Dying Innocence

The Gathering Storm

As the days started getting warmer and longer and Old man winter and spring fought for their spot as winter refused to leave until Easter then Winter jumped to spring. Mercedes And I held hands as we walked each other to class. Everyone showed their concern about my well being because of Mercedes's rumored antics. Rumor has it, someone had broken into the girls locker room and stole a wallet in our gym class and all fingers pointed to Mercedes. I thought Mercedes Was innocent because of my love for her.

The Wednesday after we came back from spring break started out as a normal spring mid April morning. I woke up at about 6:00 AM or a half hour before sunrise at my mom's. It was my mom's visitation from April 1st-May 1st because split custody between her and Petey. Petey, my pathetic at the time father and his hellbound wife Fiona were physically, mentally, emotionally and verbally abusive to Reese and sometimes me but were quick to apologize to me like nothing even happened. Fiona and Dad seem to favor Shelly, Regina and James because they were "normal" but back to the topic. I went out to the front room where Mom had just left the house to take Grandma to work in Ottumwa. I grabbed my bath towel, black EB Rockets tee, Gray Rockets Basketball hoodie, black athletic pants, black under armor shirt, boxers, and socks and hit the shower. I showered for fifteen minutes and had a microwave breakfast sandwich and blue mountain dew after I got dressed. I headed out to the bus at the school and waited for Jerome to come in off Highway T-61 which was the main north-south highway between Ottumwa and Albia that ran from Highway 2 in Appanoose County to Iowa 163-US 63 via Highway 137 in Eddyville. The highway connected the little towns like Moulton, Unionville, and Blakesburg to bigger industrialized towns like Eddyville, Pella, and Oskaloosa. Bus No. 7 or Gary's bus delivered the students for Jerome's shuttle to go to the high school. Jerome's bus came 5 minutes later and Daniel was giving his wise cracks. I put in my headphones and started listening to my iPod. I started gazing out the window listening to Breaking Benjamin, thinking about the day. We got to the school at 7:50 ,about 25 minutes before the first bell. I went to the gym and saw Mercedes, she was wearing a season appropriate outfit with a black hoodie, denim shorts, a pink Hollister shirt, and sneakers. We started talking about our studies and random topics. I walked her to class holding hands to Mr. Smith's World cultures class and I walked to Mr. Sands' transitional math class. I did the class work and went to the hall after the bell and walked Mercedes second period cooking class at Mrs. Ryon and I got a photo with her in a noir filter or in black and white. I walked to the study hall and did homework that I didn't finish the night before and read a book. Third hour came and it was time to go to animal science for FFA. I was in FFA because it was cool. Mr. McCoy was giving a lecture about farm animals anatomy and stuff. The bell for advisory at 10:15 A.M. for us to the gym for an assembly and it was nerd bowl students vs. the average students, I sat beside Mercedes Until she volunteered as scorekeeper. I sat watching rooting for coach Smith and the average Joes because Smith was my friend. The Average Joes won like David taking down Goliath. As the day went on and I went to my studies wisely hoping that my future with Mercedes Would go bright. The last bell rang and it was time to go to track practice. I walked by Miss Neeson’s Room and she hollered at me to come in. I asked, “What now?” She said, “I am deeply concerned about you with Mercedes.” I said, “I’m fine.” and walked to Track practice. I have been accusing Miss Neeson and Mr. Skinner sabotaged mine and Mercedes's relationship because they were super worried about my mental health because of her. I walked to track practice and ran my workout before going on the bus for Blakesburg. I went home thinking about what I was going to say to Ms. Neeaowhen we next met.