School Is In Session

Back to School

"Mom! We have to be out the door in two minutes to get to school on time!"
First day of school, Junior year of high school. I straighten my shirt while mom takes a million years to get down the steps. We only have one car so she has to drive me to school every day.

"I'm coming, I'm coming," she says as she walks down the steps, "We'll get there in plenty of time."
In the car, mom turns on her Queen CD:

Every morning I get up I die a little,
Can barely stand on my feet.
Take a look in the mirror and cry,
Lord what you're doing to me.

I start thinking about what classes my friends will be in, and what class Jessica Michaels will be in.

Jessica Michaels is the school's "popular girl." She's the one who picks who is going to be in her group. All of the teachers call her an angel but I'm one of the only people to see who she truly is.
Jessica and I used to hang out a lot, but one day she drifted off and became a snobby, popular, pretty girl who was such a teacher's pet, she could put all of her awards as wallpaper for all four walls of the huge science lab.
When we finally get to school, Natalie, my best friend, runs towards me and picks me up right off the ground.

"Oh my God, Avery! I haven't seen you in two whole days, how are you?"

"Great! Never better!" I say, glancing arould to see if Cody has showed up yet.

"Are you looking for Cody?" Nat asks, laughing.

"No," I say, looking back at her, "I just...was looking for...fine, yes, I was."

"Oh my God, you need to stop, you're becoming obsessed!"

"No I'm not!" I say, laughing too.

I get to science class after a long talk with Nat about boy obsessions not being good for my health and blah blah blah.
Mr. Morris sits down at his desk and starts taking attendance. Finally, he makes his way to the "M's".
"Avery Macari."

"Here."
He goes down the list, and then I hear it,

"Cody Winston."

"Here." I hear the slight smile to his voice as it echoes around the room.
He's seriously in my class? Really? Oh God, no.
No.
No.
No.
I start panicking when Mr. Morris starts assigning seats.
"Avery, sit here," he says, motioning to a seat in the back of the room. "And here," he says, pointing to a seat next to me, "Finn."

Ugh, Cody's best friend. Super immature and annoying. Thanks a lot Mr. Morris, and of course he puts Cody on the opposite side of the room.

"Hey neighbor," says Finn, leaning against his desk, "Too bad you didn't get to sit next to Natalia."

"It's Natalie," I say, annoyed, "Too bad you didn't get to sit next to Colby."

"It's Cody." He says, as I purposely get his name wrong.

"Sorry, my bad." I say, turning away from him to face the board.

Later, I feel at tap on my shoulder from Finn's direction. I turn towards him, "What?" I whisper, looking annoyed. He slips me a piece of paper and I unfold it.

I know you like him.

"What are you talking about?" I whisper, feeling slightly nauseous.

"Cody. I know you like him." He whispers back.

"I don't know what you're talking about, no I don't."

"Ok, sure." He says, glancing over at me one more time before he pays attention to the board.

"Nat!" I say, meeting up with her by my locker like we always do, "Can you believe Mr. Morris put me next to Finn? Of all people, Finn?"

"Hey, at least you don't have to sit next to Jessica." She says, rolling her eyes.

"I wish I was Jessica," I say, looking at Cody from down the hall, "She gets to sit next to Cody. And you."

"Oh quit it," she turns away, "I'll see you in history."

I'm walking to English when Jessica comes up behind me, "Too bad you have to sit next to Finn in science."

"Tell me about it," I say, wondering why she's talking to me, "Too bad you have to sit next to Cody."

"Actually, he's really nice, you should get to know him, it's Natalia that's annoying." She says, smirking at me, "Well, I have to get to math, bye."

"Bye." I say through clenched teeth.

This year might be worse than I thought.