Trust Me
"Hey Sharon, thanks for staying late again. We really need an extra pair of hands tonight." I smile at Brad he's a really nice guy and absolutely adorable. He just graduated with his bachelors in nursing about two years ago and moved to South Park soon after and has worked at Hell's Pass ever since. And I can undoubtedly refer to him as one of my best friends and we tend to lean on each other during crazy times.
"No, problem. I know what it's like to be understaffed or to not even have any rooms available." Brad visibly cringes at the thought and I laugh at his horrified expression.
"Are you about to take your break?"
"Yeah, you?"
"I suppose I can take my break 15 minutes early." Brad says with a smirk, "What do you have in mind?"
"Not cafeteria food that's for sure. I ordered something from this great thai place."
"Got enough for two?"
"Always."
Brad and I don't hesitate to go pick up the food at the front desk after I receive a message that it's arrived. We stop and chat at Alice (the secretary) for a couple minutes before heading to our floor's empty coffee room. We sit in the hard plastic chairs at the small pink and grey table closest to the TV on the wall.
"Yes, reruns! I wasn't able to watch this tonight."
I glance at the TV briefly while chewing, "What is this? The housewives?"
"No, Love and Hip Hop." I groan at the familiar name. I actually sat through an episode with Shelly one night. Honestly, the worst 60 minutes of my life. "What? I love this show! It's just so much drama. Darren hates it, but I couldn't give a flying hoot."
"Darren has his head on straight." I say and Brad rolls his eyes and tries to hide a fond smile behind his food at the mention of his fiancée.
"Darre has been a pain in my ass for the past few days about wanting to start planning our wedding. We just got in engaged and I'm not ready to jump the gun yet."
I nod, "Yeah, me and Randy got married two months after he proposed. You have the right idea to want to wait a while."
"How is it going with you and Randy?"
"He's still in Denver on business, but he calls everyday so we talk. It's just weird that he's not home right now. I know I've been working crazy hours it's just that-"
Brad puts his hand on mine, "Look, you do not have to apologize for doing what you love. I know how much you care about your job and I know it means alot to you. That's one of the first things me and Darren talked about when we officially became a couple. That our work lives are going to be hectic with me being a nurse and Darren a doctor. But then we vowed to never let our work lives create chaos in our personal lives."
"And it works?" I ask seriously and I don't feel weird asking a 22 year old this because since I've known Brad he's always seemed wise beyond his years despite his occasional childish antics. He just shrugs with a smile and the coffee room door opens and in walks Darren.
"Hi babe." Brad says as Darren kisses him on the head.
"Hey Sharon," Darren greets as he messes up Brad's hair.
"Hey, how is it going?" Darren sighs heavily.
"Hectic, but I had a few moments and decided to grab some coffee."
"Well nice of you to stop by." Brad says squeezing Darren's hand and he squeezes back before saying his goodbyes and promises for all of us to meet up this weekend. Its been a few weeks, with our crazy schedules this month.
Brad and I finish up eating and I look at the blue Broncos watch on my wrist seeing that we only have five minutes left of our break.
"I'm just going to go wash my hands, I'll be back." Brad nods absently as he stares at the tv.
(*)
I quickly go to the restroom and wash my hands before heading back to the coffee room. But as I'm walking down the hallway I glance down a side corridor and am surprised to see someone shaking the vending machine.
"Hey, do you need any help?" I ask and by the looks of it I startled the guy. The man instantly stops and looks at me.
"Yeah," He agrees and I walk up to the large bulky monster and jiggle it two times before knocking on it hard once. I smile triumphantly at the sound of something falling within the vending machine.
The man reaches down and removes what looks like a large kit kat bar. "Thank you," he says and I smile. His voice is so deep.
"No problem, this old thing always gives me problems."
"These things never work in my favor. So, that's some technique you have."
"Technique? Yeah right, just something I figured out last time my cheez-it's got stuck in there."
"Either way it works. So are you a nurse here?" The man shrugs and I have to stop myself from smiling.
"Yeah, I was actually on my break. And are you here for someone?" I ask taking notice of his pin straight black slacks, white iron pressed dressed shirt, and immaculate shoes and hair. He looks admittedly...really good.
"Yes, just visiting a friend and decided to get something on the way out." I nod in understanding, "I actually just moved here. For my new job and all." He continues conversationally.
"Oh, what do you do?" I ask curiously.
"I'm a teacher." He states proudly.
"Well, good luck."
"Thanks, I'm going to need it with all the papers I'll be grading. But I love what I do, a lot of people complain about the students and the time and work you have to put in, but I wouldn't trade it for anything else."
