Disclaimer: Disclaimers are boring.

Author's note: I have nothing to say. Go read :)

*BEEP* *BEEP* *BEEP* *BEEP*

Slamming the snooze button, I rested for another 5 minutes. I stirred in my sheets and turned my head to face the digital alarm clock that rested on my wooden bedside table.

5:51 a.m.

No human-being should be forced to wake up this early. Now, because of Judith Gershner, I'm waking up at this god awful time for the next six school days. I rolled out from under the comforter and let it drop to the floor. I slugged myself to the bathroom down the hall, ripped off my pajamas, and jumped into the cold running water of my shower. I flinched under the jets of ice dripping down my back and fumbled for the knob in order to turn it towards the warmer side. I relaxed my shoulders under the water as it gradually heated up. I scrubbed my body with soap and quickly shampooed my hair. With water still dripping off of me, I climbed out of the shower and wrapped my soft blue towel around myself. I threw on a pair of boxers and towel-dried my hair. Leaning over the sink, I covered my chin, cheeks, and upper lip in shaving cream. Slowly, I ran the Gillette razor down my face, leaving smooth tracks in its wake. Once finished, I splashed my face with a handful of cold water and threw on a pair of old jeans.

I took the walk down to my room and took another look at the clock.

6:12 a.m.

You've got to be kidding. The subway train leaves at 6:24, perfect. I ran to my drawers and pulled out the t-shirt that rested on top: a Hans Solo tee. I snatched it and my backpack before flying down the stairs. I ran through the kitchen, getting my hands on a plain bagel as I sped to the coat closet. I pulled out a fleece and headed for the front door.

"See you later!"

"Michael, where you leave so early?" Maya called after me.

No time to stick around, Maya. I ripped open the front door and sped down the sidewalk. The next subway was on 8th street. I whipped out my wrist-watch and checked the time as I jogged.

6:19 a.m.

Shit.

I quickened my pace and noticed the descending staircase three blocks later. Above it, the sign read "Subway".

6:21 a.m.

Luckily for me, all the smart people were still in bed or starting to wake up. The line at the ticket booth was nonexistent. I threw three dollars at the woman inside and snatched my ticket from her.

"Don't bother with the change!" I called as I ran off; seventy-five cents made no difference to me.

I ran to the train and met Judith, who indeed happened to be tapping her foot impatiently.

"Michael, where have you been?"

"Overslept," I panted. "Get inside."

We jumped into the nearly empty subway car, seconds before the doors closed behind us.

At School

Judith kept a quick pace ahead of me; I noticed she was wearing pantyhose again.

"Come on, Michael!" she whined. "Homeroom bell rings in 20 minutes, and we need a head start on this project."

" 'M coming. 'M coming," I grumbled. The morning rush and run did no good for my state of attentiveness. I didn't even get a chance to have Maya make me a cup of coffee. If it wasn't for the fucking Winter Carnival, I would just be rolling out of my comfortable, not to mention warm, bed now. And then I'd at least get a cup of Joe.

I continued to lag behind Judith as we made our way to the computer lab. I slumped my body onto a plastic blue chair in front of a computer next to Judith in the front row. Her machine was already turned on and logged into. This girl doesn't waste a minute of her life. My fingers traced the letters on the keyboard.

Username: moscovitzmichael

Password: aehs50191

Judith had already opened her system and was pasting in HTML codes like it was her job. I waited for the computer to load, and opened my flashdrive. I double-clicked the icon for "Winter Carnival", and my eyes rolled over the numbers on the screen. Nothing registered in my head.

"Judith, is it necessary to wake up so early to work on this? Twenty minutes isn't-"

"Twenty minutes is twenty minutes more than we would have had. This has to be presented on the 19th, and that's that. We're not even close to finishing any time soon," she snapped.

Judith isn't as much of a morning person as she pretends to be.

We worked, or more like Judith worked as I stared at my screen and clicked the mouse every now and then, right up until the bell sounded.

That bell was heaven to my ears.

First stop before homeroom? Cafeteria. I joined the line and ordered a packet of maple syrup. Anything to stimulate my mind and body was good enough. I downed the contents and tossed the empty container in the garbage.

Second stop? Locker. I had pretty much everything I needed, but I had to grab my Calculus book.

My fingers numbly twisted the combination, and I yanked the door open.

A white envelope fell to my feet. I picked it up gently and stuffed it in my backpack. There wasn't enough energy in my system to be careful with anything.

Grabbing my book, I slammed the locker and jetted off to my next class.

Mornings are not exactly my thing.

Roses are red

But cherries are redder

Maybe she can clone fruit flies

But I like you better

I always loved the way Lilly told me Mia was jealous because she thought I liked Judith Gershner. But really? Fruit flies? Who wants to clone a fruit fly?

My memory flashed back to the word "loves" in the previous poem. My eyes strayed back to the word, "like". I never thought I'd ever get so confused about a girl in my life.

Author's Note: You know the drill. Click it to make Michael Moscovitz real.