The Graduation List

3 - A School Day

Anna

After the weekend of excitement I find it hard to get back to school mode as I drag myself to my morning lecture. Once i'm seated in the lecture hall I take out the things needed before resting my head on my crossed arms which are on the desk in front of me. A few seconds go by before i'm jolted awake by someone placing a hand on my shoulder, I snap my head up and look around, my eyes land on a familiar blond haired hockey player. "Oh hey!" I exclaim with a tired smile, "you okay there Anna?" Eli asks concerned, "pshh i'm fine, just a pre-class nap" he laughs, "we've all been there, I kind of wish it was a requirement for all classes to have one" I watch him sit in the seat next to me with a smile, "we speak the same language and i'm totally okay with it" he shakes his head while smiling, "you're funny and pretty, I can get behind that" I blush at the compliment and look down at my notebook.

At the end of the lecture, I take my time when putting my things away knowing that I don't have a class right after this one. "Hey Anna?" I look up at Eli, "what's up?" he holds up some car keys, "need a ride home?" I zip up my bag and stand up, "why should I take you up on this offer? I don't know you that well" he looks surprised by my answer and I raise an eyebrow waiting for his reply, "uhhhh...i'm great company, and you won't have to take the bus" I smile, "sounds good to me" he grins, "alright, i'm parked in the nearby lot" I nod and we walk out of the hall together. As we walk side by side to the parking lot I peer over at the blond hockey player, my gaze moving along his face, Eli looks over and I blush looking down at my feet knowing that I got caught. The rest of the walk neither of us speaks, feeling comfortable with the silence. 

Once we're at Eli's car, which turns out to be a Jeep, he opens the passenger door for me, "thank you kind sir" he laughs as I climb into the car with a smile on my face. He closes my door before making his way around the car to the driver's side. When he's sitting next to me he puts his phone in the cupholder between us, "where to?" he asks as he starts the car, I give him my address and he nods before driving out of the parking lot and goes towards my house. 

Eli stops the car in the driveway of the house a few minutes later, I turn to him with a smile, "thanks for the ride" he smiles too, "anytime Anna", I unlatch my seatbelt before grabbing his phone from the cupholder. When I see that it's locked I pout, Eli laughs before taking it from me, he types something before handing it back, I smile and go to his contacts adding myself into the list, "there now you can text me whenever" he shakes his head shocked, "sounds good" I giggle and lean over the gear stick to place a kiss on his cheek, "see you around Eli" he nods with a surprised look on his face. I slide out of his Jeep and walk up to the front door of the house, I peer over my shoulder one last time with a smile before walking into the house.

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A few hours later me and all of the girls are around our little dining room table eating dinner. The smile doesn't seem to leave my face as I eat the food on my plate. "What's up with you Anna? You haven't stopped smiling since you got back from class" Gwen asks, I shrug not wanting to tell them about the ride from Eli. "Does this have to do with a certain blond hockey player?" Sierra chimes in while wiggling her eyebrows, I bite my lip not looking at my roommates, "OH MY GOD it does!" Emily yells with a grin. I blush as the other two look at me happily, "we have the same class, he drove me home, I gave him my number, that's it" I explain to them. The squeals that come from them make me cringe as I keep eating my dinner, "that's so nice of him! I can't wait for you two to start dating it'll be amazing!" Sierra exclaims while clapping her hands, "calm down S, we haven't even hung out together" she rolls her eyes but doesn't say anything else, thankfully.

Later that night as i'm getting some school work done my phone makes the noise that signifies a text message. I grab my phone from my night stand checking the lock screen, a message from a number not in my contacts is displayed. I unlock the phone, going into my messaging app to open the new conversation,

612-900-4387: Hey Anna, it's Eli :)

I smile at the short message before I start typing,

Anna: Eli! How's it going?

Eli: It's not too bad, I just got back home from practice, how's it going with you?

Anna: I can't complain, just doing some school work, I didn't know the hockey team had practice this late

Eli: Wow does her school work and is pretty, i've hit the jackpot! You're right we usually don't have practice at night, but coach changed it for this week

My face reddens at his compliment as I bite my lip to contemplate my reply, but before I can write anything another message pops up,

Eli: What are you doing in two weeks?

Anna: I should probably be free, why are you asking so in advance?

Eli: The team plays a bunch of games at home and then we're on the road, I want to take you out

I grin at the last part of his message,

Anna: I know about your games, I'm going to the next home game, I would definitely love to go out with you!

Eli: You are!? Why didn't you tell me earlier?

Anna: Relax, it never came up so I didn't say anything, i'm going with Gwen, who you already met and then our two other friends.

Eli: Find me during warmups, i'll get you a puck

Anna: well aren't you sweet, getting a girl what she really wants

Eli: is that sarcasm I sense?

Anna: yep 

Eli: well fine, I'll save the puck for another girl

Anna: NO!

Eli: ohhh so now you want a puck...how fitting

Anna: I mean it would be good proof for my grad list

Eli: and here I was thinking that I meant something to you :(

Anna: you do! I wouldn't have agreed to a date if you didn't!

"What are you smiling about girl?" I jump at the sound of Gwen's voice, I look up and see her standing in the doorway of my bedroom. "Oh it's nothing" she quirks her eyebrow before approaching me, "I can see right through your lie, might as well tell me" I sigh, she sits on the bed next to me, "texting Eli" a smile appears on her face, "really!" I nod while looking at her, "anything interesting?" I bite my lip and shrug, she pouts giving me her puppy dog eyes, I groan, "he asked me out, but it'll be in two weeks, I also might have told him that we'll be at their next home game" Gwen bounces on the bed, "i'm so happy for you! also do you think he's going to tell Graham that we'll be there?" I smile, "thanks, I'm  excited to learn more about him, on the Graham front I don't know, but you can always tell him yourself if it matters to you this much". The blond looks down and fiddles with her fingers, "I don't think he would care, i'm just me" my eyes widen at her statement, "dude! if I read it right at the women's game, that boy likes you, shoot your shot before it's too late" she peers up at me with a smile, "you think?" I nod enthusiastically making her laugh. "I'm going to let you finish with Eli, good night bestie" I smile, "night Gweny love you" she nods before leaving the room. 

When I go back to mine and Eli's messages I see one new message, 

Eli: i'm so happy you did, I can't wait :)

Anna: :) i'm going to bed now, good night Eli

Eli: good night Anna :)

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