Playing Chess
Bright sunshine fills the car, while the sound of birds fill the space. Coffee stained seats and empty water bottles fill the back seats of the family van. I swing my backpack onto my back and grab my cellphone in the other, fidgeting with the screen to avoid eye contact. The van screeches to a halt“Have a good day.”
Anxiety rushes over, palms sweating, and inhaling the scent of old spice and French vanilla.
Here I go…through these doors is the first day of my rest of my life. High school. Okay we can do it. One foot in front of the other. Gripping my backpack straps a little too tightly. Glancing at my fellow classmates, beautiful unique and so much older than me.
“Are you coming?” A hand tugs at my shirt, “Earth to Gabbie..”
“Yeah just taking it all in” smiling sheepishly. Brushing back a single blonde curl behind my ear, “How can you always be so…”
“So what?”
Never mind. Why is my heart racing that fast. Breathe
“Breathe Gabbie it’s just high school, let’s go before the bell rings”
Following Madison through a sea of bodies and backpacks proved to be a challenge, “Stop touching me” I mumble while shoving off a senior who had his hands in my hair, petting me like a dog. Madison turns darting straight to Kolby.
“Can you keep your fucking hands to yourself for one minute? Or do you have to touch anything with two legs of the opposite sex?”, glaring with her deep blue eyes.
I raise an eyebrow, looking briefly at the group of boys surrounding Kolby. Disbelief. Shock. Embarrassment. So many expressions crossed his face before he smirked ,” You would know.”
Oh gosh. I grab Madison’s arm and begin walking away, mumbling, “it’s not worth. He’s not worth it. Didn’t you just tell me the bells about to ring.”
She rolls her eyes, and huffs ,”Don’t let them walk all over you. You’re small but act like you’re six foot. These boys will flirt with you, use you and throw you away like a Kleenex.”
“A Kleenex?”
“Mhm.” Madison says, “ here’s your class”
I stumble for a moment not even realizing how we made it through all the people after that brief encounter with Kolby. What would I do without Madison?
“Thanks, meet me at lunch?” I smile, exposing all of my imperfections, crooked smile to my gap.
“I would expect nothing less.” Madison turns and walks off, throwing up a peace sign. She pulls her long wavy black hair into a big bun while walking towards her class before being lost in the crowd of peoples.
First period. Taking mental notes of the division in the class. Jocks, drama kids, popular kids and the outcasts.
I struggle with an very tough dilemma when it comes to where to sit.
Moving through the tables I choose the furthest table from the rest of the class. Empty table. No problems. Sitting down, I start to pull out my pencils and notebook.
“Is this seat taken?”
I look up to be met with a olive complexed god.“ehh..”
“Is that yes?”
“Ummm….”
He sits down looking over at me, “Do you always stumble over your words or is it me.”
Oh now he thinks he’s a stud.
“No it’s just how my mouths seems to be working today.”
He smirks, leaning over to grab my notebook.
“What do you think you’re doing?”
He takes the pencil out of my hand, brushing my fingertips.
The butterflies turn, my cheeks get a warm sensation. Goddamnit I’m blushing.
“Are you blushing?”
“I feel like —“
“Gabbie and Jaimie is there something you would like to share with the rest of the class?” Mr.Smarts smirks, leaning on his podium.
Jaimie. So that’s his name.
Silence.
“Okay then…let’s continue.”
I side eye Jaimie, trying to get my notebook and pencil back.
He pushes it back, leaning back against the chair like a job well done, smiling at the jocks sitting over at the opposite table.
