A deep sigh of relief comes over me as I finally finish writing the letter. It wasn't perfect but it's the best that I got after 4 hours of trying to make it perfect. My eyes burned with sleep, it's about two o'clock in the morning, and of course I have school in a few hours. Ahh the things I do for power, the things I do.
***
I had fallen asleep in most of my early classes but I'm sure I didn't miss much. Positively sure I didn't. I never really pay attention in class anyways; sleep was actually the most useful thing I did all year.
I caught up with Mikey at lunch. He already has his huge lunch out on the table. A bowl of pasta primavera, a bag of Doritos, a container pack with strawberries and blueberries, and to wash it all down with a big bottle of ice tea. His lunches are beastly! It's like his parents own the grocery store!
"Woah you look out of it" He tells me as I take a seat across from him. I take out my letter which is folded neatly and hand it to him, "This is why." I said letting my head fall on my lunch bag.
Sleeping in class somehow made me feel more tired. I reach inside my lunch bag, not removing my head from it but lazily digging inside till I find my apple. I pull it out, talking a bite of it with the last bit of energy I have left.
"Jeez, I'm flattered." I hear Mickey say. I look up at him, "What?"
"The thing is..." He picks at his pasta, "I'm in love with your sister Katie. I'm flattered though."
I stare at him confuse at first then I see him holding the letter in his hand. Everything clicks, "Eww, gross! Man it's not for you!"
"It's not?" He asks in shock, his mouth slightly open revealing half chewed pasta.
"No you idiot, it's for Jenny!"
He laughs, "Oh that makes sense." He wipes his forehead and lean in forward. "Phew, I was like this is going to ruin our friendship. Just awkward." He sings the last two words still laughing. A complete idiot, I tell ya, I take another bite if my apple, this time actually making the effort to raise up my head. "You think it's good."
"I was touched-"
"Not for you, for her!"
He chuckles "yeah pretty good, but you didn't sign your name."
"I know." I take out my steak and cheese sandwich. My mom made it this morning for everyone. The argument that came along with it was annyoying; Katie doesn't like that type of cheese, Amanda didn't want mushrooms in hers, and Megan said she doesn't need mom's lunch, she could buy one for herself. And that started a even bigger argument. I kept hearing my dad reminding mom to be slow to anger, while mom looked like she was about to take the frying pan and knock Megan out with it. All this fuss happened right in the kitchen while I tried not to fall asleep in my cereal. I was way too tired to complain about the sandwich.
"I don't get it, why not put your name or like secret admirer or something?" Mickey asks.
I shrug, "I don't want her to know it's me yet, and the whole secret admirer thing sounds stalkerish."
He takes a gulp of ice tea, "Well you gotta write something."
"No I don't."
He wave his bag of chips at me, "Yes you do, how is she going to know who it is? Even though it's not your name at least something."
I lay on my bag, trying to calmly think it though. But my brain hurts me and all I want to do is sleep. All I could barely come up with is... "Fine, I'll write 'Your Bruno Mars'."
Mickey laughs, "Why?"
"The song I quoted at the bottom."
His laughter dies down, "Brandon you're not suicidal over this girl?"
I look up at him, "No, it's a joke."
He states at me serious. "Really Mickey, it's just a joke."
He looks down at his pasta, "When I read it, I truly believed it."
"Shut up Mickey!" I tell him as he smiles, "look all I need you to do is stick it in her locker for me."
"Why me?"
I rest my head down on my lunch bag again. "I'm too tired to, I can't think straight. Her locker is 428."
***
"I did it!" Mickey semi-yells in my ear while shaking my shoulder for me to get up. See while Mickey went to the whole locker mission, I caught up on some well need z's. And waking up to Mickey huffing and puffing isn't something you wish to see when you get up.
My eyes still full with sleep, I lift my head to have him in view. "Really?" The words come out as a mumble when I say it.
"Yep, mission accomplished. In a few minutes, she'll get it. Locker 427." He said with a big grin on his face. He's bend over; leaning his hands on his knees, inhaling deep breaths.
