Emily Scarano

Emily Scarano

Per. 8

10/11/07

A Not-So-Normal Day

My alarm went off as usual at the ungodly hour of 5:03 am. I reached over to turn off the terrible beep-beep-beeping before it got louder and became BEEP-BEEP-BEEPING, and hurried into the bathroom to take a shower. See? It really was a normal day to begin with. I put on my new white jeans and decided to straighten my hair. I was actually excited to wear my new coat because it was finally cold enough. It was a Friday and I was looking forward to the football game after school.

It was the second to last home game and Mr. B said he wanted us to be on the front field of our high school at five o'clock instead of the usual five-thirty. Why did I have to be at school two hours before the football game which starts at seven? Well, I play the flute in marching band and, unfortunately, we have to come early to practice the half-time show and music. I think band members don't get enough credit; we practice twice a week for four hours and two hours the day of the football game, and everyone goes to get snacks at the Booster club's stand during the show! Anyway, I was on time to practice, for about the first time.

"Hey Alyssa, did you hear about Austin and Michelle? They broke up like three days ago and I just found out!"

I sighed, "Yeah Liz, I know, I heard this morning, but it's not like it really matters…" Let's just say that I have liked Austin for a very many years, and I think the most I ever said to him was a mumbled and probably not understandable, "Excuse me." Once.

"Don't say that! You still have a chance! Maybe"—

"Still? When did I have one to begin with?"

"Ugh! Stop! Listen to my plan! We'll talk to his brother if he comes to talk to the bass drummers like last time, and we can ask discrete questions about him!"

I smiled, "That's actually a good idea," but thought sarcastically to myself, 'Wow, then we'll know more unnecessary information and he'll totally love me. This is definitely the best plan I ever heard.'

So band practice progressed uneventfully for the most part, except for finding out that my gloves were rather moldy, which was more horror than excitement. John, the alto saxophone player (and sadly, my only guy friend), whacked me in the head with my own flute when I mentioned my inability to read the notes below the middle notes of the bar. It hurt for a while actually.

While walking from the band room about to march in full uniform (hat, plume, gloves, etc.), and this uniform, by the way, makes anyone in it looks like a short, ugly, rather fat boy, I heard someone calling my name.

I suppose this is the part where the "not-so-normalness" comes in. Well, I turned when I heard a loud "Alyssa!" coming from closer to the stands, where we were marching to, even though I knew perfectly well that my name is not that uncommon and it probably wasn't me. I saw Nick, Austin's younger brother waving, surprisingly, in my direction, and he said my name again. So I hesitatingly waved back. The reason I hesitated is because, well, I do not really know Nick. At all. I mean I know his name and he knows mine because we have been in a lot of classes together over the years, but the most conversation I have had with him consists of the occasional, "What did you get?" or, "Did you think it was easier than last week?" or, "I got a 92, ha-ha I'm smarter," in Math class.

However, when I waved back he stopped waving, so I guess I was right in assuming that he was talking to me, but one can never really be too sure about these things. So there I was, confused, but what could I do? So I continued marching and went to sit in the stands (our band is huge so there is red-colored bleacher seats, reserved especially for us). Then, sure enough, after playing "Get Ready for this," Nick was over in the band section, talking to Mike, one of the drummers that sit in front of the flutes. With a smile and nudge from Liz, I was about to ask Nick about the waving thing, but was interrupted before I could even start.

"Hey Alyssa, I heard that you like my bother," Nick said with that stupid grin that I'd seen before when he got a better grade than me in math.

I was so embarrassed, I could barely talk, but I managed to chough out a small, "Who told you that?"

"I don't remember, just this person, but that's cool cause I think he likes you too, you just gotta go talk to him, or whatever."

"Are you kidding me?" I was proud that the sound was a little easier to understand. The first conclusion I came to was that he must be kidding. Seriously though, what other conclusion could a never-been-asked-out-or-liked-by-a-guy-for-more-then-two-days-kind-of-girl come too? Liz was laughing and talking excitedly but I couldn't really hear her until I pulled myself back to reality.

