Escaping Reality

Chapter 8: Striking Out

The same valet boy awaited me when I got back down to the lobby, only this time he was wearing an expression of joy rather than disbelief. I guess he had enjoyed his joy ride. He tossed me the keys back like we had known each other for years and I smiled. I could get used to this I thought to myself. I queued up a couple of songs that I had been itching to play and slowly pulled out of the lot.

Before leaving South Dakota I had researched the most affluent high schools in the area and had targeted one that was only a short drive away from my hotel. I set off in its direction and knew I had chosen correctly as soon as I pulled up. The parking lot was littered with cars way too nice for any ordinary teenagers to own. What sensible parents would voluntarily buy their children cars these nice I couldn't help but think to myself. I dismissed the thought, focusing on why I was here.

There was still about forty minutes until class was out, giving me just enough time. I parked my car around the corner and retrieved the flyers. I made quick work of the parking lot, placing the flyers in all of the car windshields making sure they would be noticed. I wanted this party to be all anybody was talking about this afternoon. A bead of sweat crowned itself on my brow as I finished up and made my way back to the car. Step one was complete and I rewarded myself with a little bit of AC as I reclined my seat to sit back and watch.

I scrolled through my phone waiting for the bell to ring and release the students from the prison that we politely call school. Without social media there wasn't much to scroll through, I found myself reading the local news and checking on the weather forecast for the next couple of days, really exciting stuff.

Soon enough the bell rang and the students flooded out into the parking lot in their fancy private school uniforms. I decided now was an ideal time to pull the Porsche up to the pickup lane. It's bright red paint job attracted some attention and scored me a few waves from the ladies. A couple of guys even went out of their way to compliment my ride, offering a "sweet wheels man" or simply a "niceeee dude." There were also a fair amount of students just sort of looking from afar. I could make out murmurs here and there, they were curious who the mysterious new guy was.

I noticed that students were starting to talk about the flyers on their cars. I could see smaller groups forming in the parking lot from a distance. This was good I thought to myself. Now all I had to do was find a way to legitimize the party so they weren't sketched out.

I knew I needed to identify someone with some social pull and befriend them. This was a little more difficult than I had anticipated as everyone at this school was rich and dressed in the same uniform. Suddenly a girl appeared at the top of the steps and I knew. She walked so sure of herself and moved like she owned the school. Even from my car I could make out her model-like features. Her eyes were a deep mocha color that reminded me of a hot coffee and fuzzy blanket on a cold day. Her hair was dark brown and had a slight curl to it. It just below her shoulders and bobbed up and down with every step she took. Her skin was a rich caramel tone that carried a glaze-like glow to it that almost seemed unnatural. I was enamored and sat there staring, mouth wide open.

She wasn't blind and quickly noticed that I had locked my gaze to her in a semi-creepy fashion. She began walking in my direction. As she approached my car my mind went racing, mentally preparing hundreds of different ways to ask her if she needed a ride home. Implausible scenarios and outcomes flew around in my head, none of them doing me any favors. I didn't want to come off as needy but also didn't want to come off as a douche bag. I hadn't the faintest clue of what I was going to say. Thankfully she saved me by speaking up first.

"What are you doing here?" she asked matter of factly.

"Um, I'm um," I stammered.

"Spit it out," she said with a soft smile on her face. I couldn't tell if she was being genuine or just playing with me.

"I'm new to town and am offering people rides home to try and make some friends," I said after collecting myself.

"I have my own car, thanks for the offer though, maybe another time," she said as she turned and walked away. The interaction was over as suddenly as it had started.

Strikeout. Zero for one I thought to myself as she walked away and I sat there facing rejection. I hadn't even gotten her name I realized, only beating myself up more. Looking for redemption I quickly did another scan of the crowd to see if anyone else needed a ride. Making a connection before tonight was a vital part of my plan, I couldn't flop this early on. However, my focus was slipping, I couldn't stop thinking about THAT girl.