HERE WE MET

Part One: FIRST LOVE DEZERAE MARTIN You could hear the music blasting from the Range Rover. It was as if he was carrying a club in his car. I was surprised he wasn't deaf by now because he did this every day. Every. Day. I would know, because I was the one waiting by the entrance of the school looking for my best friend. Looks like Noah Steele arrived, alright. Y-Young Money, Young Money yeah, we gettin' rich. I groaned internally. It's morning for goodness' sake! He wrecklessly parked his car. It was still dark outside, but I could see his heavenly face emerge through the smoky air. As anticipated, I turned back and watched Avery Hart come out of the school entrance to greet her boyfriend. Her white scarf fluttered behind her like wings. It was something else. Watching someone else's face light up when they saw their love. The sparkle in Avery's eyes lit up the sky. She crashed against Noah and embraced close. Laughing. Smiling. Making out. Look at them. I turned away, shaking my head. If someone knew my thoughts, they would think I had a crush on her. No, I didn't. I kinda sorta hated her. I brushed the thought and tapped my foot impatiently. The cold touched my bones and my toes were long gone. "Where are you Natasha?" I hissed to myself. Class was about to start and I still had homework to do. Avery linked her arm with Noah, as they walked in, I heard snippets of their conversation. "Babe, I've missed you. That was a long vacation, I wish you were here." Avery cooed. "I know," Jackson grinned, his white teeth showing. "Am I not worth the wait? Just wait till I see Jason. I haven't seen that i***t for weeks." "Dezerae!" a voice boomed behind me. Natasha. The heavy backpack of hers were bouncing up and down. But she still ran as fast as it allowed her. "I'm-" she sucked in a large amount of air "-so sorry. I know I'm late but I can make it up. I promise!" She held my shoulder for support. I huffed, wishing I could disappear home. I pushed her glasses up her nose so it didn't fall off. "Look at me." I prompted. She did. "Let me fix your hair." I muttered and brushed through her bangs and reoriented her red scarf. With one look at her, I flipped my hair over her face. "You owe me a cup of Starbucks." ////////////// Ms. Knight began to babble on. Her mouth never stopping to take a breath. I've never had a teacher who talked as much as her. "So, as we discussed earlier in the week, we all should know how to write an explicit function, a quadratic equation, and a linear function. If not, I suggest you look over the study guides..." She took a breath and smiled. I mean, if it wasn't for her lushes hair and her pretty face, I don't think any guy in this class could take her. I had trouble sometimes. I tried not to yawn as half the class attempted to solve the given equations. Because I already did them. And I was perfect--perfect--at every topic. I was the Queen of School...Subjects. Ever since freshman year began, my name started to appear on the announcements for winning the debate events, getting the best grades, and winning various math competitions---I had made myself the title of the "Most Nerdy of the school." If I haven't been recognized by now, I certainly will get that honor in the yearbook in my senior year. For sure. But the worst side of my awesome brain juices was that...I never bragged. I preferred to be in the dark, just do my four years and get out of high school. I didn't want the recognition. I wanted to graduate. I wanted to move on with my life. While everybody spent weekends drinking at parties, I, Dezerae Martin, would be in a sleepover at my cousin's studying like there was no tomorrow. Grades were my salvation. That was the only ticket out of this crazy town my parents lived in. Finally, when the bell rang, I bolted out to go to the cafetaria to find Natasha. In two minutes, all the popular people flooded the tables, their laughter filling the room with sound. The size of the cafeteria was surprisingly but people avoided these tables like the plaque. I sat in one of the empty tables, watching the crowd flurry into the lines. "No way!" I heard a manly scream behind me. Carson Weekly thundered in with his group. Ryan Heath. The jock Douglas Hendrickson. The heart breaker---Jason King. They were in their soccer jerseys. We had a game against our rivals and today was a celebratory day for them. They did a fist bump and settled in to tables, their egos and attitudes crowding the empty chairs. I flicked my eyes around the cafe, searching for Natasha. Cheerleaders filed behind me, discussing their next event. The elite has arrived. Trotting down the stares, I found my friend. "Dezerae! I got my lunch!" she grinned and motioned me. I sighed, taking a second of interest in the tables behind me. The elite laughed and smiled between bites of pizza and salad. I knew they were having fun conversations that didn't involve homework. For a second, I wish I was there, sitting with them and forgetting work for forty minutes. Finally turning back to Nat, I smiled. "Let's go. It's a little loud here anyways." Contrary to the obnoxious energy back in the lunch room, the library was quiet, serene even. We settled at a table by the windows. "Okay," Natasha straightened her shirt and cleared her throat. "What's in our agenda? For being the captain of the debate team, you are doing an awful lame job at keeping the group in check." She eyed me carefully. I sighed heavily, "Nat, I've been busy with other things. With my classes and the chess club, I'm basically running here and running there. It's hard work to keep everything in balance." I picked on my salad with boredom. "Plus, don't worry, we'll win the state title. I'll make sure of it." Nat crossed her hands over her chest, "You better, Martin. People are ready to ridicule you. I mean, many Seniors aren't happy to have a Sophomore captain telling them what to do. Unless you shut their mouths by proving them wrong. Especially since Henry Jones graduated last year, the class is furious for having a new leader. You got to be bad-ass and show them what you've got in your brain." She retorted. "Oh, also. Did you turn in the evidence to the advisor?" I can't believe we were talking about this. It's my lunch! I don't want to argue about how I'm handling the debate group! "Okay, okay. Geez, I've got the memo, thanks for clearing it up,"I muttered, savagely stabbing my salad. Brightening up, I changed the subject. "Hey! What do you say we go to the mall this weekend? I'm free... your free. We can shop!" I cheered. She huffed. "Can't. I'm meeting with Kathleen this Saturday. And Sunday I'll probably end up doing school work." My mood shifted. Kathleen. "What's up with you and her? Ever since she came to the debate team you've been by her side. I can hardly remember the last time you've hung out with me." It's been few months since school started, and here was Natasha, finding new friends. It's not like I was jealous, but I got the gist she was choosing her over me. "No, I'm not." This time she was picking on her food, uncomfortably. I huffed, blowing the frizzy piece of hair off my face. For the rest of lunch, we sat down in silence, doing debate work. At last, when the bell rang, I went to class, not looking back once if she followed me or not. 09/03/2015