling Branson's going to ask you, you can just feel it ya' know? Well anyways I'm going to drive home you want to come?"
" Yeah sure, I have to take my car in anyways.", I say.
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"I have an appointment at 12:00 for Emma.", I say as I hand him my card.
"Oh, there you are. It'll be about 30 minutes, Thank you." says the awkward teenage employee.
As I walk back to the waiting area, I run straight into one of the workers, and drop my phone.
"Oh I'm sorry I-"
"It was my bad", he says as he looks up. He had that smirk and tone about him that kinda of made him adorably cute. "Here's your phone..."
"Emma."
"Oh hi I'm Ansel.", he went to shake hands with me but quickly stopped as he realized there was car grease all over his hands. "Oh sorry aha." He walked back to the cars and continued to work.
Okay, I know I shouldn't be freaking out about this innocent exchange of names but that night I could not stop thinking about him.
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It was Wednesday, another first period disaster. As I walk into class, late obviously, I see everyone is in groups and I feel a twist in my stomach. I hate group projects because I always end up doing all of the work. I'm glad I actually look nice today. I curled my long ombre hair, and I am wearing my favorite crop top and skater skirt. Whenever I look good I just feel good.
"Oh nice of you to join us, you're in a group with Mr. Elgort here.", says my history teacher.
Great, another person I don't know and don't care about.
I walk over and sit down, pretending not to feel extremely awkward as I sit next to this random person. I don't even want to talk I'm just going to listen to the teacher.
"Hey, I know you", he says.
I look over and it's the guy I ran into yesterday. He. Looks. Gooood. He's wearing this plaid shirt with some khakis and its a definite upgrade from yesterdays apron.
"Oh heey, yeah we met yesterday, right?" I'm just trying to pretend like I don't remember so he won't think I'm crazy.
"Yes, it was the highlight of my day haha." What did he just say. " Usually things like that don't happen, you know totally embarrassing myself."
"Aha, It's okay."
"Soooo, you know what we are supposed to do for this project?"
"No idea, I wasn't really listening."
"It's always first period, very tragic."
The rest of class went on as planned, we talked, not about the project just about life and school. It was very nice. He was nice.
I stepped out of the classroom and walked down the stairs. I hear some people talking behind me and I casually glance. Its Ansel, and a girl. He has his hand cupped on her face and he's squeezing her cheeks. Flirting. They kiss each other goodbye and I just drop. My emotions, my body, my mouth. As I stand there gaping at the situation, I get a few looks and roll my eyes and angrily walk down the hallway. Of course! Of course he has a girlfriend. My one hope is gone.
