Fall
Sophomore year
Sunset Valley High
I met a boy at school today. He is new. Of all my friends that are boys I have never had this feeling before. I think this is what the meaning of ‘ Feeling butterflies in my stomach is.’ Anyways, I don’t see myself having an actual relationship with him but i feel like it might be my first real crush. I guess only time will tell and I will just have to wait and see.
Rae sits quietly at breakfast. Listening to the classical music coming from the speakers. Marques sits across from her skimming the Sunday paper as he sips his coffee.
Without looking up at her he starts, “Angelica called this morning, requesting you meet her for lunch at the town pool bar.”
She nods her head, showing she heard what he said not knowing how to respond to him.
He has spoken few words to her since the night of his outburst and she has certainly not said many to him. In fear she will say something not to his liking and it would result in another.
She is scared. He has gotten rough with her before and she has seen him lash out at things around him but never to her face. It seems the past year he has lost more of his patience and his temper has been brewing for longer periods at a time.
The silence made him look up at her. He watches her stirring her food for a few seconds before telling her “You should go for a little while.” and he looks down at the paper again. She blinks at him confused that he is suggesting she go anywhere without him. It had been a very long time since she had gone out anywhere without him with friends. She did not have many and the ones she did have were all mutual friends of Marques.
“Are you sure you wouldn’t prefer me to stay home with you?” she replied.
“No I have many things to do today anyways. You should enjoy some time out. You’ve been sitting around doing nothing all week.”
Rae rarely asked about the “things” he had to do. Marques always had something to do. Often the “things” he had to do involved doing business with groups of people Rae could never imagine would be in her life. People that were there but she could never ask why. She knew when these people were around, to just look the other way and don’t ask questions. And never involve herself. That’s how it had always been. She knew nothing good came from it though.
She doesn’t know how to reply to his statement. Not sure if he was just trying to put her down as usual or being sincere. She felt that she knew better than to push onto his suggestion so she nods and reaches for her cell phone. She scrolled through for Angelica’s number and glances at Marques before dialing. His eyes are fixed on the headline story.
She presses call and weight starts to lift off her shoulders.
She feels the tingle of relief warm her shoulders as she thinks about a day away from this place she calls home.
cgeorgopoulos 