Unrealistic

1. His Blue Cap and Kind Smile

In memory of a boy I once knew with a complicated but beautiful soul. He may never know the impact he has had on my life and the inspiration he gave to this story, but I hope his soul is at rest. I will forever remember the smile that reached his eyes and the times he wasn’t afraid to be vulnerable nor the lessons I learned from our short time together.

1. His Blue Cap and Kind Smile

I dreaded Biology class more than any other class, especially since I was transferred to a different teacher this semester. It was one of the few classes Amy and I shared in the beginning of our sophomore year. 

“At least we still have lunch together,” I say with a groan. 

“Syl! If we didn’t have lunch together I would die,” says Amy as she examines herself in her locker mirror.

She checks that every strand of dirty blond hair is in place and her blue eyes are clear of any sleep. She is wearing a long sleeve black t-shirt with the band Jimmy Eat World on it with jeans and black Vans. 

“Can we just be like Hilary Duff in ‘A Cinderella Story...’” I say. “And find our own Lucas and run away to college together?”

“Lucas is ‘One Tree Hill’ you goob!” Amy laughs.

“Same cute guy.” I smile with a shrug. 

I examine myself in my own locker mirror. My own blue eyes are a little more gray than Amy’s and it is surrounded with more pale skin but darker brown hair. I dress up a little more than my friend does. I have a baby blue blouse on with slender flair jeans and platform sandals. I have an older sister that I inherit a lot of my cute clothes from.

“How much time before first period?” I ask.

“It’s still pretty early, we’ve got about 15 minutes,” she answers, checking the time on her Fossil watch.

“Yeah but I have no idea where Mr. Crenshaw's class is,” I say. “I should probably go ahead and go in case I get lost. Don’t want to be late.”

“Sure thing! We don’t have a class together until gym, 6th period, so, see you at lunch, I guess,” she says with a slouch.

“I know it sucks. But at least during lunch we can talk!” I remind her.

“True! Gosh! Okay~ later babes!” she shuts her locker and heads to Ms. Annel’s biology class in the opposite direction.

“Later Ames!” I say as I shut my own locker and head in the direction I think I should be going.

I pull out my map of the school and examine the rows of blocks where hallways should be. I keep walking towards the east end and figure I should be a few classrooms down.

I keep walking, double-counting that the number of doors I pass match what’s on the terribly-drawn map.

Room 202, okay Mr. Crenshaw is room 204, so shouldn’t be too far dow-

“OW!”

I run into something hard and scramble to catch my footing when I feel someone grab my arm to hold me steady.

“Woah there!”

I find my balance and look to see what I ran into. Oh no. WHO I ran into.

“Hi Sylvia.”

I’m drowning in the beautiful brown eyes of Andy Bishop.

“Um. Hi Andy.” I look down blushing. 

I’m not usually shy but I have had a crush on Andy since the 8th grade when we shared a literature class together. I haven’t really seen him much during our freshmen year so I was not expecting to see him now.

“Sorry about that. I can be such a clutz.” I try to apologize.

“It’s fine, I don’t mind,” he says smiling.

He has a smile that makes my heart beat a little faster, and my stomach feel a little bit flustered.

“I guess Mr. Crenshaw isn’t in yet?” 

I notice we’re at the end of a line waiting outside the classroom.

“No, but he tends to be late,” he says as he leans back onto the wall with his knee up.

He is wearing a short-sleeve white unbuttoned shirt with a black tank underneath with destroyed jeans and leather sandals. His brown waves peak out from underneath his blue backwards cap he’s wearing. 

He’s so cute.

“You weren’t in this class last semester, were you?” he asks with his head c****d to the side.

“Aww no,” I say. “I was in Ms. Annel’s last semester and it got changed after break.”

“I was about to say!” he laughs, “I think I would remember a pretty girl if you had been.”

I am beyond blushing. I’m sure my face is nearly red. Damn pale skin.

“Aww thanks,” was all I could manage as I tried my hardest to suppress a very cheesy smile back.

We kind of get lost in each other’s eyes when he takes his cap off and places it on my head.

“Looks good on you,” he says as he runs his hand through his perfectly wavy hair.

If my heart could burst with happiness, it would at this very moment. This is the most we have talked outside of the classroom and my entire body feels like it’s tingling.

“Hello students! Sorry for your wait!” says a tall, wide man with gray curls and oval glasses. 

His one hand is full with huge white binders and the other is toting a rolling cart filled to the brim with all different instruments. He seems a bit disoriented as he struggles to unlock the door while balancing all of his things.

“Mr. Crenshaw let me help you” I hear Andy say as he offers to hold Mr. Crenshaw's binders. 

“Thank you Mr. Bishop!” he beams. “Helpful as always.”

What a gentleman. 

I sigh as we finally start filing into the classroom. I look around for an empty seat as students already head straight to the desks they claimed last semester.

I notice a couple of desks that seem to get overlooked and take the one furthest back. As I wait for class to start I see Andy place the binders on the teacher’s desk and head in my direction.

He sits down at the empty desk in front of me and turns around. I think he wants to make conversation so I smile at him waiting for him to say something.

“Uh… um,” he began awkwardly, “Do you mind if I get my hat back?”

Oh I’m an i***t.

“Yeah of course,” I stammer. “Here you go!”

I take the blue cap off, and can’t help but notice it leaves a cold draft behind. I return it to its owner whose kind smile makes me instantly forget the reluctance of giving it back.

He turns back around as Mr. Crenshaw begins to take roll. 

“Ms. Sylvia Booker?” 

“Here!” I answer.

“New student! Welcome! Good to have you!” he says cheerfully.

“Thanks” I say quietly.

I hate being the center of attention. Andy turns around and winks at me.

I think I’m going to really like this class.