"Good to meet more dedicated people like you…"
"Blake. Blake Warrick. And yeah, why do it if you don't like it you know?"
"Exactly." I agree and Blake has a really nice face. Really nice smile too. Why is this even standing out to me? I've seen good looking guys and guys I would even go as far as to call 'hot', but I never felt the need to actually admit to this.
"Well, I should head out then, but I hope to see you around Sharon." He says with a charming smile.
(*)
Blake moves out of the small corridor and down a hall I follow shortly in the opposite direction. Looking at my watch I hurry back to the coffee room, but am met halfway by Brad.
"Hey, I thought you were coming back?"
"I was, I just got tied up with something."
Brad nods and we make our way back to our posts and rooms we are supposed to be in.
Is it wrong for me to hope I see this Blake guy again? I ask myself this continuously as I continue my shift and even as I'm driving home at 12:00am on what is now a Tuesday morning. He seemed like a nice guy and I wouldn't mind running into him again. When I'm home I quietly enter my bedroom and quickly go inside of my cold bathroom to shower. After about ten minutes I get out and throw on my nightgown before finally laying down to rest. Only as I begin to drift off do I realize that I never told him my name.
"Ugh, no!" I groan as the alarm I set on my phone blares in my ear. I find the forsaken device somewhere in my covers and glare at it. I forgot to charge it last night so the battery reads 15 percent. I rub the blurriness out of my eyes and maneuver out of my bed and grab the charger off of my nightstand and plug the my phone up. As I charge it a instagram notification pops up on my phone and its picture of Kenny dressed in a black suit jacket, no shirt, and in light blue boxer briefs and an exaggerated duck face. The caption he put at the bottom reads: #I Woke Up Like This and I laugh all the way to the bathroom at it's ridiculousness. I shower and do all of my usual bathroom things, brush my hair and dress in a navy baseball tee, a pair of black jeans, and Nikes. Grabbing my phone, bag, and stuffing clean workout clothes in my duffle bag I leave my room and head downstairs to the kitchen.
Although, I stop in the living room when I spot my mom lying asleep on the sofa.
"Mom," I call and I move her hair out of her face. She doesn't wake so I grab the silky gray blanket and drape it around her. I turn up the heat on the thermostat a bit so she doesn't freeze to death while down here. She must have came home late again last night and was too tired to go upstairs. I admire how hard my mom works. I love that she's doing something she loves, but I miss her around the house. Shelly visits almost every weekend, but I miss my mom's cheeriness around the house. Nowadays she looks drained even though she tries to put on a brave and optimistic face. I decide to forgo anything in the kitchen and quietly leave the house.
I pull out of my driveway and make my way to school singing along to my music to try to keep myself awake. As per usual I didn't really get any sleep last night, having not fell asleep until 2am this morning. I stop at a Quiktrip gas station close by the school and jump out to pay for gas and grab a Monster and a sausage, egg and cheese croissant, and a new pack of trident gum. I pay for my shit and pump my gas and within five minutes I enter the student parking lot.
I park next to a random red chevrolet and grab my bag and drink and stuff my packet of gum in my back pocket. I throw away my food in a trash bin, having eaten it during the five minute drive and continue to take sips of my energy drink. I stop and greet people and give the occasion nod of greeting as I make my way to my locker. Today feels pretty good, despite the fact that Kyle hasn't said a word to me about tutoring me. I put my bag up and grab the things I need for my next two periods.
"Hey Stan," A voice says from behind me. Closing my locker I turn my attention to Wendy.
"Hey," I greet simply and hug her back as she hugs me.
"So, where have you been?"
I take a sip of my drink, "I just got here."
"I know that," Wendy admonishes and I wish she'd just be direct with me. "Where have you been this week?"
"It's only Wednesday, and I've been around. It's you that been M.I.A."
"Maybe we should fix that." I raise my eyebrow in question and continue to drink from monster. "I realized that I've been neglecting our relationship and I think we should spend more time together."
"Okay, when?"
"After school," Wendy says quickly. "After practice of course."
"Alright, but what about your other clubs and organizations?" I finish my energy drink and throw it in a nearby bin.
"Don't worry about that. You are more important." I smile lightly at how determined Wendy looks right now.
"You are too." I reply and she kisses me before tracing her thumb over my cheek. I lean forward and kiss Wendy again, but longer. I'm so wrapped up in Wendy and her pink lips that I barely register someone clearing their throat loudly from beside us.
"What?" I ask a bit slurred as I depart from Wendy's lips. Shockingly enough it's mr. conceited himself.
"Hi Kyle," Wendy greets happily, turning around to face Kyle.
"Can I borrow Stan for a moment." Kyle asks, not even bothering with formalities. And if Wendy was confused or thrown off by Kyle she doesn't show it.
