High School Drama and Secret Crushes - A Sophomore's Story

Sunlight streaming through the window in the bedroom wakes me up. It’s directly on my eyes. Moaning I roll over in my sleeping bag and stuff my head under my pillow. A hand roughly shakes my shoulder and Tyler swipes the pillow from me.
“Get up, Natalie! Don’t make me drive you to school again!” Tyler complains in exasperation. He’s still shaking my shoulder. I open my eyes and glare at him. He’s staring at me and still hasn’t stopped shaking my shoulder.
“Let go of me!” I snap, irritated. He shakes his head and disappears out into the main room. Tyler’s my older brother. He’s 20 years old and we live in an apartment together. It only has a main room which is large enough to be a kitchen, dining room, and living room in one, a single bedroom, and one full bath. Ty gets the bed, so I sleep in my bag on the floor. It’s been this way since I was 10, so I’m used to it. In fact, it’s homey to me now. Reluctantly I climb out of my sleeping back and shudder in the chill. I replace my “personal bed” as I call it and smooth my pillow. All of our clothes are combined into one little closet, so I have to rummage through Ty’s clothes to find mine. I pull out a plain black tee and a pair of dark denim skinny jeans.
The bathroom door is closed and I bang on it impatiently.
“What are you doing, Ty? I need to get in there!” I holler through the door. I need to get a shower quickly before school.
“Relax, the world isn’t ending!” he hollers back.
“Unlike SOME people, I have a school to get to! You DON’T!” I snap. The door swings open and Ty pushes past me, apparently irritated. I hurry in, lock the door, and rush through a shower. I step out and am surprised to hear Tyler’s voice very elevated. I can’t hear what he’s saying because the door muffles it and water is clogging my ear, but I catch little bits.
“…not have…why…other guy…you…how could…” was all I was getting. Could he be talking to a girlfriend? Or an ex more likely. Tyler is such an amazing guy and he’s so kind, but he somehow comes home with the worst, trashiest girlfriends around. They usually hang around long enough to fuck with him and then it’s over. His latest was Rosa, a slutty, whiny red-head who didn’t even say hi when introduced to me. I personally wished he’d would go out with Miley Rowen, a senior at my school. She’s so nice and funny and outgoing. As far as I know, she’s even still a virgin so she’s not after sex or anything. I think she’d make the perfect, sincere girlfriend for my brother, but my opinion doesn’t count.
I dress and leave the bathroom, hanging up my towel. I put my clothes in the hamper just inside our bedroom and head into the…well, I guess it’s just the central room or something. I don’t know. Tyler is just hanging up the phone. He’s facing away from me so I can’t see his face, but he’s leaning on the counter looking out the window. I can see he’s very tense and upset.
“Tyler, who was it?” I ask genially. He doesn’t answer, just flicks his hand in the air as if to shoo me off. Well, whatever with him. I have school to get to. I pull on my favorite sweatshirt and hurry to make some toast. School starts at 8:30 and it’s 8:00 now, so I don’t have long to eat and run to the bus stop.
I finish my breakfast and snatch up my backpack onto my shoulders. Tyler has shifted position, but he’s still staring out the window. From my position at the door, I can just see the side of his face. He’s frowning and muttering softly to himself. I hope he’s not too hurt if it was Rosa. I slip out the door and pause on the doorstep. We rent an apartment, which is weird since it’s a ground level, single-person home not connected to any other apartments. We live in southern Atlanta, Georgia in a little development sort of. But it’s a bunch of little apartment houses owned by some rich guy named Richard Blanc. He came up with the idea of apartment houses in a little development and it’s surprising how many people actually rented here. The whole development is always filled, whether it’s people who live here, or people passing through.
I run down the winding street between houses, then I decide to screw that and cut across backyards. I slow to a walk once I reach the bottom of the development and hit the sidewalk on Main Street. The morning air is crisp and chilly, which I hate. It’s supposed to be warm down here in Georgia, but recently it hasn’t been. Probably a result of the recent hurricanes that passed along the coast and stirred up funny weather. I shove my hands in my pockets, feeling a suddenly familiar piece of paper. Pulling it out I recognize the phone number of Jay Royce. Of course, good thing I didn’t lose it…although it really wouldn’t have been my loss. I still don’t get why bad boy senior Jay would be so interested in me. If he thought he liked me, that wouldn’t make any sense because he could have any senior in school. I’m only in my Sophomore year.
