electric rising

Chapter 8

     Monday came too quickly. With droopy eyes and cloudy skies I made my way to school. Most people found the constant rain depressing, but I enjoyed it. It meant snow was coming, and with snow came hot chocolate and fluffy pajamas.    

      After parking in my usual spot I climbed out of the car. The vehicle next to mine was not the usual red pickup truck. Instead there was a fancy white car that looked like it had cost the owner millions. I didn’t know enough about cars to identify what brand it was, but even I can tell a nice car from the crappy ones usually found in a high school parking lot. The cold air bit at my cheeks and I turned to rush inside.

      Landon was not in the art classroom when I walked in, and I hated myself for wondering where he was. I should be glad. Wasn’t this exactly what I had been hoping for? Landon wasn’t in second, third, or fouth period either, even though he had said that he was trying out for Cross Country today. By lunch I had come to the conclusion that he had been abducted by aliens and was now stuck in an alternate universe. Laughing out loud I began my lunch.

        Halfway through the period I heard footsteps approach my table. “Hello Allison” Came London’s voice, formal as ever, from behind me. He rounded the table and sat directly in front of me. I was buzzing with curiosity.

 “Landon.” I replied, not looking up.

After a moment of awkward silence I couldn't keep the questions inside.

"What do you always call me Allison?" I asked.

"Isn't that your name?" Landon replied, genuinly puzzled.

"Well yeah, but everyone else calls me Alli. Even my mom." I told him.

"Do you prefer that?" I had to think about this for a second. Did I?

"Yeah." I replied. but I wasnt so sure. There was something nice about hearing Landon say my full name. 

"I'll try to remember that" He said. I didn't say anything else for a long time.

      “Are you stalking me?” I blurted.

     His reply came quickly “yes.” My face must have betrayed how freaked out I was because he let out a low chuckle. “I’m joking.”

     Blushing I went back to eating. 

     “Alli can I ask you something?” He didn’t let me answer. “Why don’t you like me?”

     “Who says I don’t”

     “I’m not an idiot. You either ignore me or slam the door in my face. I don’t understand what I did to make you hate me.” He seemed genuinely confused.

      “You’re cocky and rude. You are in like every one of my classes. And I constantly catch you staring at me. It’s more than a little-“

      “Stalkerish?” he finished. I nodded “thanks for telling me” he said, then stood and walked out of the cafeteria.