"Alright coo-... What locker did you put it in Mickey?" I swear he didn't say 428 but that's probably because I'm hearing wrong. Since I just woke up and all. This time he doesn't speak, conserving his energy for more useful things like eating. He turns his palm outwardly for me to see the numbers "427" written on it.
I swear my heart thought about stopping at that moment. This idiot didn't write the wrong locker number on his hand then placed my letter into the same locker which is the WRONG LOCKER! I close my eyes and quickly reopen them. Tell me I'm dreaming! Please tell me I'm dreaming!
But sure enough as my eyes refocus on his palm, 427 is still there, bold in black.
"That's the wrong locker!" I finally explode. I get up and bang my fist against the table. All this drama doesn't seem to bother Mickey; he just slowly puts down his hand, staring at me with that natural blank look on his face.
"Is it?" He asks sounding perplex as usual.
Take a deep breath, I tell myself in my mind. It's against the Ten Commandments to murder someone; it doesn't matter what they done or how stupid they are that they can't write the right locker number on their hand when I repeated it over and over again! 428 for crying out loud! Did I say minus one?! Deep breaths, deep breaths.
Maybe I could fix this, all I gotta to is get it back. It's simple!
I take off running out the cafeteria leaving Mickey by himself. It's his fault I'm in this mess! I should have did it myself! Ah, man!
I speed down the hall almost running into a few people but by the grace of God, I seem to dodge them. Just around this corner and there's her locker right next to the water fountain... That how I know, I drink a lot of water, okay... I'm not a stalker.
My feet come to a sudden stop. I spot Jenny and Alexandra with two other girls I don't recongize. Jenny leans on her locker... 428... I take a deep breath. I messed up big time! She smiles and waves bye to the two girls then turns to Alexandra to tell her something. They both laugh. I try not to be seen, hiding behind the lockers. But my cover almost gets blown when I realize who's locker this idiot placed my letter in....
Alexandra's...
I feel my jaw drop and I can't move. She opens her locker beside Jenny's. They talk causally as if nothing is wrong.
Meanwhile, my heart is beating up my chest!
Out falls the letter from Alexandra's locker, folded just the way I gave it to Mickey.
She stares at it on the floor, then brushes away her bangs as she scoops down and picks it up. I see Jenny ask her something. She simply nods and begins to unfold the paper.
I CAN'T WATCH!
I duck behind the lockers, closing my eyes, my breathing faster than usual. This isn't happening! This isn't happening! This isn't happening!
But I know it is...
I'm about to take another peak when someone calls my name. I practically almost have a sudden heart attack (q the Demi Lovato song.)
"Brandon." This time my eyes are open and I spot Owen, the nurse walking down the halls. He comes straight towards me, "how's it going, buddy? Having fun in your last Evan-free day? He comes back in Monday, you know." He informs, passing his hand through his messy hair attempting to improve it... It's not working.
I had forgotten about Evan being suspended for punching me. I was so focus ok the letter... I take a quick peak from my locker.
THEY'RE GONE!
Oh great...
"You okay, buddy? Didn't mean to remind you about Monday." Owen said.
I shake my head, trying to swallow this lump of disaster suddenly stuck in my throat. "I'm fine." I'm manage to get out. His big hand goes on my shoulder, his green eyes suddenly eye level, "you sure, Brandon? You look a bit jumpy."
I'm not alright, my life is ruin, I tell ya, RUIN!
"I'm not hundred percent, but hey I'm living and that's all that matters, right?" Wrong you fool! Wrong! What matter is the wrong girl has your letter! That's what matters!
He smiles, "way to be positive, man." He does the usual routine by patting me in the shoulder, "Lips looking better."
"Thanks" I get out my desert mouth. He nods for no reason in particular then fixes his shirt, "well Brandon, you might not have power but you have a great attitude. See you around buddy." He tells me continuing his walk down the hall.
Great attitude? I sigh turning to face the horrible sight of their lockers. Attitude doesn't help in this case at all.