I think I'm in love

Peeled Potatoes

I rushed to class as soon as the bell rang, cutting my arm on one of the branches. I tried to ignore the stinging, but it started bleeding a little. I didn't care.
"Miss Everly, please don't come late to my class ever again," my science teacher, Mr. Mith said. I nodded and sat down in my seat next to Stella. She looked at my arm.
"What happened?" she asked.
"Tree," I answered.
"Today, we will be learning about evolution," Mr. Mith announced. Everyone groaned. "Please turn to chapter 7."
I flipped through the pages until I found chapter 7. On the page, there were pictures of how human beings evolved from the monkeys.
"Please read the first paragraph, Hayley," Mr. Mith instructed. I sighed and started reading aloud. This was going to be a long lesson.
I stuffed my books into my locker when school was finished and shut it again.
I was home within the next hour, texting Stella.
Hayley: so what's up?
Stella: nothin much
Hayley: cool, I guess
Stella: i think David doesn't like me anymore...
Hayley: and why would you think that?
Stella: he's around Livy all the time, and she keeps flirting with him...
"Hayley! Come help me in the kitchen," Mom yelled.
"Coming, Mom!"
Hayley: David would never betray you like that. I gotta go now, tho. Text ya later
Stella: bye
I shoved my phone in my back pocket and rushed to the kitchen. Mom was cooking some chicken already.
"What is it, Mom?" I asked.
"Can you peel the potatoes?" she asked. "They're over there." She nodded to a counter with a knife and 5 potatoes. One of them was half peeled.
"You always give up on the first potato," I said.
"You know I'm not good at peeling things, especially potatoes."
I grinned and made my way to the counter with the potatoes and started peeling.
"How was school today?"
"Fine."
"Don't you wonder who's going to ask you to the party?"
I stopped and looked up.
"What?" I asked as I turned to look at her.
"Didn't David tell you? He's having a dance party the 23rd."
The 23rd? That was tomorrow. I gulped. When it came to dancing, I was the worst dancer on the dance floor.
"Dance party? Like, a mini prom?"
"Yes," she answered as she looked back at me.
Oh, God, I thought.
"So I have to wear a dress. Right?"
"Yes."
"Who's going?"
"Stella, Jacob, Will, Chris, Christina and Livy."
"Livy and Christina? That'll be fun." I turned around and continued peeling the potatoes.
"Just ignore her."
I snorted.
"Like that'll be easy to do."
I finished peeling the potatoes in 15 minutes and boiled them in water. When they were ready, I mashed them and poured them into a bowl. I asked her if I could go and she let me.
Hayley: so apparently David's having a mini prom
Stella: really? He didn't tell me.
Hayley: my mom just told me
Stella: how does she know?
Hayley: i dunno. moms
Stella: when is it?
Hayley: he'll probably tell everyone later today
Stella: okay
Hayley: do you think Jacob likes me?
She didn't answer. The question had been lingering in the back of my mind since the double date. I wondered if she knew. I would have to push her past her limits for her to tell me, or the same thing with Jacob.
I went to dinner and ate. I kept thinking that people were just like potatoes. You would have to peel layers off to get to the part-with people, information- you want. I knew it was a stupid thought, but it was logical to me. People were just like peeled potatoes, once you knew their secrets.