One.
A shrill sample of keynotes rose from a silver iPod Touch on a light wood dresser, threatening to ensue with louder frequency if the owner did not cease its operation. With a slight groan, lithe legs lifted from the mass of covers and pillows and strolled lazilly over to the alarm, a pale fingernail sliding across the LCD screen, silencing the noise. All was quiet except for the hum of the air conditioning and the sudden meowing of a tabby cat entering the room. The girl ran her fingers through her unruly red locks, freshly-dyed from a session with her best friend the previous day. Her right hand reached up to rub her light green eyes, batting away the night. She tapped the iPod screen gently to reveal the time: 5:45 AM.
Another groan.
The pale redhead casually moved into the bathroom, flicking the light switch and causing her light green eyes to flinch at the sudden drench of pouring white light. Once the invasion of brightness was considered stable, she closed the door behind her with a click, reopening it about five minutes later, hands smelling of warm vanilla sugar soap. Flipping the switch on the lamp near her, she hungrilly threw open her closet doors, revealing an armada of outfits waiting patiently before her.
Decisions, Decisions.
After fumbling with the pile of jeans for a minute, she settled on rummaging deeper and pulling out a pear of gray skinnys. Eyes glancing upwards, she quickly found a simple black t-shirt to wear. Turning her head, she marched over to her bookshelf, pushing aside a few scarves and finding the perfect accessory: a layered green and brown scarf to toss around her neck. After undressing and redressing, she examined her reflection in the mirror.
Average height, average weight, asymmetrically cropped red hair, bright green eyes (which needed mascara), blemished skin. her expressionless lips furled into a frown, then a grimace as she poked her stomach and arched her back. She would have to remind herself to count the calories that day. Or at least do some exercise before going to bed. She wanted to be 110 pounds badly. Maybe if she ate too much by accident, she could just purge it all later on. She’d blast Banshee Beat by Animal Collective to cover the noise, and pop a mint in her mouth to disguise the act further. Then she’d refuse to even come near the kitchen for the rest of the evening, in fear of finding something so delicious and irresistible she would have to repeat the process again.
It was gross and the feeling of acid in her throat wouldn’t be pleasant, but neither was being a fatass.
“Someone in my dictionary’s up to no good,” she murmured in a breathy tone, the song she envisioned in her future playing in her mind. “The words, they sting like stumps of old wasps.” She ducked out into the bathroom, opening a cabinet door and fetching a jar of concealer and some mascara. “So I duck out, go down to the find the swimming pool….” She sang softly, dabbing makeup on her skin. Hiding her imperfections. Perfection, perfection. Flaws, flawless. “Hop a fence, down the street and wet your feet to find the swimming pool.” After her skin was fine, she closed the lid of the concealer and opened the mascara tube, plunging the brush into the black liquid then up to her eyelashes. She brushed the mascara on dilligently, expertly.
“Then either way you look at it, you have your fits, I have my fits but feeling is good.”
After brushing her teeth with mint toothpaste, popping two vitamins into her mouth and straightening the longer side of her red locks, she tugged on a gray suede boot and flipped open her cell phone, fingers furiously typing a good morning message to her boyfriend. Snapping the cover shut, she moved over to her iPod, unplugging it from its charger and placing two white earbuds into her ears, leaving the iPod istelf snug in her left pocket. She grabbed her gray tote, swung it over her shoulders and headed out the door into the crisp Floridian breeze.
Minutes later, she was walking down the white halls of her high school, her student aide badge jingling with each step in tune with her scarf. Phone in hand, she texted her boyfriend throughout the morning, headed to the cafeteria to see him. She glanced up to wave hello to a friend in the hallway, then pushed open the doors of the building and strolled down the pavement to the cafeteria.
Heartbeat increasing in three, two…one.
A smile crept onto her lips as she eyed him. Tall with fair skin, olive green eyes glancing up to acknowledge her entrance, curly brown hair hidden behind a hat. An adorable grin matched her coy smile, and her fair skin turned a shade of pink. God, he was perfect. She has always thought he was cute before, but now as of a week ago he was all hers, hers, hers. That cute grin, those sweet green eyes, that wit, that sense of humor, that aura of awesomeness surrounding him, and the knowing that she would spend three hours with him in a gymnasium for the rest of the morning.
Good morning, sunshine.
“Hey,” she giggled, taking a seat next to his, blushing when his eyes met hers. She stowed away her iPod and phone and popped two pieces of mint gum into her mouth. Always two, never just one. One was too few. He smiled and returned the greeting, and the couple chit-chatted about the lack of student sin the cafeteria. Judging by the lack of seniors, the rest of their class skipped that day, opting for sleep in until 11 when testing was over or missing the entire day completely. She nodded in agreement when a a red shadow passed by them, sitting down next to her boyfriend. The figure was male, with bright blue eyes and wavy brown hair. A red flannel shirt covered his torso and he set his purple backpack onto the table. The two men greeted each other and she turned away, popping another piece of mint gum in her mouth. A bell rang across the room, and the three stood up, unsure of where to move.
“Um…where do seniors go?” The boyfriend asked, arching an eyebrow. He looked towards his friend, who shrugged and smirked in response, then at his petite girlfriend. She shrugged as well.
“I heard we go to the gym,” she confessed, “but that’s all I know.” Nodding, the boyfriend connected hands with hers - causing a slew of butterflies to erupt in her stomach- and led her outside. It was damp out, and he approached an administrator, asking where seniors go. The two noted that they had to part separate ways, and she frowned, but gave him a long, lasting hug. She moved quickly outside to a building far away, skipped upstairs and made it into the classroom only to be told to go to the gymnasium.
Typical.
Sighing, she turned around and started from where she came from, whipping out her phone and texting her boyfriend and updating him on where to go. Her heart leaped at the realization that they would still spend three hours together. Three beautiful hours. She giggled just thinking about it.
TO BE CONTINUED
