Underneath.
I walked down to the school lot and found my old, green little car that sat old and weary in a small, secluded parking space that I only knew about: behind the old tool house that sat at the far right end of the parking lot. I pulled my suede jacket closer to my body as the wind whirled and whooshed against my face and neck, threatening to bring a nice present that came with tissues and cough medicine; not my idea of how to spend the short fall break. I plopped myself into the seat, closed the door, and sat. It had seemed as if only one week had passed since August and now, but the Fall Break was now fast approaching and Student Council was hustling and bustling- busy as ever. I looked back to last year and remembered when I had time for other things......
A year ago, when I was a junior at Evinglore College Preparatory School for the Gifted, I met Avery. He was a senior there, quiet, but brilliant. He was artistic and unique, his uniform always crafted in some way that amazingly didn't break school rules, and I was the girl that became the talk of the school. Smarter than most juniors, on the level of some seniors, I aced my classes and continued to be the star student that I'd always striven to be. Although my grades were high, and I took as many chances I could for extra-curricular activities that was possible, I still was a quiet soul. Never questioning the will of my authorities, I trembled at the thought of ever breaking a school rule. Snobby and preppy was never my forte, I was always a poet and a writer at heart, inhabiting small corners to type a story or write in a journal, or doodle in a notebook harmlessly, not wanting to stir up any drama with the other students. I did have a friend though, one I knew since kindergarten. Her name was Cassie Bartholomew, or C.B. for short. She was the exact opposite of me, though not snobby, she was always seeking some way to perform for others in plays and school productions. She was student body president for three years in a row and she was totally cool with everyone. She was charismatic and a friend generator, as I called her, and not to mention, she was beautiful. She possessed the longest and softest brown hair that super models would be jealous of, and a slender but perfectly crafted body that every girl in the school coveted. Cassie always found something to find beautiful about everyday, and me for that matter. Even though I consistently disagreed, she was still ever insisting that I was so gorgeous, with my brown and blond hair (my mother was black and my father was white), and my mocha skin tones, but I was always away in a nook or cranny, hiding myself away to study that I guess guys gave up on trying to understand me, not that they didn't throw a pick-up line out there now and then. Seemingly, we were the popular girls in the school, the brain and the beauty, but together we were just...regular old people. But something, I guess, was different about the way we walked, or the way we talked to each other, something that was more real about us, that caught Avery's eye. I used to drool over his school pictures in the newspaper and desperately but secretly tried to craft a way for us to have classes together, although he was two years older. I joined some of his clubs, took some of the electives he did (I could because I was taking some senior classes), and even noticed some of the drinks he always had in his hand- a blue Monster. I remember it was a Thursday that we didn't have school, and I was there, setting up for a debate that was going on that weekend....
The school was barren, and I had some time, after setting up banners for the event, to wander down the halls to get myself a soda. I was student body vice president, liking to be behind the scenes, and Cass was now an exchange student in Spain, so I filled in for her, doing work around the school dutifully as she usually did. As I was strolling tiredly down the hall I heard some bustle in the art room, and peeked in unnoticed, and there he was.
I was frozen with fear. I had had my eye on him since the beginning of the year, and there we were, alone, him sitting at an easel while I felt more and more like a peeping Tom. I quickly retreated down the hallway, my heart beating, and hurriedly walked down the hallway, thinking about what I just saw. Him, in some slim khakis and a light blue t-shirt, not to mention a t-shirt that complimented his beautifully sculpted back muscles. Okay. I needed to stop. Just as I was in mid-thought, I heard a soft, low voice call after me.
"Etain...is that you?"
I stopped in my tracks, blushing through my almond complexion, and turned around quickly, almost losing my balance. He...knew my name...! I thought elatedly.
"Yes, that's me," I said with a timid smile.
"I thought I saw someone peek in there slyly...but I wanted to be sure." He chuckled, while my face began to burn.
"Oh, yeah, I just thought I heard someone in there, I didn't want to bother you, I mean, it looked like you were up to something in there. Not like, bad, just, you know, something good."
My last words came out in a rush, and I wanted to hit myself over the head with a heavy book for sounding like such a dork.
He laughed."Yeah, I was just in there trying to get my art assignment done before next week. Having extra time can really save lives, you know."
