Dripping Desires: My Unexpected Mate

Celine: Old Love

"Why can't I just have a normal life!"I thought to myself as I shut my bedroom door with a bang.

I gently set my backpack on the small, cluttered surface of my desk, the weight of the day still dragging at my shoulders. With a deep sigh that felt like a release, I flopped face down onto my bed, sinking into the softness of the worn sheets. The moment I hit the mattress, a suffocating scream erupted from my lips, reverberating through the quiet room and blending with the weight of my exhaustion.

Just then, Mother knocked sharply on the door before entering without waiting for a response. She settled onto the edge of my bed, the creaking sound of the mattress punctuating the air. She placed her gentle hands against my back and began to rub, her warm touch comforting me. I could feel the tension melt away as she worked her fingers in soothing motions. Her presence was like a calming balm for my worries.

"Baby, do you want to talk about it?" She asked in a daring tone."You know I am here to help in any way possible." she continued

"Mom, as I said before, it's nothing."I insisted.

"Ok. Who was the gentleman you were talking to in the parking lot." she persisted in interrogating me.

"You look as if you were arguing," she added.

"He is someone in my classes," I responded with sadness.

"Did he do something to upset you? Because you know I will not let anyone take advantage of you," her voice began to echo in anger.

"No!... I don't know; something happened that I don't know how to explain. It's like, I don't know; forget it." I sat up on the bed, looking bewildered. "By the way, I could stand up for myself, Mom," I added. She then looked at me as if disappointed by my response.

“Why don’t you take a shower? I’ll start on dinner,” she suggested. I could hear the worriedness in her voiceas her eyes filled with concern. “Maybe it will help you feel a little better. After all, it’s your first day; you shouldn’t be so hard on yourself,” she said with a sigh. She then leaned closer and pressed a tender kiss on my forehead. I sensed a wave of disappointment radiating from her as she walked away; the door clicked softly shut behind her.

I quickly snatched my phone from where it lay on the soft, rumpled bedsheet. My heart raced as I noticed a flurry of notifications lighting up the screen. With a mix of curiosity and excitement, I zeroed in on a new voice note from Maya. I eagerly tapped the screen, anticipation building as I prepared to hear her voice.

"Hey! It's me, Maya. Just to let you know, everyone has been buzzing about the football game tomorrow, and all the supporters plan to wear bright blue T-shirts. I even picked up a small one for you! It would mean a lot to me if you could come. I can introduce you to the cheerleading team, and you'll see how incredible we are. I can feel it deep down in my soul—you're going to be a fantastic cheerleader when you make the team. I can't wait to see you tomorrow!"

Listening to her voice, filled with unwavering faith in my abilities, was quite breathtaking. Yet, despite her encouragement, I found myself feeling wholly unqualified; I had never stepped into the role of a cheerleader before. Adding to my turmoil was the insistent nagging sensation that their captain, Chloe, with her piercing disapproving look and dismissive comments, harbored a strong aversion toward me. Deepening my uncertainty and frustration.

"Since Maya is insisting, maybe I should consider joining the team," I thought to myself. It could be my chance to gain recognition and earn respect. Who knows, I might have hidden talents that could even surpass Chloe's. Additionally, being part of the team could positively impact my GPA, as Maya mentioned before." I continued to debate this.

I quickly responded to Maya's voice note with a thumbs-up. "I had put some thoughts into this and I have decided that I will tryout for the team. can't wait to see what the group is made up of. If it's ok, wee can meet up by our lockers tomorrow." I added.

As another notification chimed softly, I felt a flicker of hope that it might be something good. But my heart sank when I saw it was just an email from Mrs. Cater. With a sense of dread, I opened the message and began to skim through the list of topics for the English essay. Each suggestion felt more uninspiring than the last. Frustrated, I tossed my phone onto the bed, sighing as it landed with a soft thud, mirroring my exasperation.

I struggled to lift my exhausted body from the bed as the hot shower called to me, promising relief. Just as I set out towards the bathroom, my phone buzzed to life, ringing insistently. A flash of irritation crossed my mind, but curiosity quickly took over. I turned back to my bedside, reaching for the phone with a mix of anticipation and anxiety. The caller ID displayed Anthony’s name—a friend from my old school, or should I say a long-held crush. How could I ignore such a surprise? I quickly answered. My heart clung to my chest for its dear life. Butterflies tumbled in my stomach as my smile widened across my face. With a low tone, I answered, "Hello?"

"Hey, I hope it's good timing?" he said.

"No. It's actually perfect timing. I was just sitting in bed going over a few things. How have you been?" I asked.

"I miss seeing you around; I just needed to hear your voice," he admitted.

"Yeah?" I responded as I sat down on the edge of my bed again.

"How is your new school treating you?" he asked.

"It's great. I have a new friend already. She is great. But at this time, I am only trying to remain focused so that we can meet again—at Harvard," I said.

"Yeah, and we will meet again. I know we can do this, although we are miles apart," he added. "Harvard will be our reward for all our hard work."

"Yeah. I am trying hard to keep that faith up." I added

"You won't believe what I did today?" he said

"What did you do?" I asked with a scoff.

"I brought all three of your favorite ringpops and ate them all at once!" he giggled.

'You're crazy!" we laughed some more.

"I miss seeing your smile. Maybe we could video call sometime soon," he suggested

"Maybe," I replied. I'm so happy you called; I really needed this."

"You know what? I think I will wear that sweater you gave me tonight to feel your warmth." I added. "By the way, it's so cold right now that I can barely feel my toes."I sighed.

"Hmm, I could only imagine. But it's great that the sweater is coming in handy tho," he said.

"Yeah... Hey, I gotta go. I have a few things to do before I fall asleep. Can I catch you later?" I implied.

"Yeah, sure. Nice hearing from you. Have a good night," he said softly.

"Good night," I replied softly before hanging up the call.

As I gently set the phone down, a warm grin spread across my face, refusing to budge. Filled with a sense of euphoria, I swung myself off my bed, the soft sheets rustling beneath me. A surge of energy coursed through me as I hurried toward the long-awaited shower.