Tardy

We Clearly Have Different Definitions of Fairly Close

I have always had a soft spot for nature. When we first moved here, my dad used to take me for a walk in the garden of the local park up the street. We would stay there for hours; lost in the serenity of the flowerbeds and the red maple trees. Playing in the fallen leaves and admiring the changing seasons. There, I learned to appreciate the beauty and tranquility of the natural world.

Everyday on my walk to school, I pass by Mrs. Jenkins sterling silver rose bushes. I stop and take a moment to smell the roses. They're smell relaxes me and prepares me for the day I'll have as soon as I walk in the school doors. They have this scent that reminds me of comfort and candied yams. He used to love candied yams. But today, I couldn't smell them. My nose had caught the scent of something beside me that was completely different. It reeked of honeydew and leather. It was oddly familiar, but something told me that it wasn't for good reasons. And when I angled my head to the right to get a look at what it could be, I quickly learned why.

"Funny, I didn't catch you for a roses girl Tardy. A little cliché if you ask me. I took you more for the cactus type. Matches your personality," commented Dylan as he realized I had finally noticed him.

"Stalk much?" I chided as I tried to figure out how the hell he found out where I lived.

"I was in the neighborhood," he answered sheepishly as avoided eye contact and he played with his feet.

"Uhhuh. Of course. In the neighborhood," I said as I rolled my eyes and walked past him.

"Scouts honor," he swore as he caught up to me. He made a cross over his heart and left his hand on his chest.

"Right," I thought. Like hell this child was a boy scout. "I've never seen you around here. Even if you just moved here, the only house available is the Madison House and we all would have seen you move in. So, try again."

"Ok, I was fairly close to the neighborhood," he admitted.

"And where exactly is fairly close?" I inquired.

"Umm..." he hesitated. "Sixth and McPherson."

"That's twelve blocks away!" I exclaimed.

"We clearly have different definitions of fairly close."

"Why are you here?" I asked.

"I told you I was going to walk you to school. I am a man of my word," he asserted.

"And you found me how?"

"I may have...slightly...watched you...walk home yesterday," he confessed.

That creep! I knew felt someone's eyes on me when I left school. After he kept pestering me for my name yesterday, Mrs. Brady yelled at us to keep quiet or have detention with Mr. Herbert for the rest of the week. I shut my mouth immediately. Dylan got the hint and decided to follow suit. After that, detention was pretty quiet. Once 4:30 came around, Mrs. Brady told us to leave and I ran out of the class. I heard him call for me as I jogged down the hallway, but I didn't stop. Talking to him was the most talking I've done in months, and I wasn't sure if I could handle anymore.

"So you are a creep. You could have just said that," held. Who watches someone they just met walk home.

"I'm not a creep!" he defended.

"Denial is the first step."

"I was just curious," he explained.

"Curiosity killed the cat."

"And so did your face," he teased. "Admit it, you're secretly happy I'm here."

"I admit nothing," I answered. I haven't walked to school with anyone in a while. It's actually not that bad, but no way was I going to add to his already inflated ego.

"Oh come on. You know these last five minutes would have been hell without me," he continued. "By the way, you do realize you live five minutes away. There's like no reason for you to ever be this late." he ranted as we arrived at the school doorway. I didn't even realize we were here already.

"I have my reasons. But you don't. You do know what time it is, right?" I declared as we walked down the hall to head to class.

"It's only my second day. I'm new, remember? I can use the "I'm still trying to find my way" excuse all week. Besides, I'd rather be late with you."

"Was that you flirting?" I quipped.

"Maybe," he blushed.

"No wonder your single."

"Who said I was single?"

"Well, you don't look like the long-distance type and if you weren't you wouldn't be here."

"Not true. I'd still be here," he insisted.

"Well then you're an ass and I wouldn't want you here," I stated.

"So you do want me here!" he boasted. Before I could answer, he pulled the door to Mrs. Brady's class open and the room fell silent. The class was used to me being late. It barely affected them when I entered the room, but today I wasn't alone. Today, I had the newbie with me and that was cause for attention. So when we walked in, all eyes fell on us and a soft humming started around the room.

Mrs. Brady stopped her lesson and says, "Always a pleasure to have you Ms. Fitz". I give her a side smile as she signed my tardy slip and I start my walk to the back of the class. Just as I reach my seat she says, "Oh. And you to Mr. Mathers," and for some reason it made me upset. Call me petty, but I was the only person she would say that too. It felt like he was encroaching on what was mine and I didn't like that.

When he took his seat next to mine, he tried to restart our earlier conversation, but I didn't want to. I was holding a grudge against him that he didn't even know existed. When the bell rang for second period, I grabbed my bag and headed out the room, before he could say a word.

Getting ready for school today, I decided to put my hair up in a ponytail. I was wearing my white "I don't hate you, but if you were on fire and I had a bottle of water, I'd drink it" shirt, and if I wore my hair down it would cover the "fire" and the "drink it" part. I quite liked those parts.

I pulled on my light denim jeans and blue and yellow new balances, and headed out the door. It was a beautiful day. The sun was out and bright in the sky and everything looked fresh and new. I walked past Ms. Jenkins rose bush like I always do and the roses were in perfect bloom; opened wide and gleaming in silver. But today there was someone waiting there, and the beauty of the day went away. If there were another street, I would gladly cross over to it. I tried to walk past him as fast as could without him noticing, but I failed.

"Hey Tardy. Wait up," he stammered as he ran to my side. "How are you doing on this fine day?" I ignored him and kept walking.

"You should wear your hair up more often. That way your face looks half way decent," he persisted.

"Remember when I asked for you opinion?" I urged.

"Umm...no"

"Me neither."

"Ah, don't be mad. It really opens up you're face. Now I have a clear view of your bug eyes," he joked. I refuse to acknowledge his comment, so I continued to walk to school. Slowly increasing my pace.

"You're really going to give me the silent treatment? What's up with you? Someone piss in your fruit loops?" he scoffed. It's childish of me to take out my frustration on him. I guess I should lighten up.

"Look, there's nothing wrong with your big eyes. They're kind of cute, if you're into that Walt Disney princess sort of thing. And I am. I love Disney. Who doesn't love Disney? Crazy people. Is it cold out here or is it just me? I don't care. The cold never bothered me anyway," he randomly rambled as his face started to turn pink. Awe, that was kind of cute, he's blushing.

"You watched Frozen last night, didn't you? I asked.

"You have no idea how hard it is to not sing "Let It Go," he conceded as he threw his hands in the air. I couldn't help but smile at how of kid he was being. "Wow. Ladies and gentleman I got a smile. This should be documented."

Just as he went to pull out his phone, I hightailed it in the building, leaving him behind, dumbfounded.