AVALIA BROOKS
Encino, California.
Friday, 1976.
I twirled the phone cord in a rhythmic motion around my finger, using my other hand to adjust my shirt and sitting back on the bed, taking in the last few minutes of relaxation before I had to leave. "--Yeah girl. Mrs. Wilson has been getting on my last nerve. She talkin' about some "It's your responsibility to get to school." like, come on."
I scoffed. "Don't get mad at her. You're never really at school anyways. Those 45 absences have your name on them."
"Oh, look at you. You sucking up to teachers now? That's what you're doing?"
"No, I'm just telling you that you're never at school, and your excuses are stupid. I know you didn't spend any time on them. "I had to walk my fish." I mocked her.
"I did!" She exclaimed, defending herself.
"Really? How?"
"The tank had wheels on it!"
"You know you lying, but okay. When are you gonna come to school though?" I asked. Yeah, we play around, but I still miss her.
"I have no idea. I do know that it's past the time you should be at school. You staying home today?"
"Wait--" I looked over at my clock. It was about twenty minutes past the time I should've walked into school. "Oh, shit. I gotta go, I'll talk to you later." I spoke quickly, hanging up the phone. I picked up my bag and rushed out the door, not knowing if any of the books I needed were in there.
Fortunately, I walk to school. Unfortunately, even though I'm close to the school it still takes a reasonable amount of time to walk there. Speedwalking to school meant things I'd do on a day I wasn't late had to be skipped. Walking with my friends and going places before school started, or catching up on things I needed to do. This year is important, so I can't slip up like this.
After what seemed like hours, I made it to the buzzer, pressing it to let one of the staff know I needed to get in. I saw the custodian, Ms. Marsh, look my way and soon open the door. "What're you doing here so late, Avalia?"
"I lost track of time, but I gotta go! Sorry!" I apologized, brushing past her and making my way to my first class. That was another thing that I'd have to miss since I was late.
After finally making it to my class, I knocked on the door only for my fist to almost land on someone's face. I put my fist down. "Sorry. Are you new here? I never saw you in this class before."
"Oh, no. I'm not new. I've been here since freshman year. You've never seen me in English before?" He asked.
My eyes move up to the numbers on the doorframe. Of course, I go to the wrong classroom. "I've probably never seen you before because this isn't my first class—"
"Michael, why on earth are you standing at the door talking to another student? You're missing the education you need!" The teacher scolded. "Either stay in or go out."
I moved out of his way. "Sorry for holding you up. I have to get to my class, anyway."
He, who I now knew as Michael, closed the door behind him. "It's alright. Uh," He paused, thinking of conversation. "What's your name?"
We both started to walk because we had somewhere to be. "Avalia," I answered. "I heard your name was Michael?"
"Yeah. I like your name, it sounds pretty." He complimented. Before I could thank him, he asked another question. "What's your first class?"
"World History. I don't even know how I got English messed up with History. Where are you headed?"
"The teacher told me to get something from World History. People keep telling me how my teacher and the World History teacher got somethin' going on. Even if they did, why should they be concerned about it?"
"Right. Like, some of the kids are talking about the crushes they have on teachers. I hope they ain't the ones talking about the teachers."
"I could not see what they saw in those teachers. Do you have a favorite teacher?"
He went on to ask most of the questions. I didn't mind honestly. You don't know exactly what to talk about when you first meet someone. Soon, asking and answering questions won't be as awkward. We walked and talked our way to the class we needed to get to. I knocked on the door and was greeted with an angry face. "Avalia, why are you so late? You're never this late to class."
"I lost track of time, sorry." I went to sit next to my friends, while Michael went in and got what he needed. He waved at me before leaving back out.
My friend nudged me. "You know Michael?"
"I just met him. You know him?"
"A lot of people know him. You've really never known him after all these years?"
"Nope, but he's cool," I stated.
"Cool?" Mal questioned. "I think he's fine."
"Agreed." My other friend added. "Do you not think so?"
"I don't know yet. He's nice, though. He said my name was pretty. So, that made me happy." I pulled out my notebook. "But I still have work to do."
...
"This is why we can't have nice things," Kyra stated, her hand rubbing her forehead. Our stubborn teacher finally let us do something by ourselves, and someone immediately almost burned the school down. "I know that you know those two don't go together."
He shrugged. "At least I have an "if, then" statement now."
"You could've done that without filling the whole room with smoke."
I could hear the bell ringing in between their rebuttals. "Kyra, you better come on, because I need to get home and you're about to get left."
"Okay, okay."
We walked out of the classroom, and Kyra was struggling to keep up with me. I always walked fast when I was in the hallways, because I know what it's like to be behind someone who walks slow. "Why the fuck are you walking so fast?" Kyra spoke, out of breath.
"Because I'm desperate to get out of here, and the halls get crowded if you wait for too long."
"Where do you need to be since you're so desperate?"
"I don't need to be anywhere, I just want to go home. I'm just glad we only have almost two months left of this. Then finals, graduation, and the start of the rest of my life."
"You're forgetting prom," She sang, nudging me. "you have to find someone to go with. I'm not going without you there."
"I appreciate that, but you have your boyfriend, you'll be alright. I wasn't thinking of going anyway."
"Please," She begged. "It'll be fun! And a lot of people know you, so you won't be alone there! I'll be with you too."
"Most of the people that'll be there have a date with them. I'm not gonna third wheel behind over 70 people. Unless someone magically pops up and asks to date me, I'm not going to prom. Make sure you bring your camera, though. I know you'll look pretty."
She sighed. "I can never convince you to do anything."
"You will one day, but today isn't that day."
We walked out of the school doors and to my house. We agreed on studying at my house and also hanging out there. On the way to my house, I saw Michael ahead of us, walking to his house with a few other people. Kyra noticed him too. "Hey, It's Michael." She spoke. "Hey, Michael!"
He looked around, trying to spot who called his name. He saw Kyra and I and waved. "Hello! Hey, Avalia!"
"Hey! I didn't know you lived right next to me!" I called back out.
"Oh, you know Michael?" Kyra asked. "I'll leave you to this. I'll be waiting for you on the porch." She walked to my house, while I walked closer to Michael.
"I didn't know either." He put his hand on his neck. "Sorry for being so loud. My brothers and I play basketball. Sometimes we swim in the pool."
"Nah, it's alright. I'm loud sometimes too. I practice boxing outside."
"I thought I saw you!" He exclaimed. "I always saw someone outside and their arms were moving so fast it was almost like a blur. But I can barely hear you, just the punching bag."
"Mike! Why you ain't in the house yet? We still gotta play this match!" A man called out from the door of his house.
"I'm talking to someone, Randy! Hold on!" He turned to look at him, and then back at me. "Sorry about him. He's been getting real out of hand since summer's almost here."
"It's okay. You can't blame him, though. I can't wait for summer either. But, it looks like he really wants to do that match and I have someone still waiting for me too. So, I'll see you around?"
"Yeah, I'll see you around."