“Brendan had sex with Sabrina!” the wailing girl could be heard through the entire school. Just another typical day in this high school I call hell. Why am I the only sane girl in this place? Not even the teachers have a hold on these types of situations. But someone should tell this girl it is not the end of the world. “Hey just a little girl advice, we mature much faster than guys so wait until college.” I had to tell her my motto but it doesn’t mean she’ll follow it. Oh well, I tried and now it’s time to suffer through gym while all the scumbags look at me. Curse these misplaced good looks!
“Bye baby, I’ll miss you!” exclaimed my girlfriend, Kara. She and I have been dating since freshman year. I guess you could call us the “it couple”. She is the head cheerleader and I’m not only captain of the football team but also hockey and baseball. Just this year, we were named cutest couple and most likely to get married. When my mom found that out, she about fainted. My father and mother were high school sweethearts and my sister quickly followed suit. Just another family tradition I’m expected to uphold. Good thing I have gym now, it helps me release my anxiety and tension.
Fan-fricken-tastic! I get paired up with golden boy for this idiotic gym project. And now here he comes sidling up to me, “Looks like we’re gonna be partners.” Thank you captain obvious was what I was thinking but instead I said, “Yup, looks like it.”
How was I going to work with her is she already hated my guts? Maybe I should explain, “I understand this isn’t exactly how you wanted it, but we have to make the best of it. So let’s rewind. My name’s Peyton and I am your project partner.”
At least he was making an attempt, “Well my name is Marissa but everyone calls me Riss,” I answered while we shook hands. It didn’t hurt that he had a warm smile and eyes that seemed to sparkle like an ocean. “Peyton! C’mon, I wanna run to the mall,” whined a perky blonde decked out in her mini skirt and tight top. darn, totally slipped my mind that he was dating the reincarnation of the devil. Kara and I never got along too well since I won homecoming queen during freshmen year. She thought I was undeserving of the award because I was not “popular” enough. With a quick glance, he told me he would see me tomorrow and sprinted away.
Week one was a success and shockingly we didn’t kill each other. Riss was not the girl I was expecting at all. She was clever and witty with a strong-headed attitude. Complete opposite of myself which may be why we work so well together…”Peyton, bro did you hear?” asked my friend, interrupting my thoughts. “Did I hear what?” I asked back. And then I got it. The picture of my longtime girlfriend and some college guy lips locked and clothes nearly gone. “Pey Pey it’s not what it looks like,” sobbed Kara, “we were drunk.” Doesn’t anyone realize that excuse only makes the situation worse? Today was not the day for this; I had the biggest game of my baseball career after school. Some scouts from colleges and two from the majors were coming to watch me pitch. With a straight face, I looked right at Kara and calmly announced, “We’re done.” Walking away, I prayed that my parents would understand and not disown me. My luck though, they would force us to get back together to uphold the family sweetheart tradition.
While walking into the girl’s locker room, voices bounced and boomed off the walls. It was absolutely pure chaos. “What happened?” I questioned to no one in particular. All I wanted to know was what “catastrophe” had occurred. One of the devil’s minions whipped her head around and retorted “Peyton and Kara just broke up!” OH NO! It’s the end of the world! I was still giggling to myself while walking out into the weight room but abruptly came to a halt. There was Peyton’s face with bright, shiny eyes as if he was forcing his tears back. Slowly his eyes met mine and I felt as if I was about to collapse right there. Why did I ache with pain and sorrow the moment those eyes met mine? He was the one dying inside and I knew it was time for damage control. “Hey buddy,” I smiled, “don’t feel too bad, high school relationships never work out in the end.” His face saddened even further, breaking another piece of my heart. Turning away I barely caught his whisper, “My entire family is made up of high school sweethearts.” Way to go, Riss! Make the most popular and sensitive guy in the entire school cry.
It should have been the worst game of my young life, and yet it was the complete opposite. I pitched a no hitter and each scout personally congratulated me on the job well done. They told me an email would be sent soon on their final decisions. Before my parents could notice how Kara was not running onto the field to congratulate me nor was she in the attendance at all, I slipped back to the locker room. Showers are supposed to be the times a person can figuratively wash away all there problems. Thankfully most of mine were spiraling down the drain except for the one clinging to every part of my body. I know she was trying to cheer me up and clearly she had no clue the real reason I was upset; no one knew the real reason actually. It wasn’t the actual break up itself but the sheer disappointment I was sure to face when I returned home. That is the worst feeling in the entire universe is when your parents cannot even bring themselves to look at you. But after the shower I still felt like an asshole for ignoring her. Which brings us the explanation of why I’m awkwardly waiting by her car, I need to fix this relationship before it’s ruined. BAM! It was as if I had been blind-sided by a semi, I need to apologize because she was the one I truly cared about, not Kara. Wait until I tell my parents that I fell in love with a girl in one week, while it took them four years.
Most of the time, I don’t regret the comments I make because normally I am speaking the truth, but now it's different. That last one though, I wish I could take back with all of my being. This guilt was weighing on my mind as I dragged myself to my car. Still replaying the moment, someone’s voice shattered my thoughts and returned me to reality. “I’m sorry”, was leaked from his mouth while casually leaning against my car. How can a guy look incredibly handsome in sweats with a tee? Oh right, because Peyton was not a normal guy. Quickly recovering, “No, I’m sorry. It was not my place to make any comments or judgments.” He just smiled and that’s when I knew; I broke my own motto.
She was flustered which only increased her beauty. Even with the hard exterior, she was the only one to have spilled the truth. “You were right. High school sweethearts don’t normally work out,” I explained, “but I’ve realized that my family is a small exception.” Then I went on a rambling story about my family and the expectations I had to meet. Complete silence followed my story. Great, now I feel even more awkward than before. All I am doing is staring at her, her eyes piercing right to my soul. And all of a sudden the words slipped out, “Will you go out with me?”
While still trying to digest the full story he just revealed, a significant question had been popped. “Say something you idiot!” was what my mind screamed at me. This is not a situation I had ever pictured myself in especially in high school! I was the girl who disregarded all ignorant high school boys. I have told everyone who has ever asked about boyfriends, that they were insignificant to a girl who still needed to find herself. Independent women were my idols; I hated the girls who became jelly around a guy. Yet that is exactly how I found myself at this exact moment with Peyton’s eyes trained on me, waiting. Never good with words, I bumbled out “Are you for real?” With a sly smile and a slight blush rising in his cheeks, he nodded his head up and down. Throwing my own personal motto out the window, I replied with an ecstatic “YES!” Good thing Peyton’s strong and agile or else I would have landed on my ass instead of in his arms. Thinking aloud, “Yeah, I could definitely get used to this.” Both of us cracked the cheesy smiles that stretched from ear to ear.
As soon as that three letter word was uttered from those perfect lips, I knew everything would work out in the end. No longer was I worrying about the disappointment of my family or the questioning eyes Riss and I were sure to receive. All that matter is she agreed to this crazy notion and made me feel as if I was the luckiest man in the world. “Hey, maybe I could prove you wrong about that negative opinion on falling in love while in high school?” I teased with a coy wink.
With a quick chuckle I replied, “Go ahead, Mr. Big Shot. Prove me wrong.”