"Hah, yeah." I laughed along with him.
"So where are you headed to in such a rush? Are you late for something? I don't want to hold you up, if you are..." he looked at me.
"Oh! Um, no, I was just... I was just going to get some soda, actually." I answered, trying to keep my excitement under control.
"Cool, cool...hey, um, would you mind getting me some? I actually am kinda thirsty, too." He said, giving me three quarters from his pocket. He handed them to me, and they were warm in my palm.
"Sure! Um, what do you want?" I asked.
'"Um, I don't know, anything." he replied.
"Um, okay, I'll be right back, then," I said.
I walked down the hallway a little faster than I had before and turned the corner to stick the quarters in the machine. I contemplated indecisively what I wanted to get him, because I didn't even know what he liked, and I was about to panic, but then decided if I took too long he would get suspicious and I got him the same thing that I did, some lemon lime soda. I walked back to the art room, and looked inside, not seeing him there. Okay...what's going on here...? I thought with exasperation, and as soon as I turned around...Bam! We collided as I was walking out of the classroom, and he was coming in. I instantly lost my balance and was falling, the sodas already on the floor, pop spurting out of the lid from the fall. I knew I was falling and before I could even begin to try and catch it, I felt a pair of two warm, strong hands on my waist, and pull me back up to the surface. Disoriented, I let out a little oh! and rubbed my head a bit.
"Oh, my gosh, I am so sorry! I wasn't even watching where I was going... Oh, no, the sodas!" I was about to bend down and pick them up when I realized his hands were still on my waist and he was trying to tell me something, but seemed to be too tickled by my whole freak out moment. I blushed, yet again, and he looked down at me, into my eyes.
"Hey there, are you okay? Don't worry about the sodas, we can get some more, alright? Don't worry about it, it's just some change, anyway." He lulled me with his low voice, and I instantly felt weightless in his hold.
"Hey, how 'bout I take you in here with me...you look a little dizzy." he laughed.
He led me into the art room and sat me down on a stool against the wall. He sat down next to me, and I noticed he smelled of Sandalwood and delicious cologne.
"Hey, so, you're a junior here, right?" He inquired.
"Yeah, I am... but I feel older. Like I've been here longer than I actually have, you know?"
"Yeah, I know the feeling."he replied with a distant look on his face. Trying to avoid awkwardness, I swiftly changed the subject.
"Hey, so, thanks for catching my fall a couple seconds ago. I'm sure I would've been a goner." I joked.
"Yeah, no problem. Hey, you know what? Would you....like to join my art club? I only have one member so far... you seem like a perfect candidate." He was asking me to join his art club.
Me. To join his art club.
I wanted to scream yes, and shout to the heavens Thank the Lord!, but I controlled myself with a simple reply.
"Sure! When do you guys meet...or should I say, when will we meet?"
Saturday at the Coffee Light on Fifth Avenue. Think you could make it? I'd really like you to come, you're a cool girl." He interjected slyly, a little half-smile on his face.
I blushed madly as he smiled at me with his, now that I noticed, perfect pearly teeth, a unique smile that was his own. I melted.
"Um, yeah, I think I can. What time?" I asked, anticipation brimming under my calm facade.
"How about one? That alright for you?"
"Yeah, it's perfect," I said, hardly believing what was taking place. Checking the time, I flipped open my old phone, and was sad. My phone flashed 4:07 pm, and I was supposed to be back home by 4:30. I would have to depart.
"I guess... I guess I'll have to go, then...Oh, my gosh! Yeah, it's so late, I've got to be going, but, I'll see you soon." I couldn't keep from smiling.
As I said goodbye, I was about to exit down the hall when I felt a hand on mine.
"Hey, this is my number. Call me when you feel like it, alright?" He smiled as he slipped a small, ripped, and folded piece of notebook paper into my other hand and walked down the hallway, to the gym, and out the door.
"Alright," I whispered, dazed by the passed events.
I was going on a date with Avery. I couldn't believe my luck. The guy that I liked for the longest noticed me, and we were going on a date. Well, technically, we were supposed to be meeting up to talk about his art club, but come on! This was amazing. This supposedly uneventful day turned out to be a major turning point in my life.