7
Hawkeye walked into the classroom and saw everybody in there doing what ever they usually did. Tommy watched with amusement as John tried to talk to Corinne. Today he wasn't feeling quite himself. He looked over and saw Margaret quietly sitting by herself. He took his seat next to her and sat there for a minute. He was starting to like her and wanted to start up conversation with her.
"Something wrong?" he asked.
"Why?' she asked.
"You just looked a little sad. That's all," he said.
In the back of the classroom sat Rhonda Higginson. She was with Judy and Katie.
"What do you think of the new kid?" Rhonda asked.
"I hate her," Judy said.
"No! The boy," she said.
"I'd date him," Katie said.
Rhonda glared over at Katie.
"But he's all yours if you want him," Katie said.
"If only I could get him to stop hanging out with that little brat up there," Rhonda said.
"Try letting him know that he's accepted. He's probably only with her because they're both new," Judy said.
"Good point," Rhonda said.
Rhonda went to her desk and pulled out a piece of paper and started writing.
Margaret looked over at Hawkeye.
"You don't look too good yourself," she said.
Hawkeye looked over at her.
"Have you ever had something bad happen, but it takes a while for it to finally sink in, and once it does, you hate it?" he asked.
Margaret knew that feeling very well. It was a feeling of realization. When everything hit you. It used to happen to her every time she moved. Now it didn't phase her much, but it used to.
"Yes. What happened?" she asked.
"Well," he started but was stopped when Rhonda came and stood in front of his desk.
"Hello?" he said.
"Hi. Just read this," she said handing it to him and then walked away.
Hawkeye opened the note and read it over.
"Meet me at the park after school. It's urgent," he said.
Hawkeye looked up at Margaret.
"I don't know whether or not I should," he said.
"What are you asking me for?" Margaret asked.
"How about you come with me?" he asked.
"Alright," she said.
After school, Margaret and Hawkeye separated from their usual group and headed down to the park. They were about half way there when they started talking.
"So, what were you going to tell me earlier?" she asked.
"About what?" Hawkeye asked.
"About something sinking in," she said.
"Oh yeah. I was going to tell you that um, something finally sunk in," he said.
"What?" she asked.
"Do you know the reason that I moved here?" Hawkeye asked.
"No," she said.
"Well, nobody does. You're going to be the first to hear it," he said.
"What happened?" she asked.
"A few months ago, my mother fell very ill and then died. We moved down here to live with my Aunt Jackie," he said.
"I'm sorry," she said.
They finally arrived at the park.
"Great," Rhonda said.
"He brought that little tramp along," she said.
They both approached her.
"Hey," Hawkeye said.
"Hi Ben," she said smiling.
"And, who ever you are," she said looking at Margaret.
"What did you want? I have football practice?" Hawkeye asked.
"I wanted to invite you behind the bleachers this Friday. It's only reserved for eighth graders," she said.
"Well," Hawkeye started to grin at that idea.
Margaret didn't know why, but she was feeling jealous.
"I'll go with you," Margaret said.
Rhonda laughed.
"Yeah right. The two misfits making out," she said.
"Well Ben, if you change your mind and decide to have a good time, you know where to reach me," she said and then walked off.
Hawkeye looked over at Margaret.
"Do you have any idea what you just agreed to?" he asked.
"No," she said.
"But I do know that Corinne and John are going together," Margaret said.
"Even Becky has gotten invited to go behind the bleachers," Margaret said.
"Did she?" he asked.
"She went with Tommy. She's still a virgin," Margaret said.
"Yeah. All you're supposed to do here is make out. I hear high school is when that changes," Hawkeye said.
They started walking back to her house. He was going to drop her off and then go back home.
"Have you ever?" Margaret asked.
"What? Make out? No. I never got the chance to. My mom was sick and I just wasn't in the mood. I did get invites, but I just couldn't do it," Hawkeye said.
"So you definitely haven't," Margaret started.
"No. Have you?" he asked.
"Not yet, but my older sister Tara has," Margaret said.
"How do you know? Did she tell you?" Hawkeye asked.
"No, but Becky and I walked in on her and took pictures. They're now used as black mail against her," Margaret said.
They got to her house and stopped.
"Hey Margaret, if you really want to go I'll take you. Just be at my house at eight on Friday," he said.
"Okay," Margaret said smiling.