Hybrid

Heading to Class

Once Frank's ambulance is out of sight, we all head to class. A few of my new classmates congratulate me on how I helped save Frank.

"That was really wonderful." "You're so strong." "What are you doing after school?" A group of freshman girls surround me and they start flirting and poking and prodding me. I look around and find Emma. She's smiling at my predicament.

"Excuse me ladies, I really appreciate your ... support, but I have to get to class," I make my exit from the adulating girls and return to Emma's side. I've only known her for about an hour but I already know I want to get to know her more.

"I think you have some fans," she says. We both look back at the freshman girls and they're staring and giggling in my direction.

"They know a good thing when they see it," I smile. 

"Humble too?" she chides.

"Always." We fall in step with each other and head to the school.

"So do you have superhuman strength or something?" Emma asks me.

I cringe - my parents warned me to lay low on my first day of school. But my instincts took over when I heard the scream. And I know without my help, it would have taken too long to help Frank.

Emma looks at me, waiting for an answer. I laugh. "Yeah right."

"How do you explain that they couldn't lift the car until you helped them?"

She's not buying it. I like that about her. She's smart and inquisitive ... and beautiful. I wonder if she knows how beautiful she is? I'm sensing she doesn't, which makes me like her even more. "I'm sure they could have done it. Lifting a car really isn't that hard to do."

"Sure, if you're superhuman," she teases.

We enter the high school. It's a large building with huge glass windows overlooking a nicely manicured front lawn. The hallways are bustling with students eager to start the new year.

I look around and realize I have no idea where I'm going. Emma notices my confusion. 

"Do you need help finding your first class?"

I fish around in my pocket for my schedule. I pull it out and share it with her. She leans over, her light brown hair falling in her face. I reach out to move it aside for her as she pushes a chunk of it behind her ear. I let my hand fall to my side, knowing that would have been too much too soon.

"Looks like we're in the same homeroom. I just need to stop at my locker. Do you know where your locker is?"

I pull out another slip with my locker assignment on it. She takes a look.

"Yikes, it's in Siberia - down across from the band room. You're going to hate that."

"Great ... that's just perfect," I say.

Emma takes a second to consider something. She finally asks, "are you clean?"

"Sure, I showered this morning. I'm a little sweaty from riding the bike and picking up that car but feeling fresh as a daisy now."

"No, I mean are you tidy? Do you pick up after yourself? Do you keep your bedroom clean? And don't lie. I can already tell when you're lying."

"How can you tell when I'm lying? Are you a cop or something?" I laugh.

"I'm not kidding. I know when people lie. It's a gift I have. Now answer the question." The bell rings.

"Don't worry, we still have five mintues," Emma says, as the students pick up the pace around us. "So are you clean?"

"I suppose so, why?"

"As a charitable gesture to a new classmate and someone I woudn't mind having around, you know, for protection, I will offer to share my locker with you."

"Really? You don't really know me."

"Are you a serial killer or something?"

"Ha! No, I'm not a serial killer."

"Then there shouldn't be a problem. It can't be any worse than sharing a room with my brother for the first five years of my life."

"I really appreciate this."

"But only if you promise to keep it clean. Any leftover lunches or cigarette or pot smoke smells and you're out, kapeesh?" 

"Promise! I don't smoke ... anything."

"Good. Follow me." We make our way down the hall. A few people wave and high five me as we walk.  Everyone says hi to Emma. She's clearly well-liked. We get to Emma's locker and it's in a great location - really close to the central library that has all of the main hallways shooting off from it.

"You weren't kidding. This is a great location." I look around and see that everyone seems to be sharing lockers. I'm guessing the lockers by the band room are sitting empty. "Why don't you already have a locker partner?"

"Well, I did, but then she graduated a year ahead of me." Emma turns the lock and opens the locker quickly. She throws her backpack inside and hangs up her jacket. "This was her locker and I was able to snag it when she left. Possession is nine tenths of the law, you know."

"Yeah, I know."

"Okay, so here's the locker combination. Don't lose it." I take a look at it.

"You don't want to write it down?"

"Nope, I already have it memorized."

"Oh really?" She shuts the locker before I can put my bag inside.

I reach over her shoulder, touching her bare arm with my mine. She steps aside to make more room, though it was nice to feel her so close. I put in the locker combination, pretending to struggle and then I whip open the door. "Voila!" I place my jacket and bag inside, removing a notebook and pen.

"Ready for homeroom?" I ask.

"Oh, I'm ready. Let's go." I follow Emma to class, smiling already about the start of this year and my new neighbor.