Spaces

1: 18

As the cold, December air nips at my soft skin I make my way down the sidewalk towards the bus. Today is finals day and I cannot be late, so I'm taking the bus instead of my mom taking me. Only God knows how late I would be with her.

I don't know why school matters so much...I don't even know what I am going to do. A doctor? A surgeon? Something successful...I want money. I already know that I'm most likely not going to get married. No guy accept one has ever given me one thought in this school, so why would they in college? They all want someone who will do the nasty with them and I'm just not that girl. I need to know someone before they even ask me out. I'm too precautionary.

As the bus stops right in front of me, I walk in, show my ID, and go to the back. That's where all of my friends sit. I watch as the bus starts moving on, heading to its next location. I plug my headphones into my ears and start listening to the soft noise of Iron & Wine sing through my ears. When the bus stops, ten more students climb on, one of which is my best friend, Ariana. She smiles and I make room for her in my row 23 seat. Behind her follows her boyfriend, Sean. He sits in the seat in front of us as we begin talking.

"Hey, Jade." Ariana says cheerfully. I smile and greet her warmly. "Can you believe how cold it's getting lately? I'm freezing." I laugh.

"I know. It's wonderful." Ariana scowls at me and I laugh in return. I love the cold...cuddling up by the fireplace and drinking hot cocoa...its the best.

"Are you ready for the anatomy final?" She asks me. Sean turns and decides to get into the conversation, which is very rare of him. Ariana is definitely the talkative one in their relationship.

"No." I say and look down. "I don't have it until tomorrow so I'm just going to cram tonight." I say. She laughs.

"Damn it! I have it today." She says.

"I can help you, babe. That's my best class." Sean adds in. I smile. I've always admired their relationship: the disorganized, adorable girl with the player that is only faithful to her. They're the perfect couple. Ariana and Sean have been together since sophomore year, when they stumbled across each other in a culinary class. Ever since then they've been inseparable.

Ariana smiles. "Thank you love." She says and pecks him on the cheek. The feeling of being a third wheel flood through me...it has always been this way.

We all stand as the bus arrives at Chandler High School, the home of the legendary wolves. Ariana and I stand, revealing our exact same small height. We've been best friends since freshman year and I couldn't ask for anyone better. When she got the idea of being vegan, I went along with her, and now we work out at the same gym and eat meals together. Ever since then we have become inseparable.

We walk out of the bus and into the cold air. I remember that Ariana and Sean have first period on the opposite side of the school from me.

"Well I'll see you after school." I say and hug Ariana. I hug Sean and we go our separate ways. I make my way towards my first period, math, and plug my headphones back in, this time Hozier starts to sing into my head. I watch as everyone walks past me, until one boy, Harry, passes me. I look down then back up right when we go by each other. His dreamy green eyes meet mine and he smiles. I immediately smile back. Then he gently turns me toward him. I take out one earphone and look at him straight in the eyes.

"Hey." He says simply. I smile.

"Hey." I say. Harry is the one boy that has ever even paid the slightest bit of attention to me, and it creates butterflies in my stomach. He continues our poorly started conversation.

"So I was wondering if maybe you would want to get some ice cream this Friday?" He asks. I smile even wider. Did he just ask me out? I nod my head a little too eagerly.

"Yeah, definitely. What time?" I ask. He shrugs.

"Seven? We could grab a bite to eat too." He says. I smile and bite my lip.

"Sounds great." I say. We finish up the wonderful conversation and part ways. Off to math again, but now I'm not even bothered. Maybe I won't be alone for the holidays...

--After School--

I walk out of my last class, fully ready for winter break. I start my walk down the path towards the buses. Suddenly my phone buzzes in my hand.

*will you get me some tampons from the minimart?* My sister types to me. I sigh and turn myself around completely to make my way towards the minimart across the street.

*youre going to give me a ride home right.* I text back. She has a seventh hour so thats the only way I can get home. She says yes and I continue to walk toward the tiny store. I cross the street and enter the store. Immediately heat consumes me, causing me to tear my jacket off. I walk over to the section containing tampons and pads. I grab the regular sized, sigh, and walk towards the register. There are many more teenagers in front of me, I see one girl with a pregnancy test in her hand. I suddenly feel sympathy for the girl...the next nine months she'll endure are going to be horrible. Well she hasn't even taken it maybe she's not pregnant. Finally, my turn comes along and I set the box onto the counter. The man at the register looks in his twenties, black hair and brown eyes. He smirks when he sees the tampons. I roll my eyes.

"Have you never seen a box of tampons?" I ask, being a smart ass. He chuckles and scans the item.

"Three fifty." He says with a thick British accent. I look at him as I hand him ten dollar bill. He takes it, opens the register, and starts taking change out. He hands it to me then puts the box in a bag.

"Do you go to Chandler?" He asks. I reply as I put the change into my wallet.

"Yeah...why?" I ask curiously. He shrugs.

"Just wonderin'. I just graduated last year. Now I'm at NAU." He states. I look to my side, making sure no one is in line. To my surprise, no one is.

"I just got accepted to NAU. I'm going next fall." I say. He smiles.

"Well maybe I'll see there." He says. I smile and look at his name tag. Zayn. I take the bag from him and walk out into the winter air. When the frost nips at my skin I remember my jacket. I left it inside. I walk back in, Zayn has already gone to the back of the store luckily...now I don't have to embarrass myself. I go to the spot I left my jacket at and pull it on, then I walk out. This time the air doesn't shock me as much. When I get to the corner, I press the button on the traffic light then look down at my phone. When I look up, I see Jonathan's truck standing in front of me. I watch as he looks to my side and sees me standing there, he smiles and rolls down the window.

"Do you need a ride?" He questions. I nod as he stretches to open the door for me. I hop in and immediately he turns the heat on. I laugh when I realize I'm shivering.

"Thank you." I say. "You're a lifesaver." He smiles and continues to drive through the green light.

"No problem." I try to think of things to say. I have no idea. After a few seconds he becomes a life saver once again.

"So I heard you're going to NAU?" He asks me. I smile and wonder how he heard that. The only people I have told is Ariana and Sean. It must've been Sean.

"Yeah. I'm going next fall." I say. "Where are you going?" I ask him, desperate to keep the conversation going.

"I'm going to SDSU in San Diego." He says. Wow that's a good school.

"Wow. That's amazing." I say. I wish I could go there. I don't have enough money. He smiles.

"Thanks. I honestly just want to get out of this state. I hate it here." He says.

"Same here...but I don't have enough money to get out." I say. He smiles. We stay quiet for a little bit more until he breaks the silence once again.

"Hey do you want to get something to eat?" He asks. I look him in the eyes. This is the moment I've been waiting for four years. I smile.

"Sure." I say cooly. Inside thoughts are going through my mind 100 miles a minute. He just made my day.