Chapter 4

Everett

First days of school were always reckless. Everything turns chaotic within two seconds of the morning. Yet, the day is always unpredictable and new. You don’t know whose in your classes and the best point of all was being a senior.
My alarm rang so loudly the sound cut my eardrum in two; I swear it. I sat up, rubbed my eyes and ran my fingers through my curly hair. My hair was getting to longer and I knew that if I cut it, Alexa would definitely be upset and I couldn’t deal with that now. Not lately. Usually everything between us was awkward. Maybe not for her, but I knew that’s how it felt for me. We had been getting rather close, almost too close for the time being. Sure I’m a guy and going all the way was always an option, but how come I wasn’t feeling the thrill of doing it?
I swung my legs to the other side of the bed, my socks falling messily off my feet and onto the rug. I stretched my tanned arms over my head, reaching for the ceiling that seemed so far away. The lights on my clock blinked 6:23 and I knew I needed to wash up and decide which outfit I was going to wear. I wasn’t like Alexa, who needed a week before the first day to contemplate on a shirt and jeans. I would simply pull out a shirt and a random pair of shorts and put them on.
I walked towards my closet, opening the doors and gazed into my wardrobe. I had a lot more clothing then I believed. I always thought that guys needed a wide assortment of clothing; always dress to impress. I grabbed a collared pink shirt and khakis shorts and walked into the bathroom, about to turn on the shower.
The water fell in such a manner I thought I was in the Tropical Islands underneath a waterfall. The shower felt more amazing then usual, the liquid trickling over my skin. I put a handful of shampoo into my palm and scrubbed it throughout my blonde hair, my fingers digging deep into my scalp.
After the shower, I found my way to the kitchen where I unwrapped an apple pop tart and threw it into my mouth. The reason the day seemed like it would be a rather good one was because I would finally be able to see my friends from the musical scene.
They were like family, during the school year. Usually Clint-Savory High would put on two musicals. This year, however, we had decided to put one musical on and work hard at it until spring. I was hoping for the lead yet again, but I didn’t want to be to certain. Usually the competition was weak and I would be the main viewpoint during shows. Yet, I didn’t want to get ahead of myself.
The clock blinked 6:55 and I grabbed my backpack and swung it over my shoulder. I walked into the bathroom where I stared at myself. The weight lifting over the summer had done me some good, just like Alexa had said. I had gained true abdominal muscles and my biceps were much more defined. My face had slimmed down and gotten tanner, thanks to the days when Alexa and I would lay by the lakeshore, under the sun‘s magnificent glow. My eyes were wide and blue and my nose small and slim. I did look a lot like Alexa, like siblings almost. People would say that we could look related and it was now when I realized that it was true.
I pushed open the screen of my door and it slammed behind my with a hollow thump. I walked down my stone path to where I had parked my black truck. I unlocked the doors, threw my bag onto the front seat, started the engine and drove towards my senior year.

