Ava's POV:
"What happened to Mr.Nocella?"
I wasn't surprised that Mr.Nocella didn't appear at school the following week. The rumors are too hot for him to have a peaceful class period.
"Mr.Nocella had taken a leave of absence."
The substitute teacher isn't as attractive or charismatic as our normal teacher.
A boy yawned and lay his head on the desk.
Which caused most students to lose interest in the subject taught.
After the principal introduced the substitute teacher and half-heartedly answered all the questions asked, probably for the hundredth time, the classroom settled down.
My phone buzzed.
On the surface that is.
Online, the topic was still hot.
My thumb scrolls up and down the screen, and no matter how many times I read the messages and comments, they don't seem to change. In fact, they only seem to get worse.
Seth: Need me to help you tie your cape, hero?
The nail taps against the glass and I glance up to see the substitute teacher on his phone. The movie was still playing, but no one was interested in it. Everyone was occupied by their dimmed screens. Some cover it up with books, while others had their head face down toward their crotch.
Seth: You want to change right?
No matter how much I rack my brain, I can't find the answer as to why Seth bothers me so much.
The message inside my phone feels heavy. The edges around my fingertips smooth around the edge of my phone.
The school year is almost over.
Then, one more to go.
One more year and the youthful experience will be over.
Then, it's time for the transition into adulthood.
"When are you never bothered?" Eli asked.
"When I'm sleeping."
Before I knew what happened, the school day had ended and it was time for the weekend. The days stretch longer, and the nights get shorter.
Eli sat behind me, his legs spread on both sides of my body. He wrapped his arms around my body and lay his head on my shoulder.
"What is it?" I asked.
"I'm sleepy."
I didn't respond, but a light chuckle escaped my lips. When I looked up, I could see Eli's dazzling eyes. The longer I look into them, the harder it gets to breathe. My fingers brush through his hair, but before they could untangle any strand, Eli grasps my hand and rests it on his red cheek. He closes his eyes, and a soft smile appears.
"Why are you smiling?" I ask.
"Why are you smiling?" he retorted.
There's a smile on my face? "I asked you first."
"I'm smiling because I'm happy. Your turn."
"I'm smiling because I look good when I smile."
My unashamed comment only got a wider smile from Eli, "Of course, you would say that."
"What's that supposed to mean?"
"I'm saying, you're predictable."
"I am not predictable."
There's something about this conversation, this simple back-and-forth meaningless bicker that somehow became very dear to me.
It's predictable.
He says a comment, and I retort.
The topic of discussion didn't matter because, at the end of the day, the result is the same.
And I love every second of it.
"Want to go to our home?" Eli's voice was as mischievous as ever.
He didn't wait for my response, because he knows what they will be.
Eli crouched down, "I'm ready."
"You're going to get hurt one day." He excused my statement with a back pat. I flop down my body, only to receive a grunt in return. Eli pretended to struggle and stood up. Despite his weak appearance, Eli always manages to arrive at our destination with minimal effort.
"You know, we could've-"
"-take my car."
"So-"
"-you don't have to carry me."
"Eli, are you-"
"-doing that annoying thing?"
I kick him in the thigh and he wobbles lightly, "Ava!"
"Stop it!" We said it at the same time.
I gasp loudly, "I'm going to hurt you."
"Hurt my-"
"-dick!" We said it at the same time.
"Hey!" Eli stops walking, "That's my thing!"
You don't have to live a long time to know what Eli and I share can't be replicated. This feeling, him and me. We could travel the world and the seven seas, and somehow our memories would come right back here. It's not that nobody else wants us, but there's this spark. This feeling to protect - from and against. When I'm with Eli, it feels like I'm walking on air. Every interaction...look...touch...feels so right.
So right, to the point, it feels wrong.
Forbidden.
It didn't take long for the night to take over, and we found ourselves walking under the dimmed lamppost. Eli grabs a gray post and with a smile on his red cheeks, he twirls around and sings: "In the middle of the night, the autumn leaves are falling-"
"Oh, you're singing again. Why?"
"You're thinking about the past-"
I smile softly.
"When you should be thinking about me."
I chuckle, "What song is that?"
"Don't remember," he continues to sing, swinging from pole to pole, "Oh, I can picture it. In my head, was I there? I remember it. The albums on the counter. The photos on the walls. There we were."
"Sounds like who wrote that is a bit confused. They're describing the past when earlier-"
"I remember it," he ignores my statement. "And you call me again, just to remember-"
"This is such a sad song. Can I switch channels?"
Eli frowned, "How rude."
"If you're trying to woo a lady with that song? It ain't working."