I see the bus stop ahead and lightly jog to it. A small group of freshmen are chattering beside the sign, so I sit down on the bench and relax. It’s the first time in a while that I’ve been able to reach the bus stop this early and chill out. I’m usually rushing or I’ll have to ask Ty to take me to school. I really hope the whole empty-locker empty-head thing has worn off by now. I was so late yesterday and to top it off I had forgotten my backpack. Not a single student, not even my former friend Mia Williams, let me forget it all day. I wish I had a cell phone or even a watch to see what time it was, but sadly I am cut short of those things. It’s not a necessity, I can live without it, but it’s convenient. Tyler makes all the money (which isn’t much) and we limit ourselves to the necessities. Although somehow he grants himself an iPhone and unlimited talk/text.
“Need any company?” I recognize Jay’s voice instantly. I look up to see the handsome senior smiling down at me. He steps past me and sits down on the bench beside me. “You’re here early,” he adds.
“Yeah, I have time to relax for once,” I reply, shifting on the bench.
“Well, it’s nice to see a pretty face hanging out once in a while.” I involuntarily smile and look away up the street, hoping the bus is coming soon. I try not to feel it, but my stomach gets fluttery. He’s a senior, Natalie, and he does this to every girl. But the scolding in my mind does little to help. Suddenly I’m aware of Jay leaning closer to me.
“By the way, somehow I managed to never catch your name,” he chuckles to himself. I reluctantly and yet at the same time willingly turn my attention back to Jay.
“Natalie Kosher.” I answer. He smiles and sits back.
“I’d introduce myself, but you know me. Or my name at least,” he states somewhat arrogantly.
“Who doesn’t?” I comment, seeing if I can get a reaction like he does. He actually looks at me, his expression appearing somewhat surprised. “What?” I ask, wondering why I just said that. He’s just looking at me, literally, in my eyes and he’s expressionless other than the same surprised look. “What?” I ask again.
“I don’t know.” And he sits quietly, looking across the road. Great, Nat, just great. Now you’ve offended the guy or something. Why did you have to say that? I look up the road, relieved to see the bus finally approaching. Then I feel a hand around my shoulders. Startled, I face Jay again and he’s looking at me again and leaning slightly in.
“You know, Natalie Kosher, you’re different from most girls I’ve talked to. We should hang out sometime, maybe you’re something special,” he smiles, looking right into my eyes. And I melt away. It’s like nothing I’ve ever felt before, I just get totally lost and before I know it he stands up and walks to the edge of the sidewalk. Special? Really? A fluttery hope starts in my stomach, but despite my efforts, I cannot suppress it. The bus pulls up and Jay’s the first one in. Then the freshmen and I hurry over to the door. I hesitate before stepping inside. Can I really face the students? Surely they’ll still call me names and stuff. Maybe I should call Tyler to drive me to school.
“Get in, girl!” the bus driver yells. Frank is a very heavy man with a mean, gruff voice to match his attitude. I swear he hates kids and yet here he sits. Forcing myself onto the bus, I slowly walk down the aisle. I look at the kids and immediately notice the indifferent, demeaning glances and the whispers. Then the dreaded comment breaks the silence.
“Trying to live down that airhead, blondie?” somebody calls. I close my eyes and take a deep breath. Now comments and laughs are coming from all over the bus and there’s no escape. Dammit, I should have called Tyler! I hurry towards the only empty seat near the back. As I approach, I see Jay watching me, taking in the offenses. His head is cocked to the side, arms crossed like he’s studying. I sit down uncomfortably and slide to the window where I lean my head against the class and stare out. This is my only escape. I daydream. On the bus, in class, in the hall, wherever I can to escape. But it’s a 50/50 chance that it ever works. And today, nothing is being drowned out. Every threat and insult is getting right to me, starting my school day off in a depressed state. I can just see the back of Sammy’s head a few rows in front of me. She’s looking down, shaking her head. And beside her is Mia Williams, joining in the abuse and laughter. Today is going to be great.

………………………………………………………………………

At lunch, I don’t eat. I don’t sit either. I stay in the hall on my own, hoping to be left alone. I managed to get my books in my locker and I decided that I’d keep them there from now on. Another dent was found dead center in my locker and a note had been slipped inside.

You ever get here earlier, be sure to come with armor, bitch.
~ Alicia and Candy

Great, physical threats too. I know they don’t have anything against me, I’m just a very easy target and popular kids apparently find pleasure in beating on the insecure. Then an idea flashes through my head. I could bet money and win that those older kids are behind those buildings now, getting high and happy. I know what they are doing is bad, horrible in fact. But right now the idea of being carelessly happy is unbelievably appealing. And it’s physically drawing me. I’ve stood up now and I’m looking down the hall in the direction of the rear exit. All I would have to do is slip out and see what’s what. The effects can possibly show in class? Suddenly I realize I’m almost at

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THE END