Front Lines of the Heart

The One Chosen

The start of senior year. I couldn't wait for it to start because I would love to become a nurse and I don't exactly need to finish every subject just to take two in college. I'm quite good in history and science, but I absolutely hate math.
Today was a day like any other. The jocks were fantasizing over themselves, the girls fantasizing over them, and the nerds fantasizing over the girls. I'm not exactly the type of perfect, innocent girl that everyone else was. It made me sick just thinking about the expectations people had for girls. I'm more or less what you would call an outcast. I don't fit in the annoying, high-pitched voiced girls, I don't fit in with the nerds completely, and heaven knows not the jocks. My sarcasm and unwillingness to swoon at the first time someone hits on me kind of sets me apart.
"Good morning class," Mrs. Karen greeted us. She was the language teacher and was known for being strict with her students. I personally liked her as a teacher. "Welcome back to another year of Samuel Adams High School." That was a bit cheesy. "Now, I was told to pair you in groups of two for an assignment coming up in Mr. Ben's class therefore since this is homeroom, I must oblige."
Please don't pair me with a jock, anybody but a jock. I thought to myself. She listed out the people which I didn't pay attention to because I was too caught up in praying for my wish to be granted.
"Stella Thomas and John Hayes," she announced. My bright blue eyes went as round as saucers. I just had to be paired with not only a jock, but the guy with the biggest ego not to mention.
"But ma'am-" I pleaded
"No buts Ms. Thomas," she replied.
"I don't bite Thomas," John said with a smug smirk plastered on his face.
"No only your attitude," I retorted. I didn't expect or receive a response after that.
Soon homeroom was over and we made our way to Mr. Ben's classroom, the civics teacher.
"Okay," he started awkwardly. "Okay... well assuming Mrs. Karen sorted you into groups as I asked I want you to write an essay on a subject that has thoroughly been debated. Should the United States enter WWII? If so, explain your answer with details from the news on the radio. If not, do the same. Get into your groups."
        John casually walked over to me, somewhat sauntering. His warm, brown eyes trailed to what I was fiddling with: my locket that my dad had given me before he went to be stationed at Pearl Harbor.
       "What's that?" He asked.
       "My dad gave it to me before he left for Pearl Harbor."
        He just nodded his head and sat down beside me.
        "Ok," I started. "Considering I don't have a radio in my house, I'm going to have to go to yours."
       "Well what do you think about the topic?" He questioned honestly listening which surprised me. I only knew him for being a basketball player.
       "I think America shouldn't get involved."
       "What?!" He asked taken aback. "Why?"
       "My dad is in the Navy, John," I explained. "Would you want your dad to die?"
       "Too late now," he said sadly. I could tell that he was pressing it down, really, really deep. "I don't have choice. Gone when I was 13."
       I was silent. I didn't know and I wasn't used to this type of John. "I'm sorry."
"Focus on the project," he snapped more harshly than expected. "I think we should. It's not right that an organization in Germany wants to rule the world with brutality and no humanity."
"That part you got right actually, shocker," I said blandly which made him lightly laugh.
"Why haven't I heard about you before?" He asked.
"I'm an outcast," I answered truthfully. "No one likes me."
I could've sworn I heard him whisper, "I do."