People make up excuses all the time for many reasons. My best friend, Lizzy, make up excuses to get off of doing homework, my mom likes to make excuses up to enter my room, and my brother, Jerry, likes to make up excuses to annoy me. Even I make up excuses. Well, only one excuse really. I always find any reason I can to sit in the front of my high school bus. This may seem like a stupid thing to do because I can just sit there, but it's not because Lexis Parker sits in the front. Lexis Parker is what most people call an introvert. Besides the fact that his amazing looks, black silky hair and unnatural sparkling grey eyes can make him insanely popular, Lexis hates interacting with anyone from school. So, in the beginning of freshman year, he made it known to everybody on our bus not to sit in the front. How I actually manage to sit in the front without getting on his bad side? Well, that's what I'm about to explain.
It started a month ago when I, Charlie Loaner, started to actually notice Lexis Parker. We sat at the same table at lunch once. Although we never spoke to each other that day, I believe that it really opened both our eyes and made us really see each other. The next day I saw him on the bus, sitting alone in the front. We made eye contact while I made my way down the aisle, heading towards the seat Lizzy was sitting in. That afternoon he was not on the bus. For the next few days this became a pattern until one day I smiled at him as well as passing by him. He smiled back and my heart fluttered.
On Monday, I asked him if I could sit next to him. Sadly, he declined, but he had also said sorry (his first words to me ever) while doing so.
On Tuesday, I made sure I was the last person to arrive on the bus in the afternoon. It was my failed attempt to sit next to him. I say failed because he wasn't on the bus. Actually, almost nobody was on the bus.
On Wednesday, I learned that on Tuesday everybody was staying after school to watch the football game. Lexis, surprisingly went. Even Lizzy went. She told me early Wednesday that she didn't think it would be my scene. We had a small argument after that. Later on Wednesday, I had to stay after school to finish an art project. That day I had no clue what happened on the bus.
On Thursday, I woke up with a fever. I slept all day.
On Friday, I was forced out of my house even though I still felt pretty sick. I was late to school. When I arrived in period one, my teacher yelled at me for not being on time. She's evil, I swear. She gave me a detention slip and I took my seat. That day I did not see Lexis on the bus, but I did see him in detention. Naturally, I was surprised, but I didn't say anything. I just sat down next to him and smiled in his direction. He smiled back and grabbed a pair of earphones from his book bag. Without saying anything, Lexis gave me one end and plugged it into his phone, Throughout the entire detention, we listened to Mumford and Sons without talking. I don't think we needed to.
Over the weekend, I worked on my homework. Being in your Junior Year of high school means you have a lot of work. I need to get good grades. Especially if I want to get a scholarship to John Hopkins in Maryland. The school is five hours away and it would be giving me a new start at life. Even if it meant letting go of the one I have now.
Today, I decided to wear a skirt. For me, this is an accomplishment because I hate dressing up. There was no particular reason why I felt the need to dress up, but I guess I wanted to try something different (this was totally not about Lexis). On the bus in the morning, I said hi to Lexis while making my way to Lizzy. Before I could sit down, Lizzy moved her leg over the seat. Looking at her and seeing her wink, I blush and slowly move to the front (where, of course, the only seat is open). Lexis doesn't say anything when I get there, but he does move over and pat the seat. I look at him and smile.
This time, we don't stay in utter silence while we're together. Lexis actually engages in a deep conversation with me. It started with favorite foods and then somehow, we ended up talking about Lexis being adopted. I don't think anyone knew about this and knowing this made me feel really special. Time flew by quickly and we ended up going our separate ways in school, but not before saying bye, but little did I know how serious that good bye really was.
Lexis wasn't on the bus that afternoon. Lexis wasn't on the bus ever again.
A year. A year it had been since Lexis moved. Not much has changed though, except for the fact that I lost my best friend, Lizzy, to a group of druggies. I still worry about her, but it's not like I can do anything about it. Graduation is also coming near, and I actually won valedictorian. Surprising, because I never considered myself smart.
A day away from graduation and I get a letter in the mail. It was an acceptance letter to John Hopkins. In that wonderful letter was also a scholarship form. Happy is too dull of a word to explain how I feel now, although, still there is a darkness in my heart, one that has been with me for about a year.
After I gave my valedictorian speech, and the graduation ceremony was over, my brother, Jerry, who is twenty seven years old, suggested a road trip. My parents said yes, of course (they adore my brother, unlike with me).
We travel parts of the united states, visiting places like Texas, California, Nevada, and Colorado. It took up most of my summer and by the time we came home to Utah, I had to pack and leave for college at John Hopkins. My parents couldn't afford a plane for me, and they couldn't personally drive me there due to work, so I took multiple buses in order to transport me to Maryland. It took a few days, but finally, I made it. My life was officially behind me now and I had made it through high school. I was a loner, I didn't do many fun activities, but I was myself. I was able to find my way in life and for that i'm grateful. Who know, maybe I'll have some fun college adventures. Maybe I'll meet someone who will make me forget about my high school crush, Lexis Parker. Maybe I'll- I lose my train of thought as I look closely through a cafe window right outside of John Hopkins University.
Staring right at me, is a set of very familiar sparkling grey eyes. Maybe I'll have a very interesting year with a very interesting man.