"If you see her, you'd understand why they would lose their minds and fight the wars. And why I spent the rest of my life trying to put it into words as the pen is mightier than the sword."
I burst out laughing, "That is so cringy. Please, don't ever say that again."
"It made you laugh, didn't it?"
"Fair point."
When Eli reached my house, he dropped me off into the grass. "Eli!"
"Oh, my back!" He pretended his back was in pain before he offered me a hand. I grasped his wrist and before he could respond, I tugged him to the ground beside me. "Your grass is wet!"
"Yes!"
He raises his hands, "I plead not guilty. I have bad eyesight."
Eli got up and offered me another hand. When I reach for it, he raises his hands, "Promise me you will not pull me down again. I have to walk home."
I rolled my eyes, "Promise."
Eli supported me, and when he let his guard down, I pushed him down. "Ava Makee!"
I smile, "You know I'm not a good girlfriend."
Eli pouts and reaches for me. I grabbed his hand and he pulled me down. When I fell into his chest, I could hear his raging heartbeat. In times like these, I should be mad but I'm not. Instead, I burst out laughing.
We laughed.
The light on the front porch flickers on and off.
We look towards the house to see my dad's looks of disapproval.
Dad points at me and tugs his finger inward.
I look at Eli, "You're in trouble," I sing.
"Me?!" Eli question. "I'm not the one he wants in the house."
"Ava Makee!" Dad shouted.
"You're in trouble," Eli sings.
I push Eli off of me, "Coming daddy."
"Why are you screaming?" Eli got up, "Daddy is right here," he whispered.
I smacked his arm, glared at him to zip it, and walked toward the house. "Hi, dad."
"Punish her good Mr.Makee!" Eli screamed.
"Go home, Elijah!"
I turned to see Eli's mischievous smile and him mouthing: "You're in trouble."
"Elijah!"
"Goodnight everyone!" Eli rushes away.
I watch Eli rush down the streets as if his bum is on fire. Amid the giggles, dad cleared his throat and moved his head toward the house.
Unfortunately, my happiness was disturbed by my neighbor.
Seth pops a piece of food into his mouth, probably some late snack munchies, and twinkles his fingers at me.
"Ava?"
"Coming."
I shut the door without sparing a look.
The morning is just as I expected.
Dad is grumbling upsetting words about last night's incident, something along the line of how the neighbors are always watching. Something about "In my day boys and girls maintain a reasonable distance and virginity is sacred."
That made mom laugh.
Trevon fake-puked the whole breakfast.
Winnie glanced at everyone in equal disgust. Disgusted with my dad's complaint about keeping your chastity. Disgusted with mom's breakfast. Disgusted about listening to my family talk about my flirting session with Eli. And disgusted with Trevon's fake puke.
But, Winnie would never say it out loud.
She didn't have to say it - everyone can see it.
"How's breakfast, Winnie?" Mom asked.
Winnie gave her best in the fake smile, "It's out of this world."
"Great! Would you like more?"
"Um-"
"Of course, she would!" Trevon intervened. He grabbed Winnie's full plate, "Let me grab more for you, and be sure to finish every piece. You know, how hard my mom slave to cook for you."
As if she wasn't going to make questionable breakfast with or without Winnie.
I move the egg around, "What did you do?" I whispered.
Dad shrugged, "Beats me. Pretty sure I got all the anniversaries, birthdays, and holidays down."
I look at Winnie.
She catches my glance. "I didn't do anything."
I look at Trevon who happily scoops Winnie more food.
The bell rings and Winnie gets up, "Oh! That must be Ben!"
"Winnie." Dad places down the hot cup, "You do know these kids go to the same school as you right?"
After a few car rides with Trevon, Winnie complained to Ben until he offered to drive her to school.
"Yeah, but Benny Boo insisted," Winnie replies, "And I don't want to make him sad." She exhales dramatically, "I mean, I don't want him to be disappointed you know."
Doubtful he will feel disappointed about not waking up early to pick up Winnie.
"And I...I disappoint enough people already."
Cue the puppy dog's eyes.
Dad cleared his throat, "I understand."
I scoff, "You break windows when Eli drops me off."
"This is different."
"Because I didn't explain it with a sad voice?"
"Ava!" Winnie says. She shakes her head, "Have some respect toward your father."
"Thank you, Winnie."
I threw my utensils down.
Winnie smiled and gathered all her stuff, "Too bad I can't stay and finish. Mrs.Makee, amazing breakfast. Gotta fly though. You understand, right? Kiss. Kiss. To everyone here. Trevon, you can finish my breakfast. Don't wanna waste mommy dearest out-of-this-world breakfast!" Winnie flies out of the room before anyone can breathe.
"This is Winnie's world," mom says. "We are all just living in it."