She just smiles at a stoic Kyle and kisses me once more before leaving. I watch her leave before focusing my attention on Kyle. Before I can begin to ask what he wanted he speaks, "Our first tutuoring session starts after school. Meet on the top floor of the library."
"I can't, I'm meeting Wendy after practice."
"Too bad, cancel."
"I promised I'd be with her."
"And I really don't give a shit. Look, I'm taking time out of my life to help you, the least you can do is show the fuck up." And with that Kyle storms off into the crowd of people in the hall. A minute later the bell rings and I make no move to head to class.
(*)
"Sad."
"What is?" I ask as Cartman makes his way towards me.
"The fact that you can't prioritize." I glare at Cartman as he stands in front of me.
"What?" Cartman shakes his head at my obvious cluelessness.
"Hippie look, you made plans with Wendy right, but somehow got stuck with being tutored by Kyle."
"How do you know that?"
"I know a lot, but that is not the point. The point is you're really gonna bum out on getting help to what? Fuck off with Wendy? That's stupid."
"I can't just blow Wendy off like that. She's really making an effort to be with me despite her hectic schedule right now."
"Listen to yourself, you make it sound like Wendy has to fit you in her schedule. If you were really important to her she wouldn't have neglected to call or speak to you since last Friday."
"She needed some time to herself because she's working herself crazy."
"You poor son of a bitch," Cartman stares at me with what seems like pity.
"What are you talking about fatass?"
"I'm saying, you're being a stupid asshole. Wendy's walking over you and you're letting her."
"No, she's not. You don't know what you're talking about." Even as I say this it doesn't feel as strong.
"You're just trying to fuck our relationship."
"I wish I was that interested in what screwed up relationship you and Wendy have, but I'm not. I'm just observant."
"Bullshit." I call once again and begin to walk away from this douche bag. He's just trying to piss me off.
"If it's bullshit then tell me why Wendy was with Gary last Friday night." Cartman says and I stop. The hallway is empty at this point, leaving just the two of us.
"What?"
"Wendy visited Gary Friday night. Right before she came to me."
"What-why was she at your place? And why the fuck was she with Gary." Stan steps closer to me and if I hadn't known the asshole as long as I have I'd probably be cautious of him actually laying in on me.
But since Stan's a few inches shorter than me and he's about as intimidating to me as a butterfly I stand my guard at his intimidating glare. He's pissed because Gary has a notorious reputation of stealing other guy's girlfriends. And because it's me. What the fuck could Wendy would have wanted with me?
"I have no idea. She just showed up on my doorstep and plopped her cheerleading ass on my couch and ate all of my pop tarts."
"How do you know she was with Gary then?"
"He dropped her off at my house. I know that damn white hyundai from anywhere."
"So she's seeing Gary. That doesn't mean she's cheating on me."
"What else could he want with her," Stan looks at me a bit helplessly and I actually pity the guy.
"So, that's why she wanted to hang out after weeks of avoiding me." Stan buries his face in his arm for a brief moment before turning to me again.
"Dude, chin up. Don't be a pussy about this, it just goes to show that you two weren't meant for each other. You'll live." Stan nods and walks away... and my job is done here.
(*)
I wait until Stan exits the hallway and make my way further down the opposite hallway and out of the back entrance of the school. There waiting for me with his blonde hair swept away from his face in a classic haircut style is Gary as he leans against the brick wall expectantly. He pockets his phone on my arrival and looks at me brightly.
"I know you're hiding something," I say abruptly, wanting Gary to stop smiling at me.
"Oh really? What is it then?"
"I saw you at Heidi's party. With Connor." Gary's smile falters before his lips form a weird smirk directed at me.
"You did huh? Tell me, what did you see?"
"You know what I fucking saw," I spit out.
"Fine. What did you hear?" Gary asks harshly as he pulls his pack of scented cigarettes out of his white jeans and I'm taken a little aback by his mood swing. He quickly lights his cigarette and stares at me expectantly.
"What?"
"Tell me what the fuck you heard!"
"Nothing, I didn't hear anything. I just saw you on your knees in front of Connor and some other guys."
"Fuck! Why are you such a nosy bastard." Gary says with a chuckle after a moment and I just stare at him confused.
"You don't...care?"
"No, why should I?"
"Because you're straight."
"I never said that. I haven't claimed to be anything." That much is true. We all just kind of assumed…
"But what about those girls you fucked? What about Annie, Milly, Red, and-"
"I never fucked any of them... except for Annie."
"Why Annie?"
Gary just smirks at me before stubbing out his barely touched cigarette on the brick wall behind us, "I have my reasons."