"Alyssa! Did you hear that? This is great! You have to talk to him! I'll come with you! We can all go, me, you and Gianna too, don't worry, and we'll be there the whole time! It won't be that awkward at all! This is going to work out great!"

She was obviously having a ball, but I could not talk to him. When I told her this, however, she refused to let me get away with it, so I was stuck; after the game we were all going to the outside benches near the locker room, where the football players and their friends usually hang out after the game. Then, once I was there I was going to talk to Austin, or be made to talk to Austin. Forcefully.

To put it bluntly, I was not excited or happy about this. At all. It was not going to work! Austin was going to say, "I don't even know who you are," or worse, "I don't like you," and I was not looking forward to be on the receiving end of that conversation.

It was absolutely unbelievable how soon half the game was over, then the half-time show was over too! There was only one minute left until we played "Rocky," because we won, and the rest of the band got to go home. Huh, time really does fly when you're having fun.

"Hey Alyssa, don't worry, me and Liz will be there the whole time and I swear, you look so cute! He can't ignore you! The worst that can happen is that he says no, you can get over that I'm sure! We'll help you! But trust me, you won't have too!"

Gianna wasn't just saying that, I could tell she really meant it. Its hard to explain, but at that moment I decided I would just go with the flow.

As I approached the bench, where Austin was, with his longish wavy dark brown hair blowing in the cold breeze and a really nice dark blue sweatshirt on, I can honestly say that I could hear my own heart beat. The funny thing was though, that Nick was nowhere to be seen, the one time when I needed him to explain why I was there, and he wasn't there. It figures. He was sitting on the top on the bench, with his feet on the seat; he was there with a lot of other people, I didn't know if that was good or not, but I figured they at least wouldn't be able to hear the conversation.

Liz tapped him on his perfect back and he turned his perfect head and said, "Hey."

That was it. I could have died. I decided to let Liz do the talking.

"Your Nick's brother right?"

"Yeah, Why?"

"Well he told us that you said something about Alyssa…"

It was rather obvious she didn't know where to take the conversation from there. It was just about to become the future most worst moment of my life, but then Nick sauntered over waving at (presumably) me and held his hand out for a pound-it. I did it and replied with a feeble, "What's up?" Throughout this little meeting, however, I grew more conscience of the fact that Austin was looking rather confused. I had expected it; somehow it still made me feel horrible, but I knew that Austin wasn't the type to just not react at all. All the things I know about him and he probably doesn't even know we have lunch together!

Nick started talking to Liz and Gianna about some crazy teacher they had together, so I was kind of left out of the conversation for a few minutes; Austin also made a few comments on this teacher who I had never heard of.

Nick stepped in to recite what he had told us during the game. He didn't do it very well, in my opinion at least. I mean really! What kind of guy just comes out and says "Oh yeah, and I heard that you guys like each other! So how's that working out for you?" and finishes it off with one of those I'm-a-really-cool-guy kind of laughs?!

Well I was just a little dumfounded at this point, but, thank God, Austin was not. He smiled and said something I couldn't catch; I think it might have just been the fact that my heart beat was a just a tad too loud, and pounding in my ears.

"What?"

"I said that's funny, no one told me, but it's good to know." And he laughed too, but it was a much better laugh, like ringing-bells.

I swear that I had something really witty to say somewhere in the back of my mind, but unfortunately, when someone like Austin is smiling down at you, it is a little hard to breathe, let alone think of something witty.

But I didn't need to think of anything, Liz's phone rang and she said, "Oh sorry guys, our ride is hear, see ya Monday."

I received an "Aww," from both the brothers and a goodbye from Nick.

I was just about to turn around and walk into the open door of Liz's mom's minivan, but I felt a tap on my shoulder and turned to see the bright beautiful face of Austin looking at me. I almost fainted when I heard what he said next.

"Hey, see you in lunch."