The final bell rang, signaling the end of another school day.
"Ugh! Finally!" Randi said, putting away her sewing supplies. "I cannot take this class much longer. Did I mention that I loathe Home Ec?"
Samantha laughed. "Only about twenty or thirty times."
They gathered their books and headed for their lockers. "God Sam, I can't believe you kissed Jake!" Said Randi. "That's totally awesome!"
With a sigh, Samantha leaned the back of her head against her locker. "I know. I still can't believe it. And look..." She pulled the crumpled note from Jake out of her purse and carefully unfolded it.
"Is this what you guys were doing in class?" Randi asked, taking the note from her.
"I thought you were asleep." Samantha said, noting Randi's many snooze fests in Independent Study.
"Wow..." Randi said, ignoring the comment. "This is like... totally amazing." Randi said, pouring over the note. She handed it back to Sam, who carefully folded it and returned it to her purse.
In the silence that followed, she said "We'd better hurry if we're going to make the bus. I really don't feel like walking home, especially after the beating we got in Gym today."
(Minutes later on the bus)
Samantha sighed and leaned against the back of the seat. "God, my life is so different now than it was on Friday."
"Don't remind me, please." Randi said. "Sometimes I think I'm doomed to be alone forever."
"What about Jimmy?" Samantha asked.
Randi shrugged. "He's a blast and everything, but I want a boyfriend boyfriend. Not just someone to hang out with. Why can't it be like it is in the movies, where the girls have gorgeous boyfriends?"
"Mmmm... Like Rob Lowe." Samantha said dreamily.
"But you've got Jake." Randi pointed out.
"Still feels too good to be true." Samantha said.
"Believe me; I would love to have what you have for just five minutes." Randi said." I'll call you later." Randi said from the sidewalk.
Samantha leaned out of the tiny bus window. "Okay, but I can't talk long. I have tons of homework."
"No fair, Sam. You owe me details. You promised!" Randi yelled.
"You're right. I did, didn't I? Gym class seems like a blur now." Samantha said with a sigh.
"That's what love does, I guess. But how would I know?" Randi said.
Before Samantha could answer, the bus pulled away. She looked around and found the bus empty except for one lone soul sitting in the back and the girl in the neck brace who always sat in the same exact seat, day after day. She didn't know the girl's name but everyone said she was a loner. However, Sam knew better. The quiet ones were the most dangerous.
Suddenly, she sensed she wasn't alone, and she turned to find Ted standing next to her, smiling.
"Hey." he said, in a surprisingly shy voice.
"Hi. How's it going?" Samantha asked.
"This is where I answer 'How's what going', right?" Ted said, reminding her of their conversation (or lack thereof) on Friday's bus ride home.
Sam groaned in embarrassment. "I'm sorry about that. I was a total bitch on Friday, because my parents-well, you already know that story."
"But it turned out okay, right?" Ted asked.
Samantha's face lit up at the memory. "Better than okay. Thanks to you."
Ted blushed. "So you hooked up with Jake. You look really happy, Samantha."
Samantha sighed. "I am. If it weren't for you, I would never have had the courage to talk to him."
"I'm happy for you. Really." Ted said.
After a brief pause, Samantha spoke again. "Can I ask you something?"
Ted nodded. "Shoot."
"You and Carolyn... How is that possible?"
Ted looked away, and Samantha immediately wished she could take the words back. He'd been humiliated enough for one day, thanks to Carolyn. "I'm sorry. I meant..."
Ted sighed. "Jake had a party on Saturday night. Carolyn was drunk so he let me use his dad's car to drive her home."
Samantha's eyes widened in horror. "But Ted, you don't have a license!"
"I-I know." Ted agreed.
Samantha stirred in her seat. "But what if a cop saw you? What if-"
Suddenly she stopped herself. "I'm sorry. God, I sound like my parents."
"It's okay." Ted said with a smile.
"So how did it happen?"
"Well we didn't exactly make it home. When I woke up we were in the parking lot across the street from her church." Ted explained. "Carolyn couldn't remember a thing, but she said she liked waking up in my arms. Then I kissed her and the rest is history."
Samantha smiled. "Really?"
"Yeah. Only thing is..."
"What?" Samantha couldn't believe she was so interested in Ted's story.
"Well, Jake showed up and saw us kissing. I thought I was dead."
"Oh my God... are you serious?"
"Yeah, but then Carolyn went and talked to him. I guess that's when they broke up."
"That must be why he went to the church. He was looking for me." Samantha said, still unable to believe what she was hearing.
"Listen, Ted?" Samantha said nervously. "I never did thank you for saving me from Carolyn this morning."
"No problem." Ted replied.
"I'm sorry she treated you like that. I felt bad." Samantha admitted.
"It's okay, really." Ted said with a hint of sadness in his voice.
The bus slowed to a stop. "Well, here's where I get off." Samantha said. "I'll see you tomorrow, okay?"
She grabbed her bag and made her way to the front of the bus. Once she was on the sidewalk she waved to him. Ted looked out the window, waving and smiling as the bus sped away.
