Wild Life

Three

Monday, 7th of September, 1968

My last first day of high school.

The rising sun shines through my window and I wake up with a feeling of bliss. Not only was it my senior year, but last night was still making me feel giddy. I met Paul, and something between us had me smiling from ear to ear.

I begin to dress up; just a pair of bell-bottom jeans, a brown thick belt, a plain black tee, and a pair of turtle-print hoops. I let my hair go natural for the first day, which was wavy and sat just below my shoulders. I quickly applied some blush and mascara because I didn't want to be late to meet up with my best friend, John. I slipped on some ankle boots and gathered up my bag for school.

"Good Mornin' Ma!" I quickly rushed to her to give her a peck on the cheek while grabbing a muffin from the counter.

"Good Morning Val, why don't you sit down a minute with me to eat some breakfast. I know it's your first day back to school, but I'd really like to enjoy this one last time before you go to University next year." Although I would be a couple minutes late meeting John, I understood that my mom was sad that her only daughter was soon going to leave her, so I obliged. "Thank you, Valerie. So are you excited?!"

"Yeah, I am! John and I share some classes together, so I can't wait for that. And I get to take a bunch of electives this year, like I'm taking music, art, and photography classes." I look up to the clock to see it read 7:15 am. I quickly chug the rest of my tea and wrap the other half of my muffin in a napkin, putting it in a pocket of my purse so it wouldn't get crushed. "Okay, mom, I'm going to be late meeting with John, I love you so much."

"Wait, give me a hug." I see a tear stream gently down her face.

"Ma, please don't cry, I'm not leaving for Uni for another couple of months okay?" I try to comfort her with my joke, but it didn't quite land with her. I pull away, reassuring her with a smile. "I'll be back tonight around 7 pm, me and John are going to study for awhile at Freedom of Espresso."

"Tell John I say hello, and have a great day darling!"

I walk down to the bus stop, remembering that feeling I had yesterday after walking with Paul. My heart races just thinking of him.

"HEY HOLLA! WHY ARE YOU SO GODDAMN LATE" I see John screaming as the bus begins to approach the stop. I start running, grabbing John's hand to jump on the stairs of the now moving bus. "Holy shit Val, you almost missed it," he says laughing out loud.

"Fuck you, Lennon. I made it didn't I?" We make our way to the back of the bus and sit next to each other.

John and I have been friends for as long as I can remember. We've been through everything together. From my father leaving my mom and I, to the sudden death of John's mom. We sometimes have our little squabbles, but forgive each other in the end.

"So, how was your last day of freedom?"

"Umm, y'know, I just chilled and finished my painting." I wasn't about to tell him that I had met someone older than me at a bar and made out with them after barely talking for an hour. He'd flip his shit. "What'd you do?"

"Me and Cynthia had a nice shag!" I burst out laughing. The humour of John Lennon was one I'd never understand, but still made me laugh. "Nah, we just watched something on the telly, that's all."

The bus driver announces our stop, Dunmore College, and me and John hop off. He immediately sees his friend, George.

"Aye-oh George!" He jumps on him, messing up his hair.

"What the fuck, John!" He pushes John off of him, as John laughs his ass off. George then turns around to see me standing behind them, giggling at the scene at which just unfolded. He approaches me, fixing the cute mess of hair he had on his head, grinning. I've always had a mini crush on George, and the feeling was mutual. We'd always flirt with each other, but nothing ever happened. If anything, I'd just like to have him as a friend with benefits.

"Hey Valerie, you look nice today", he says with a toothy smile.

"Why, thank you very much, George." I say, absolutely eating up the compliment. "Let me see your schedule, perhaps we have a class or two together." He hands me it, and I see that him, John and I all have music together during the last period of the day. "Well, we all have music, so you guys better start to teach me to play guitar soon." I'd been asking them for this since last summer, and I finally can learn guitar.

*Ring-Ring*

The first few periods of the day are just common subjects, like maths, science, history, and literature. I have a couple of acquaintances in those classes, like John's girlfriend, Cynthia, and another girl named Lisa. They were quite big on gossip, which I've never been interested. They talk to me about all the hot summer buzz, but I block it out. Instead, I think about Paul. I try and picture his lips, and how the cupid's bow on his top lip curved perfectly, and how his bottom lip pouted adorably. I picture his eyes, his deep round hazel eyes, and how they squinted a bit when he smiled at me last night. I listen to his voice in my head, and how passionately he spoke about his love for music. I think about how his face fit effortlessly on mine like a puzzle piece, as we kissed. I remember the feeling of his fingers, roaming my hair and bod-

"Valerie!" Ms. Smith banged her ruler on my desk, and my head shot up like a deer in headlights. "Stop daydreaming and pay attention to the lesson unless you'd like to stay for detention today!"

Luckily, the bell rings as a new period starts. I have art and photography now, my favourite time of day. I don't have any friends in this class, but I don't mind because I'd be distracted if any of my friends were there.

I exit the class, and begin walking down to the art room. My mind is still on the subject of Paul. I walk down the hallway, completely unaware of my surroundings, but as I turn a corner, I see a familiar face. I immediately think it's Paul. I start to pick up my pace, but as soon as I got a foot closer, a sea of students flooded the halls, and I lose sight of the person. It was just my mind playing tricks on me.

I try and start my art project, and my art study being art nouveau, I begin to paint the basic features of a woman's face and hair, and around her a kaleidoscopic pattern. My thoughts of Paul had now completely escaped my brain, and I focus on my art. Time moves quickly, and the last bell of the day rings. I make my way to the music room.

This period, I get to meet with John and George. I see John halfway to the next period, and tap his shoulder.

"Did ya miss me?!" He almost falls to the ground.

"Have you any decency?! My god, Val, I could've had a heart attack!" John's always so dramatic when I scare him, but his reactions are priceless each time.

"Sorry, Sorry!" We are the first ones in class, so we sit in the middle of the classroom, leaving a seat next to me for George. John sits behind, as he likes to annoy me during our classes together. A couple minutes go by and more students started to arrive, and then George comes in. He gives me a wink and nod as he walks his way to the desk next to mine.

"I'm so glad we have a class together, Val. I promise I'll teach you to play the guitar."

"Can't wait! But where the hell is our teacher?" I turn to ask John. He shrugs, and then I see his eyes follow someone behind me.

"There's our teacher." He whispers to me. I turn myself back around, and the teacher was facing his back towards us, picking up the chalk to write something on the board.

As he writes, he begins to talk. "Hello and welcome to Music Theory 101." He continues to write his name. "My name is Mr. Paul McCartney and I am your teacher for this course." He turns around, scanning the room until he laid his eyes on me.

"Holy Shit."