The Story of Us

School, Work, and Work

Every morning when I open my eyes, I don't know what to expect of the day. Though my days are predictable, the routine could change at any time. But for the past—almost seventeen—years I would wake up, tell my parents good morning, get ready for school, learn, come home, go to work, come back home for homework, shower, eat, wake up the next day and do it all over again. I have an older sister, who tries to hook me up with different guys from school. Apparently, I'm too uptight.

I'm not uptight. I had my boundaries set, and I wasn't going to mess with them, And one of them is: I don't want to get involved with a guy until my life has settled down. Now, don't get me wrong—I had my eye on someone. I was just too shy to even speak to him. He always looked busy anyways. He was practically the star of the school. Everyone knew him and loved him. Now, he wasn't a jock or anything.

As I did the final touch-ups on my hair, I grabbed my backpack that weighed a ton, and went downstairs. Dad had already left by now, but Mom was drinking her morning coffee. I looked at the time and saw that school started in thirty minutes. I hugged my mom, grabbed the keys to my truck, and drove to school.

My sister, Leah, was a senior. So, of course, she'd have a boyfriend who picked her up every day. When I got to the school, everyone was dressed in our school spirit shirts. I had totally forgotten about the pep rally for today. Our football team was playing a huge game tonight against the rival school. It was somewhere in the east side of Texas, I believe. Houston, I think. We live in West-brook, Texas. Right by a small town called Colorado City no one's heard of.

I tugged my jacket close to me as I stepped out of my truck. I picked the wrong day to wear my skirt. It had to be at least mid forties today.

“Hey, you're in choir, right?” a girl asked me.

I nodded.

“You a soprano?” she asked.

I nodded again, confused as to why she was asking me these questions.

She walked off and I went in the school, ignoring what just happened. Kind of weird, but it is what it is. My teeth chattered as I sped walked into the school. I bumped into someone and looked up.

“I'm so sorry,” I spat out before any yells could start.

“It's okay,” he laughed at me.

After a moment of blondness—no I don't have blonde hair—I realized who it was I'd just bumped into.

“Oh my gosh, hi, Noah,” I blinked.

“Rachel!” my peppy friend—Ally—yipped, pulling me away.

“What?” I laughed, rolling my eyes at her.

“You were talking to Noah Morgan!” she squeaked.

“And?” I shrugged.

“He's the football star!” she reminded me.

“And? He's still a person,” I said.

“A famous person!”

“At school! He's not a celebrity, Al,” I reminded her.

“Still,” she laughed as we walked. “You should watch your back. Have you seen him and Delilah lately? He's been flirtin'.”

“People flirt, Ally,” I told her.

“Oh, Rae, don't do this,” she rolled her eyes.

“What?” I asked, completely confused.

“Act like you don't care,” she groaned. “You know you're into him! Why don't you say something?”

“Because I don't feel like humiliating myself,” I whispered.