The Boyfriend Algorithm

Chapter 1 - Last Day Home

The school bell rang and all the seniors ran out of their classrooms to get to their cars and pack for the trip to Hawaii. The seniors were like warriors running to their opponent--fast, violently, and screaming their battle cries. I didn't want to go on this elaborately expensive trip that could be money better spent on extra books that I've been wanting to buy, or a kindle that I've always wanted. So, I on the other hand waited at the back of my English teacher's classroom waiting for everyone to file out of the room. I loved the atmosphere of my English classroom--I really did. There were quotes of famous pasts scattered across the walls and books piled on top of bookshelves with a white lining of the cheap, but almost intricate wallpaper that the school provides for every classroom. This was my place of comfort and peace.

As soon as everyone but the teacher got out of the classroom I almost ran to the front of the classroom to talk to my English teacher, Ms. Ramport. I did this every Friday to talk about my efforts in English--my reading list and my pieces of writing.

"So how was reading and writing this week Ms. Montgomery?" Ms. Ramport asked in intriguing curiosity as I took a seat in front of her desk.

"I finished reading Don Quixote last night." I said shyly.

"There's no need to be shy about that Clarissa. Of all people you should know that. It's a very long and not to mention a deep book, dear. How long did it take you to read that book again?"

"One and a half weeks. It could've been only a week if it weren't for school work and finals this week." I said with a disappointed face.

"Holy guacamole. Do you realize how fast your reading is nowadays? I wouldn't have been able to read Don Quixote that fast when I was your age and I probably still wouldn't be able to. Anyway, what did you think of the knight?"

"You probably would be able to read it faster than a week! You're one of the fastest readers I know. But thanks for the compliment, Ms. Ramport. The knight was... interesting. He just fought a random windmill! I understand what it symbolizes though, but it's just that it could have been anything and the author makes the knight fight a windmill."

"Well remember he doesn't know the difference between reality and imagination yet."

"True, true..."

"So how's writing been going this week? Do you have another story done this week or has reading Don Quixote and studying for finals been enough for this week?"

"No, I actually do not have a story done this week surprisingly. I would have liked to though, but I mean writing is not my top priority on finals week..."

"To tell you the truth, I'm surprised as well. Normally you have something to show me even if you're grades are at risk. Well, at least you have all of next week off for spring break to write! How about this, if you come up with a decently long story for me by the end of spring break just stay after class on the Monday we get back and we can go over it. Okay? Unless you're going on that fancy senior field trip. If you are going on that trip then just try to breathe in all you can about Hawaii and just try to relax for once because I know that you need a break."

"Okay. I'll try to get some writing done by the end of break since I'm not going on that Hawaiian cruise with all the seniors. None of my friends are going so I'd be bored to death on that ship--not that I have many friends anyway. You're the only person at this school who accepts the fact that I love writing and that's the way it's been and always be."

"Oh come on. I'm sure there are other people at this school who are like that. You just need to open up more! And as for the cruise thing, you'd be surprised what they have on those things for you grasshoppers."

"Hey, high schoolers may be rowdy, but we aren't jumpy little insects."

"I know, I know. I'm just joking and it's an expression. Anyway, it's 3:30. You might want to think about packing up your things and go home."

"Okay. Thanks for the extra english session, Ms. Ramport. I really appreciate it."

"No problem Clarissa. You know how much I like helping students that have a passion for English. Anyway, don't forget to relax this break!" my English teacher exclaimed as I walked out of the classroom with my backpack swung around my shoulder.

--

I pulled up to my house with my white Acura and walked out of my car with a my backpack slumped over my shoulder. As I got to the front door steps of the stone cottage looking house that I've lived in my whole life, I felt a burden I've carried during my high school years slip off of my shoulders as if burdens were fully fluid. Home had a special way of pulling the things you want to forget about off of you everyday as if it were an extra backpack that you came home with that is automatically slipped off as you walk through the door. As soon as I thought that I would get the well deserved rest that I'd been hoping for since Wednesday and the feeling of comfort of home, my mother cam running out of the door.

"CLARY! Why are you home later from school than you usually are?! Your father and I were worried about you!"

Yeah, right. Like my parents would worry that much about me being 30 WHOLE MINUTES late from school one day. I just hoped it wasn't what I thought this whole mom worrying about daughter thing was about--a surprise, a surprise that I didn't want.

"Don't worry about me, mom. I can take care of myself. I was just talking to my English teacher about this book I read last week that I wanted to discuss with her."

"No, but we have a surprise for you! Your father and I discussed you needing a break, and... Well, I'll let your father explain," my mother explained as she grabbed my hand and pulled me into the house.

Shoot. This was not what I wanted. Why couldn't this be the perfect spring break that I've been hoping for since the beginning of the school year?!

"Here's your suitcases and your cruise ticket and all the info you need, Clary," my father gently said with a smile on his face.

"Honey! I didn't even tell her yet!"

"Oh, sorry hon! Clary, your mother and I discussed since you have a 4.0 perfect GPA and you are such a hard working student, we thought you would need a break, so we decided that you're going to go to Hawaii for spring break!"he smiley said as my face went from a concerned face to a face full of awestruck horror.

"Clary, what's wrong?" my mother said.

"Oh, nothing. I just wasn't expecting this and I just realized I needed to use the restroom--like really badly," I said tightly as I ran off to my bathroom.

"Wait! You can't. The water is shut off."

"Why, may I ask?"

"Because your father and I are going on a trip to France! When you are dropped off at the cruise ship loading dock, we'll be driving to the airport to go to France."

"Oh, great," was all I could say with my heart heavy with sadness since that was absolutely not how I wanted to spend my last spring break at home, well theoretically at home anyway.

Well that gets rid of my plan of ditching the ship.

So the decision was final. I was going to go to Hawaii on a cruise ship that I didn't even want to go on and my parents were going to go on this trip to France. My parents filled the car, stuffed me in the backseat and drove away from what I thought was going to be a comfy sweet break.