Hybrid

Crush Alert

Butterflies dance around in my stomach as Joe and I walk to class. I can still feel the touch of his arm against mine when he opened my locker. I recognize the early signs of a full blown crush. I vowed I wouldn't fall head over heels in love with another classmate my senior year. I'm done with pining over a boy whose feelings aren't the same. I still haven't had a serious boyfriend and Joe doesn't seem like boyfriend material. He seems like the guy who could get any girl he wanted. Those guys don't normally notice me.

I don't know what I was thinking. Maybe I should rescind the offer to have Joe share my locker. We reach the classroom and I gather my resolve.

"Hey-"

"Hey-"

"You go first," he says.

"No, you go first."

"I just wanted to say, thanks again for all your help this morning. I'm going to be the best locker partner you've ever had." He gives me a hug.

That's it! This can't happen. I have to tell him now this isn't going to work out. I take a deep breath and formulate my words. And I stand there ... speechless. Ugh, why can't I say it? I'm afraid I will fall in love with you this year so you can't be my locker partner. Oh my God, I can't say that.

"What were you going to say?"

I laugh. "Oh nothing." Absolutely nothing, because I'm a chickenshit who's apparently fine with getting her heart broken.

He winks at me and opens the door. "Shall we go in?"

"Sure," I say. All of my resolve has vanished. We walk inside to a full class. I see Kerry, my best friend. Thank God. I make a beeline for her. Joe follows.

I take the open seat next to Kerry. "Why are you so late? Did you hear what happened to Frank?"

"Yes, you won't believe this but we helped pull him out from under the car. He'll be okay."

"You did what? Oh my God!" she exclaims.

Joe takes the seat behind me. Really? You're going to sit behind me all year? I settle into my seat and open my notebook, pretending that everything is normal.

"Hi, I'm Joe." Joe extends his hand to Kerry. I watch as she looks over at him. I can see her reaction in her eyes. He's totally her type - dark hair, brown eyes, dimples. Who am I kidding? He's everyone's type.

She shakes his hand, "I'm Kerry," and leans over to me. "Who is this guy?"

I make an official introduction. "Kerry, this is my new neighbor Joe. Joe, this is my best friend Kerry."

Kerry looks at me and mouths, "New neighbor? He's a babe."

I blush and turn to face our teacher, who stands to make an announcement, "Good morning class. Welcome to your homeroom for the rest of the year. My name is Mrs. Franklin."

Joe leans forward. I can feel his warm breath on my cheek. "I seem to have lost my pen. May I borrow one from you?"

Only if you move to across the room or even better, find a new homeroom. Instead, I nod and find my extra pen. I pass it back to him. He touches my hand as he takes the pen. I write a quick note and toss it on his desk. It reads: "You can keep it."

"Thanks," he whispers. "Do you want to have lunch together?"

That is not a good idea I scream inside my head, but I find myself saying, "sure."

Lunchtime arrives and Kerry and I head to the cafeteria. My heart races a little faster the closer we get to the cafeteria. I pull Kerry into the bathroom.

"What's going on? Why are you acting so weird?"

"I feel like I have something in my teeth." I look in the mirror. I completely forgot that I ran out of the house with bed head and hardly any make up on. I look like I just rolled out of bed. And my shirt is dirty from rolling on the ground with Frank. There's not much I can do about that.

"Do you have any lipstick with you?"

"You're putting on lipstick for lunch? You never wear lipstick."

"That's why I'm asking if I can borrow some from you." I run my fingers through my hair, hoping to smooth it out. It's not really working. 

"Fine, but use your finger to apply it - after you've washed your hands. You know how I am about germs. You might have ebola for all I know."

"People aren't just running around with ebola."

"I'm not taking any chances. You know I grew up with a micro-biologist for a mother. Germs are the anti-Christ in our home." She hands me her lipstick. I do my best to make myself presentable.

"Okay, I'm ready."

"Ready for what? Really bad spaghetti and tater tots?"

"Let's go."

We walk out into the hallway and notice that the hallway is empty.

"I wonder where everyone is?"

"Yeah, it's like everyone vanished." 

We turn the corner and see the entire student body crammed into the cafeteria.

"What's going on?"

"Let's find out."

"It sounds like someone's playing guitar."

We push our way to the front of the students who are standing around a lunch table watching Joe - who else? - play a perfect rendition of the Beatles's "Blackbird." I only know this because my dad is a huge Beatles fan.

"...you were only waiting for this moment to be free." Everyone claps - Kerry's whistling - and Joe hands the guitar back to another student. I watch in marvel, wondering what this guy can't do. He seriously can't be real.

"You just had to tune that one string. It should be perfect now."

"Thanks - you were great. Hey, we're forming a band if you're interested." Joe flashes his cute smile. "I'm too busy to be in a band, but thanks. Good luck."

He looks around and finds me as everyone gets back to what they had been doing. He walks up. "Ready to eat?"

"Sure. You don't mind if Kerry joins us?"

"More the merrier. I like your lipstick. It's pretty on you."

"Thanks!" I run my hand through my hair. Kerry and I follow Joe to the cafeteria line.

"So Joe, where are you from?" Kerry asks.

"I grew up in a small town in up in Northern California. My dad's been reassigned to Los Angeles."

Joe's cell phones buzzes. "Excuse me, I need to check this real quick." A serious look crosses his face.

"Is something wrong?" I ask.

"No, no, but I need to check on something. Do you both mind if we grab lunch tomorrow instead?"

"No problem," I say. He looks at me. "Would you want to come by the football tryouts later tonight? I could use all the support I can get."

"I ..."

"I can give you a ride home after too. I have to go. See you later." He squeezes my arm and runs out of the cafeteria and disappears.

Maybe I'm still dreaming and school hasn't even started yet.

Kerry grabs my arm. "Come on, let's eat. I'm starving."