Pen to paper

Nick

If I learned anything about New years, it's that pretty much anything can happen. What's great is that amazing stuff is actually happening. Almost all at once.

After that kiss with Luna, everything fell into place. We started dating about two days after that party. Conveniently, she lived fairly close. Luna was different than I'd thought she'd be. Don't get me wrong, different in a good way. She talked a lot. And I mean A LOT. Mostly she talked about something having to do with the sky I think? I'm not sure. I mostly nod my head and agree with her. It's better than completely ignoring her.

In February, I got on the water polo team, which is what our school is known for. We have won 5 championships in a row, I very much intend to win a 6th. As soon as I made the team my friend population went way up, so I spent less time with Cora and Bowie than usual. I don't really think they noticed much. We all had something to worry about.

COVID-19 was spreading quickly, and we were all worried about the people that we knew on the east coast. And for some of us our family in other countries. But I don't think any of us really expected it to come here. I mean it was all the way on the other side of the country and overseas. We were in California. So I put that possibility aside for now.

It was Wednesday, so we got out an hour early for staff conferences. I was more happy about it being Wednesday than most times, I was exhausted. Luna had kept me up for most of the night on the phone. Again, talking A LOT. She was stressing about an... outfit I think? I honestly don't know anymore. Even if it was an outfit how was I supposed to help with that? I don't understand how girls have such a hard time with this stuff. It's literally just pants, shirts, shoes and bam you're done. It is very simple. But like always I nodded my head and said yes and no based on what I thought she wanted me to say.

As I walked through the halls I forced myself to energetically give high fives and remember lots of names. Now my new normal. I saw Luna coming towards me. She was wearing the outfit that I had helped her pick out but it was different. She was also wearing a crown and carrying balloons. What was she doing?!? Didn't she realize how bad she was embarrassing herself, and me? What was she thinking?!? Maybe I should help her pick her outfits from now on after all. It would do both of us some good.

Was I going to say any of this out loud to her? No. Was I going to help her out? Yes. I walked up to her with forced enthusiasm.

"Hey Luna," I said. She seemed eager today.

"Oh, hey Nick!" she smiled.

"So um.. that outfit is... special huh?"

"Yeah! Well I feel like it should be, at least for today," What was so important about today? She continued, "Thanks for helping me pick it out last night."

"Yeah no problem, it's just.. uh... what's with the crown? I mean I know you're starting to get more popular around here, but don't you think the crown is a bit much?"

She looked at me puzzled, and slowly took off the crown. This is good, she was coming to her senses.

"Well, I don't know, I just thought today it would be nice," Luna said quietly. Again, what was the importance of today. She could have dressed up on a day that was important. Like my first water polo game. I was honestly hoping she would. But nope, she chose today.

"What is so important today Luna?!"

She looked at me with sadness in her eyes. This usually meant that she was going to start talking a lot again. And like usual I started to tune out.

I was looking around at the quad where most of us hang out in the morning before the first bell. Classroom B-5 caught my attention, this was the history classroom. Oh shoot! Did I do the homework?

My focus snapped back to Luna as I heard the last couple of words that she said. But I had caught them out of context, they could have meant anything. But then her next words, oh I definitely heard those.

"That's it! I've had it. We're done!" She said with an uncomfortable amount of confidence.

"Wha- what do you mean we're done?" I said confused.

"Do you really want to know, Nick? Or are you just going to nod and ignore me like usual? Cause I'd rather not waste my voice anymore,"

"No, I really want to know!" I said quickly.

"Today is my birthday! I have been talking about it for over a week!" she shouted.

Today was her birthday? I think I would have remembered THAT.

"Sorry, but you never told me." I said.

She gave me a hard look and took a step forward. "Goodbye, Nick,"

And just like that she walked away. As she did this the first bell rang. What the heck just happened?!?