Back to 17, Abandon my EX

8

Walking back into school as a student is the most surreal feeling. As a teacher, I have the authority to go anywhere. I can be running late to my own class, and no one says a word. As a student, though, my freedom is limited, and I would be punished for not showing up on time. I was heading towards the teacher's lounge before I realised my role had flipped and I no longer had access to free coffee and muffins that are provided to the facility every morning. Being a teacher at Claremont High came with a few perks.

I reversed my steps and made my way back onto the quad, finding Kate, Bridget and Amber at one of the picnic tables. Next to them at another were Lucas, Kristen and that kid who had kissed Kate at Sam's party. I've really got to learn his name. I was hoping to pass Lucas without being noticed. He was joking around with Kate's kissing buddy while Kristen was draped all over him, looking less than impressed that she wasn't gaining his attention. I would have made it to my table had Kate not announced my arrival, alerting Lucas' focus on me.

"There you are, tell me everything that happened on Sunday, as your best friend, I deserve details?" Kate demands as Lucas shakes himself free from Kristen's hold to come bounding up to me, wrapping his arms around my waist and kissing my neck, I try to get away from him, but he has a tight hold on me and isn't letting go.

"I've missed you baby. I thought you would have called me before school started, we could have gone out." This was Lucas in full denial and it used to be enough for me to sweep all our issues under the rug and just take him back because he was being sweet and because I didn't want to lose him either, I too had been in denial until I grew stronger and realised I was better off without him.

"Don't call me baby, I didn't call you because I broke up with you because you cheated on me", I state as I use all my strength to break free of his grip. I can see the hurt in his eyes for a short moment before it is replaced by confusion.

"Yeah, but that was on Saturday, it's now Tuesday, surely you're over that by now?" He questions me in his smug, arrogant tone, using every tactic he knows has worked in the past.

"I am over it. I'm over sitting at home stressing if my boyfriend is at a party he will be screwing around. I'm over feeling like I was never good enough because my boyfriend felt the need to stick his d**k into any girl seeking attention because you needed that ego boost that you felt you were missing out on by being with me but now I know I was better than just good enough. I was too good for you and being with you taught me that I deserve better"

"Maybe if you'd been around more, then I wouldn't have had to cheat," placing the blame back on me, classic Lucas.

"I'm so sorry that my parents are divorced and that my Mother lives over an hour away and that I'm required to go there every second weekend and for half of my school holidays. For once in your life take ownership of your shitty behaviour Lucas instead of blaming everyone else, maybe now you will learn that your actions have consequences" I deliver my final blow before walking away from him and taking a seat next to Kate at our table, Lucas mumbles something about me being a b***h and not worth his time, which earns an outbreak of laughter from Kate, Bridget, Amber.

"I'll give you all the details in second period when we have Drama class" I promise Kate before whispering to the rest of our small group, "I have a date tonight with Sam", Bridget looks excited by my news while Kate and Amber look surprised, "Just keep it between us, last thing I need is Lucas finding out and blowing up at Sam"

"Do you like him, Sam, I mean, not Puke-as?" Kate questions me

"We've been friends for so long but I feel that I don't really know him outside of Lucas although it was fun when we hung out on Sunday" A smile spreading across my face as I glance over at Sam who is bouncing his soccer ball between his knee and his foot while still holding a conversation with Lucas, his brown hair is just long enough to fall in front of his face, there's no denying that the boy is hot.

"You must like him a little bit because you're willing to miss out on watching the new episode of Dawson's Creek just to go out with him," Bridget points out, if only she knew that I had seen the complete series at least 4 times via a streaming service.

"Record it for me, we will watch it together tomorrow after school,l" I promise her. The bell sounds letting us know that the school day has begun, Usually, we would head to homeroom for roll call first and then on to first period, but today, being the start of the school year, means we have a special assembly in the hall to attend. Even as a teacher I love when the school has a special assembly over classes, it's an hour in which I usually just zone out.

