The Turmoil of Time

Chapter 1 - Damien

"Sorry I'm late, Damien," Penelope, my girlfriend of fourteen months, says as she hops into my Jeep. She leans over, pecking my lips.

I smirk mischievously, "Are you really sorry?"

She replies with a cheeky smile, "I'll make it up to you," She leans in towards me for another kiss, and I mimic her action. Just when I expect our lips to touch, she pulls away, "But we wouldn't want to tarnish that perfect attendance record of yours, do we?"

I shake my head at her, shifting gears and pulling away from the kerb, "Evil. Pure evil," Even though that description is miles away from the truth. With long blonde curled hair bouncing lightly as she laughs, she looks just like an angel at this moment.

"So the art show is coming up."

I can't contain my grin, knowing exactly where this conversation is headed. I sarcastically ask, "Really? I had no idea."

"Har har, Dames, did you think I'd forget your little promise?"

I play along, "And what promise would that be?"

"The one in which you said you would finally show the world your sketches. Ringing a bell?"

From the corner of my eyes, I see her wiggling her eyebrows at me. I laugh, "I did say that, didn't I?"

All the humor leaves her, "I don't get why you want to keep them hidden. Your art is beautiful." Her words are so sincere that if I wasn't driving, I would kiss her. Instead, I reach out to hold her hand, gently stroking her palm with my thumb.

We stay like that, in comfortable silence, until we reach school. Even though we were running late before, we surprisingly make it with time to spare. I park the car and we clamber out. Someone yells out my name and I look up to see Taylor walking towards me. I take a deep breath, waiting to see what comes out of his mouth today.

He bumps his fist against mine before clapping my shoulder, "Grats, dude!"

Penelope and I exchange confused glances, "On what?"

"Well, rumor has it," He actually snickers, "That you and Miss Valentine totally made out in the janitor's closet on Friday."

Did he seriously say that? And with Penny standing right here?

With a roll of my eyes, I shrug off Taylor's hand from my shoulder, "Grow up, man."

As I'm walking away, I hear him ask Penelope, "Was it something I said?"

I don't think he's trying to be rude. He just doesn't completely understand the stuff he says sometimes.

I feel a hand slip into mine from behind. I don't need to look to know that it's Penelope's.

We decide to go to our separate lockers since we don't have much time left until roll call. When I reach mine, there are two guys loitering around it.

"Steve, Trip," I call out to them.

"Hey Andrews," Steve nods his head at me, "We thought you were finally ditching school to experience life as a normal teenager."

Trip pipes in, "But, alas, here you are."

"Believe it or not," I unlock my locker and pull out my trigonometry and English books, "But being studious is actually a good thing."

Trip looks across the hallway at a couple of girls sending him flirtatious smiles. "Why bother? Girls notice me either way." He winks, making them giggle. Slicking back his short crewcut hair, he shamelessly walks down the hallway towards the juniors, "I'll see you guys after class."