“Why aren’t we in any classes together besides lunch?” Alexa asked, leaning against her locker. I closed my locker, which somehow ended up next to Alexa’s and leaned beside her. I nudged her with my hip and shrugged.
“Our lockers are close, isn’t that good enough?” I said, folding my schedule and placing it into my pocket. The halls were racing with the many students of Clint-Savory that it was uncountable. The different types of people were something you didn’t see everyday in this town. Actually, it was, just something you didn’t usually see all in one hall. There would be a short, dark skinned boy then a tall, red headed girl with the highest shoes I had ever witnessed. The types of clothing that raced by my eyes were so distinct I couldn’t concentrate. I felt Alexa intertwine her arm with mine and her head fall onto my shoulder. I set my head on top of her’s and felt a sigh.
“What are you doing tonight?” Alexa asked, kissing my shoulder.
“I have a meeting for Drama Club after school, sweetie.”
“Tomorrow?”
“I’m meeting with a new student who I’m going to be tutoring for the first semester. He’s from a few towns over. Sorry, babe.” I said. The first bell rang clearly through the halls and the students began to hustle quicker to their homerooms. Alexa backed away from the locker and stood in front of me. She grabbed the loops of my belt with her thumbs and tugged on them, my hips leaning towards her own. Personally, I wasn’t much for personal displays of affection. Alexa, on the other hand, was.
“Well then, I’ll see you during lunch.” She said, her eyes looking into mine. I bent to kiss the top of her head and then backed away.
“Can’t wait.” I said, grinning to the side of my face. Alexa slowly released her grip on my belt loops and walked into the mist of students who were passing in the halls. I looked to the right of me then to the left then jumped into the cluster of passing students, unafraid because I was now an upperclassman.
My classroom was two doors down and there were already several students sitting in chairs. I made my way towards the back row of seats, sitting by the window and placing my books on the desk. I leaned back into my chair, slouching over the desk. Inside, I was dancing. Particularly because I was excited for my finishing my high school career and because the end of the day would be closer then I could imagine.
The last bell rang and a few more students piled into seats near the front of the classroom. I didn’t know anyone, which was something unusual. There was always some one to talk to or some one I knew but for the first time there wasn‘t. A tall, bald headed teacher walked in quickly, about to shut the door. He was tapping his foot and watching each student as they entered his realm. He finally shut the door and marched to the front of the room, setting his hands on his hips; his feet exactly shoulder width apart. He took the time to adjust his spectacles then coughed in his throat.
“I’m Mr. Wellman and I will be teaching Calculus this year, obviously you know that already because it is on your miniscule schedules that were mailed to your homes two days ago.” He spit, speaking quickly and with an intense lisp. I felt bad for the students in the front for I feared he would spit on them all. He walked to his desk and grabbed a pile of index cards and began to pass one out to each of us.
“Please write your name, age, number, address and some interests you have about this particular class. Again, please write your name, age-“ In mid sentence, the door swung open and a girl with ripped blue jeans and a low cut green tank top walked into the room and the scent of cigarettes whipped under every students nose. Her black hair was tied in a knot to the side of her head and her eyes were so darkly made up that I couldn’t tell their true color. Mr. Wellman jerked his head around and looked at her then to his watch. He glared up at her and stomped his foot.
“Who, may I ask are you, little missy?” He snorted, continuing to hand out index cards. The girl walked into the classroom, shutting the door with the back of her foot. She started trudging towards the back of the room, dragging her feet on the tile.
“Don’t you have some attendance sheet? I’m Spencer.” She stated and continued to sit in the seat directly in front of me. I could smell that rancid aroma of cigarettes flush off her body and onto mine the moment she sat down. I shook my head and blew the smell back towards her. Mr. Wellman made his way up our isle and handed her an index card then knelt on the ground, adjusting his glasses.
“Well, Spencer, it said on my list that you are a junior. Why are you in a senior class?” Mr. Wellman whispered. Spencer wiped her nose then wiped it back on her jeans.
“Who says I can’t take smart classes, huh? Just ‘cause I look a certain way doesn’t mean I don’t think a different way. Besides, my guidance counselor said I could.” Spencer explained rather obnoxiously. Mr. Wellman rolled his beady eyes then stood back up.
“Okay, then. Welcome to Calculus, Spencer.” He said, setting an index card onto my desk then going back down the next isle. I began to write my name on the card then I got an extra strong whiff of smoke and my head looked up towards the girl named Spencer.
“Nice entrance.” I said softly. She turned her head and faced me, grinning.
“I practiced it all night. Knew I had to do something crazy on the first day of school. Besides, I’m not the first junior who has taken a senior’s coarse.” Spencer said, sniffing.
“Well, for him, I guess you are. Why were you late?” I asked.
“I had to show my friend around to her classes because she’s new. She is really going to be lost today.” Spencer said, twisting back to face forward. I nodded.
“Well that’s nice of you.” I said. Spencer’s face turned around to face mine again and she laughed.
“Well, I’m a nice person.”