Walking into the assembly hall, I can see that not much has changed in the 21 years since I graduated to when I started teaching at the school. The overhead fans have since been replaced with air conditioning units, theres more plaques up on the walls and the seats were upgraded but apart from that it still looks exactly the same in 2020 as it did in 1999.

The hall begins to fill up with students fast, so Kate, Bridget, Amber and I grab seats in the middle of the room. I was so busy talking to Kate that I didn't even notice Sam had taken the seat next to me until he whispered in my ear.

"Who will be our school captains this year?" He asks me

"Lucas and Kate" I whisper back to him, "I can't remember who all the sport house captains are but I do know you are ours for the Green Machines but Lucas is captain of the Red Devils" News that brings a smile across his face, there had always been this friendly rivalry between Sam and Lucas so finding out that they would be opposing team captains for swimming and athletics carnivals brought Sam a lot of joy.

The assembly got started with our Principal, Mr Scott, welcoming us back and then jumped straight into the formalities of who was to be this years school captains, which we voted on at the end of the school the year before and the teachers make the students who are running sweat it out over the six week holiday break, it's somewhat cruel to the candidates.

Lucas was announced first, making Kate turn to me and screwed up her face, even when I had heard the announcement the first time I wasn't surprised, Lucas was popular and liked by students in all years. Kate was announced next, and the look on her face was one of absolute shock, she hugged me tightly before joining Lucas up on the stage.

After the school captains were announced then Mr Scott moved on to naming Sport House Captains.

"Should I act surprised when he calls my name?" Sam joked as he took hold of my hand, entwining his fingers with mine and bringing our hands down between our seats, out of view of everyone around us. It was a secret moment just for us. My heart was racing from just the touch of his hand and I couldn't concentrate on anything other than his thumb continuously brushing over the top of mine, I didn't dare look over at him, I kept my eyes glued to the stage and then suddenly my hand felt empty and I became aware of the crowd cheering as Sam stepped up onto the stage, taking his spot next to Lucas, the two of them play fighting.

Throughout his professional career Sam had a lot of achievements, playing in the World Cup, two Olympics and three Commonwealth Games among the most memorable but becoming House Captain for the Green Machines in 1999 was most likely forgotten by him now, I only remember it because my eyes are always drawn to achievements plaque of my final school year every time I enter the assembly hall but for him, right now, this is his biggest achievement and he's on top of world.

After the other two House Captains were announced for the Blue Torpedoes and the Yellow Bears, both of which I didn't recognise at all, Mr Scott settled the crowd down to make more announcements for the up coming school year.

"Swimming Carnival will be held next Friday at Claremont Pool and attendance is mandatory by all students, any student not in attendance will receive a lunchtime detention" The school still makes this threat but never follows through on it because there is no roll call taken that day so there really is no way of knowing who actually attended and who didn't, Kate and I had stopped attending any "Mandatory" school event after year 9, choosing in favour to go shopping instead.

"I want to see your school spirit, dress up in your house colours, and your team could win the spirit prize for this year, go big, do it for your house. Team captains will be holding meetings with all team members next Thursday during the last period of the day, This is your chance to plan your strategy and sign up for what races you wish to take part in or how else you can represent your team. Please remember, though, that you are representing your school on this day, so we do advise that swimwear be respectable and by that I mean no bikinis, no nudity, no swear words drawn on your bodies with coloured zinc" Mr Scott continues, receiving an uproar of laughter from the students.

Our principal dismisses the captains from the stage and they find their seats. Kate can't wipe the smile off her face as she skips up to her seat next to me and I'm so happy for her, she made a great school captain, planing dances and fund-raising days while Lucas just sat back and did nothing, he was in the role for the perks it would bring, I remember him admitting it to me once that he just wanted to be school captain so he could skip classes.

"You better be at the swimming carnival next Friday, Roni, I'm going to need my good luck charm by my side so we can cream the Red Devils this year" Sam says as he takes his seat.

"I'll be there," I promise him, and for once, I am actually looking forward to supporting my team.