Evergreen

Two

The last bell finally rang and everyone jumped out of their seat to get through the door first. I stayed behind, putting my binder and pen in my backpack as slow as I could so I didn't have to fight the traffic of students out in the combat zone you called a high school hallway.

I didn't realize Claire had stayed back as well until she tapped her slim fingers on the top of my desk that I still occupied

"I didn't think you'd say yes,"

I slung my backpack over my shoulder as I stood up, shrugging nonchalantly. "I didn't think you'd ask me something like that,"

She smiled brightly, dimples on full display. "Touché."

We walked out of the classroom and fought up stream in the herd of teenagers trying to make their way out of this hellhole. We passed a particular group, Chelsea stood in the middle playing with a strand of her straight blonde hair, and when she saw me looking, everyone glared at me simultaneously.

If looks could kill, I'd be dead and in the ground two years ago.

I kept my head down as we walked by them, watching the rhythmic steps of my converse in front of me.

Left, right. Left, right. Left, right.

Claire grabbed my hand; I looked up at her in surprise, she just smiled and twined her fingers through mine. I smiled at her in gratitude, reveling in the strength the gesture gave me.

. . .

When I stepped through the threshold of my tranquil abode, the sweet smell of pancakes assaulted my nostrils.

"Mom, I'm home!" I called, closing the door behind me and slipping off my shoes.

Cindy McFall's healthy smile and bright blue eyes- one great thing I'd inherited from her, along with her high cheek bones and long legs, but I got my black hair, small hands and a slender nose from my father- popped around the kitchen door. Her "Kiss the Baker" apron was on and I knew there'd be a feast, even if it were just the two of us.

"How was your day, sweetie?"

I sighed and walked into the kitchen, plopping myself onto one of the stools surrounding the island.

"I met a girl,"

Mom froze, half way through flipping a pancake, and turned to look at me in disbelief. "Really?"

A secret smile snuck up and stuck itself onto my mouth. "Yeah, mom, don't look so shell shocked. Her name is Claire." Dimples flashed into my mind and the sneaky smile tugged at my lips a little more, I tried to cover it up by biting my lip ring. "Claire Taylor."

Mom turned back to the stove, finishing the pancake and flopping it onto the huge stack next to the burners. "Claire, that's a pretty name. So, are you two a thing?"

I shrugged, picking at my dark red nail polish to avoid my moms gaze. "I'm giving her relationship advice... by teaching it to her."

"Teaching her? What do you mean?"

"We're practically dating but she's calling it, 'me teaching her how to be in a relationship'," I looked up. "And I don't know how I'm supposed to feel."

Mom turned off the stove and started putting the pancakes on plates. "How did this even come into conversation?"

I grabbed the plate from her, drowning my three pancakes in butter and syrup. I love breakfast for dinner. "She passed me a note in class and asked."

Mom frowned at me, leaning back on the counter. "Just asked you to teach her to date? Straight forward, no leading up conversation?"

I shook my head, taking a bite of the delicious pancake. "Nope. Just asked me."