"Anyway, did you do it." Gary asks giving me a knowing look.
"Yeah, and you just better hope you're right about this," I threaten, but Gary only gives me a sugary sweet smile.
"Trust me, we're all gonna get what we want."
H. Garrison
"Hello everyone, welcome to Sociology 101 and I'll be instructor for the semester." The guy writes his name in bold black marker on the board: Mr. Warrick. The man doesn't look a day over 25 and is admittedly obviously better looking than the weird elf of a teacher we had before.
"What happened to Mr...that guy who was here Monday?" Some dumb kid asks in the seat behind me. Did he even read the class announcements?
"Mr. Addine had to drop one of his this class, so instead of dropping the class completely they decided to let someone else teach it."
"Oh...so what happened to the guy?" Some random woman with bleach blonde hair and horrendous purple and black highlights.
"He died." He says gravely and everyone in the class gasps. "Just joking," Mr. Warrick says after a awkward moment of silence and the class erupts in uneasy laughter. "Okay, let's get started then." Finally.
The only reason I'm even here is because I decided spending my evenings locked inside my house eating tubs of Ben and Jerry's and reruns of The Walking Dead weren't enough. I should be an upstanding citizen in my town, whatever the hell that is supposed to mean. To put it shortly I'm bored with my quiet and uneventful life. All I do is work, eat, work, crap, work, go home and do even more work before retiring to my bed with icecream.
So I recently came up with the 'genius' idea to take college classes in Denver to feel the space in my life. It does to prove to be time consuming, but otherwise I feel like I'm surrounded by even more dumb and hungover kids than usual and uninterested professors.
"Hey, you," Mr. Warrick calls and I look up from my neatly written notes to his face.
"Yes?" Some guy behind me answers.
"Do you know who Karl Marx is?"
"Uh...no"
"Does anyone have any idea who Karl Marx is?" Nobody says anything.
"Great, well I'll just have to assign you all to a at least two page paper on who Karl Marx is-"
"Karl Marx was a sociologist and economist who believed in class struggle according to the different socioeconomic interests and wants of different social classes."
"And who are you?"
"Garrison." Mr. Warrick looks down at a paper on his desk before turning back to the board to continue writing.
He doesn't ask anything else the entire period and just continues to ramble on about different theories and what not. When our hour is up everyone begins to pack up.
"Don't forget to read chapter five and six tonight and we will meet back up here on Monday." I make a note of this on my small notepad before standing and easily sliding my books into my bag. As I'm walking out of the door I'm stopped by Mr. Warrick, "Garrison, right?"
"Yes, is there a problem."
"No, I actually just wanted to applaud you for being the only one that's not completely clueless in this class." Oh, really?
"Thanks, I've actually read and studied Karl Marx in my early college days. But I still make it a point to teach my students about Marx."
"You're a teacher? That explains why you're so intelligent. I've read a few of your papers Mr. Addine has graded and passed onto me for my professional opinion and their great."
"Well, like you said I'm a teacher, and wouldn't it look bad if I made anything less than an A on my papers."
"Not really, even now at my age I still make a few grammatical errors or have a few typos."
"How old are?" I ask and Mr. Warrick raises his thick eyebrows, "If you don't mind me asking."
I expect Mr. Warrick to insist that it was obviously none of my business and to promptly end this conversation, but he surprisingly just gives out a lighthearted chuckle, "I don't mind actually. I kind of pride myself on being older, I'm 40."
"Shut up." I say before I could stop myself and it does nothing, but cause Mr. Warrick to smile bigger and I notice that he has a dimple in his left cheek. How charming...
"It's true, and I'm not ashamed to admit it." He leans against the light wooden desk arms lazily crossed across his torso.
"How bold," I comment with a small grin, "But I should be going Mr. Warric-"
"Please, just call me Blake. When we're not in class that is." I give a short nod and Blake continues,
"You're not from around here are you?"
"No, I live in a town called South Park."
"You're kiddin' I just moved there." Well I'll be damned. And here I was, thinking that I'd never have another encounter with Blake outside of the classroom. Just my luck that he lives in my town.
"Small world."
Blake nods, "Indeed. Well, I guess I'll be seeing more of you then."
"That is if you want to. But really I should be going, how inappropriate would it be if someone just happened to walk past and hear our conversation?" I make my way to the door, but glance once more at Blake.
"Yeah, this conversation isn't teacher and student appropriate, we should definitely end this now." My grin widens at his sarcasm, but he can't see it. "Maybe, if we just happen to run into each other outside of school it'd be more appropriate."
"Maybe." I finally take my leave feeling eyes on me as I walk out of the door.
Going back to school just became alot more interesting.