Author's Note:
Thanks for the reviews! I'll try to update more. By the way, the double space indicates time has passed. LOL. Disclaimer: I do not own anything in 'The Hangover' except my original characters. Anyway…
Isn't This Just Peachy?
The rude awakening of my alarm clock signaled yet another first day of my high school experience. Sophomore year is "a very important year for my academic career", according to my parents; personally I didn't see it. I just lied in bed thinking about Spencer and how he was doing at UC Davis. About how my parents were barely home anymore. I understand we're older now, but come on; we will always need our parents.
But most of all about my nonexistent relationship with one, Phil Wenneck. We were still friends, but that seemed to be all we were ever going to be. Part of me wanted to tell him I had a major crush on him; the logical part told me to keep my mouth shut and never open it.
Today is gonna suck.
I had successfully avoided him in the two weeks prior to school starting. After I realized I couldn't lie to myself about my feelings for him anymore, my goal in life had been to spend as little time with him as possible.
Today I have to spend time with him. At least before school and in homeroom, that is.
The thought of spending time with him alone in homeroom gave me a weird, anxious feeling that I wasn't used to.
Nevertheless, I rolled out of bed and headed to my bathroom at the end of the hall. Like every other day of my life, the bathroom was occupied.
"Ty! Come on; I have to get ready, too."
"Look, I'm an upperclassman now," he replied smugly, "you better start showing me some respect."
"Bite me, asshole," I retorted flipping him off, "was that respectful enough for you?"
"We'll work on it," said my dopey brother.
I got out of shower and headed to the kitchen. Dad was making breakfast.
"Good morning, Sammie," he greeted cheerfully.
"Morning. Mom get called in?" I asked even though I already knew the answer.
"Yeah," he chuckled, "she blew through her a minute ago mumbling about triplets that are ten days early."
Doug and Ty walked in carrying their backpacks.
"Good morning, guys. Do you want some breakfast?" Of course they did. They were teenage boys. Dad gave each of them a plate indicating "help yourself."
"So," I tried to sound nonchalant, "would the Oh Great and Honorable Junior care to give a couple of lowly sophomores a ride to school?"
Ty just stared at me then muttered, "it's not like I have a choice." I smiled because I knew he was right.
We got to school and met up with Phil and Stu in our usual place.
"I'm gonna check the homeroom list in hopes I don't have to spend a whole year with Phil again." I said half joking. He laughed and put his arm around my shoulders.
"I know you are completely in love with me."
You have no idea.
The bell rang and unfortunately I had to walk to Ms. Templeton's class with Phil for the second year in a row. We walked in and sat in the seats we sat in everyday last year. The back left corner. Johnny came around and passed out everyone's schedule after the tardy bell rang.
"What the hell? PE first period?" Phil exclaimed.
"I had it last year. It's not that bad. What do you have second?" I asked trying to calm him down.
"Not that bad? I'm gonna feel nasty all Goddamn day, every day! I have Algebra 2 second period. What about you?"
"Spanish 2. With Ms. Cole." I groaned. Mrs. Cole was arguably the worst teacher on campus.
"That sucks. How about third?"
"Honors English with Mr. Bernard."
"Me, too. Cool, I'm copying off of you."
"I know," I said praying he didn't feel my body stiffen when he leaned over my desk to pick up his schedule that had fallen to the floor.
Stu and I were studying for a big History test we had the next day. It was mid-November. Doug was busy with the wrestling team. Phil had basically forgotten us now that he was dating, and spending all his time with Amber Hightower. Both Stu and I had virtually nonexistent social lives; unless you count spending time with each other as a social life.
"Stu, can I tell you something?" I asked cautiously.
"Sure. What's up?"
"Well, I kinda have a crush on someone that just doesn't like me back."
"Phil."
"Not Phil." He just looked at me skeptically. "Is it that obvious?"
"To me? Yes. To Phil? Hell no.
I smiled. "He doesn't know. Good. Does Doug know?"
"He knows there's something up with you, but I doubt he knows what it is."
I just smiled.
"How long have you liked him?"
"Since August."
"You've liked him for four months and are just telling me now?"
"Sorry, jeez. It's not like I want to like him; I can't help it."
"Why don't you want to like him?"
"Is that a serious question?" I asked sarcastically.
"Yeah, I mean I sorta know why, but I want to hear you say your reasons."
"You know Phil. He's arrogant, lazy, stubborn, a womanizer, and believes the rules don't apply to him. Basically he's a douchebag."
"That's what I thought. What is it you do like about him then?"
"I don't know. I mean, he's…he's funny, smart-even though he doesn't try-he, until recently, has always been there for us. I don't know it's everything."
"Wow I've never seen you like this. You like him that much?" I sighed and nodded. "What do you think of Amber?"
I pretended to dry heave. "I don't like her at all. I've never liked her. She's like my arch enemy and Phil knew that, but he's still dating her. Or whatever they are doing." I shuddered at the thought. Knowing Phil, I knew exactly what they were doing.
"You're funny when you're jealous."
I just rolled my eyes and threw my pencil at him.
"Hey Sam, where do you think we should eat before homecoming?" Phil asked one day in early December at lunch.
"Oh umm, I'm not going?"
"Aww, no one asked you?" he questioned with a smirk.
"No. Jacob Baracas and Marshall Lumette both asked me; I just don't feel like going."
"Alright, whatever," he replied skeptically. I got up and made some excuse of needing to go to the library.
"I'll go with you," said Stu standing up.
I sighed because I knew what was coming; one of his emotional 'Let me give you some words of wisdom' talks.
"How are you?" Stu asked intently as we walked to the library.
"I'm good, well as good as I can be with my current situation. He drives me crazy. I'm the butt of all his jokes until he needs my help. He and Amber are always all over each other. It's disgusting. If it was any other girl, I wouldn't care as much, but it's not. It's Amber fucking Hightower. Her, Brittany Page, Sarah Sanchez, and Annie Washington have hated me since like third grade. I don't even know why. I don't know what he sees in her, either. I guess she's pretty or whatever. And she's a cheerleader, but she's still a bitch to, not just me, everyone. Ya know, a couple of weeks ago in Gym, she came running over to Sarah and stepped on this new girl's foot and didn't even apologize. It's not like she didn't notice; she looked right at the girl and just turned back to Sarah. She drives me crazy, too. Maybe Amber and Phil are a good couple after all. I don't want to talk about it anymore."
"Wow. How long have you been waiting to say all that?"
"Awhile," I chuckled.