Somehow, I agree.
When we reached school, it was the same day as any other day.
The rumors about the teacher with a student had died down, and the newest news had spread - Lyah left school.
I sent the message on my phone. "You knew?" I asked Winnie.
She nodded, "Yeah. She messaged me last night."
"Hm." It's a passing period with Winnie and me. We aren't doing anything in particular except waste time until the warning bell rings. "How is she?"
"Fine. She's homeschooled now. Says it's boring, but the quiet really helps clear her mind."
"Clear her mind?"
"Yeah. Thinking about college and stuff."
Unconsciously, I rolled my eyes.
"That's exactly what I was thinking." She moved from her side to her back and stared at nothing in particular - maybe the poster on the wall. "You know, Benny Boo says his dream school is MIT."
I did a double take, "MIT?"
Even my reincarnated ass wouldn't dream of applying there.
She exhales, "Yeah. Something with tech."
"What's with the long face?"
She kicks the floor, "My stupid boyfriend's dream school is MIT but he'll settle for Standford and here I am crossing my fingers for a local university."
There aren't a lot of words to describe this type of situation except for fear.
Winnie, like many others, is afraid of rejection.
How everything they did, didn't matter.
How high school is their peak.
I should know because that's what I thought too.
What I'm thinking as of the moment.
How maybe coming back at this moment isn't enough. There isn't enough time to do damage control. And, somehow, I'll fall back into my previous steps.
What's Eli's dream school?
Winnie's sudden depression during the passing period followed me until after school, and nothing, not even when Trevon fell into the puddle.
"Damn," Trevon says.
"Hm?"
"Eli is sick, not dead. Just visit him."
"Oh, Eli." Eli messaged me this morning that he isn't feeling good so he had to stay at home. I tried to call him, but he didn't pick up. I only got another message saying how he sounds horrible, and he doesn't want me to break up with him over it. "You're right."
"Wait. What?"
"Drop by the store."
"I'm- wait what?"
At the store, I picked up a few different soups and a funny card that says - Peel better soon with a picture of a peeled banana. I have a feeling Eli will have a kick out of the card.
I drop Trevon off at our house before visiting Eli since Trevon has some prior engagements with Mina who was visiting the town. In his words: "Eli is sick for the week, but Mina is only here for a day. Here are five dollars. Tell him part of the soup is from me."
When I reached the house, I cautiously carried the soup to Eli's place.
One bell rings.
I sniff.
Two rings.
It's getting slightly cold.
Three rings.
Someone better open the door before I get upset.
Mrs.Wood opened the door and immediately, I wiped away the irritated look and replaced it with a smile, "Good evening Mrs.Wood."
Mrs.Wood smiled softly, but she didn't open the door. "Good evening to you too Ava. What brings you around here?"
"Eli messaged me he was sick and I feel like it's kind of my fault so-" I showed her the bags of soups.
Mrs.Wood sounds and looks much more tired than usual. "That's sweet of you, but Eli isn't in the best condition. So, maybe you can come back when he feels better?"
It didn't take a genius to understand that my kindness had been rejected. "Okay...the soup?"
Mrs.Wood stretches her hand, "I'll deliver it to him."
I smile, "Of course, please tell him one of them is from Trevon."
She looks inside, "Which one?"
"The one he dislikes the most."
That joke somehow got a chuckle out of Mrs.Wood, "Thank you, Ava, I needed that."
After I said my goodbye, Mrs.Wood slammed the door in my face. I made a sharp turn around and the scowl instantly returned. What can I say? I'm not fond of rejections. I took out my phone and made another phone call to the sick boy - an instant voicemail.
With my phone shoved into my coat pocket, I turn back to the house and pace backward. If I remember correctly, Eli's room is on the second floor to the left of the house.
And a terrible idea pops up.
Halfway up the tree, I regretted my life decisions. His mom is in the house, why would he need me? There is no rational reason why I'm climbing a tree, and potentially breaking a leg - or worse - getting caught, for someone who doesn't even need me.
For someone who needs rest.
I sniff, and step on the house, "Idiot." That is the only logical word that decides my current way of thinking. "Idiot."
When I reached the window, a hand slapped my face - it was my hand.
Eli's curtains are closed.
I cried - internally and externally.
My eyes squinted and I moved my head toward the little space that wasn't covered.
I know I shouldn't be here. I should be in my car, on my way home. But, when I saw the message this morning...when Eli refuses to answer my calls...when I saw how Mrs.Wood looks - my stomach tightened. It tells me there is something wrong.
But, my gut was wrong.
Inside the dark furniture room was a young man - tightly covered - and well rested.
The relief was...momentary.