After School

I was walking out of the school when a ragtop BMW, top down, screeches to a stop right in front of me. It was Brad in the passenger seat, with Zach driving.

"Ride home?" Brad asked.

"Thanks but no. My chariot awaits," I pointed to the bus. "Bye." I hurried towards the bus and I quickly climbed aboard.

Five minutes later, as a sat waiting for the bus to go, I looked up and Brad was standing right in front of me.

"That seat taken?"

"You never take the bus."

"I don’t? Then I guess it’s your lucky day."

I turned my legs and let him sit by the window.

"So where does this one go?" He asked.

"No clue. Oh no! I forgot my geometry book. Wait here."

"Wait -- I’ve got mine -- oh, no, I don’t."

I quickly got up, ran down the aisle and out the door, just as it closes behind me. As the bus drove away Brad stuck his head out the window.

"Kate Brock!"

I smiled and waved to him.

"See you tomorrow..." After he was gone I continued, "Handsome."

The next day as I exited the classroom, I saw Brad leaning against my locker. For fun I kept on walking right passed him.

"Hey. Kate!" Brad said.

"Oh. I didn’t see you there." I told him.

"You totally did."

"How do you know what I see and don’t see? I could have cataracts. Everything could be closing in."

"I saw you see me."

"That’s deep."

"Your eyes lit up."

"You don’t lack confidence, do you?"

"You don’t have geometry with Mr. Baitz fifth period."

"You did research."

"No. Yes. I mean... Maybe."

"I like it. It shows initiative."

"So maybe I could, like, get your number, or something?"

"Or something? So, I could give you my number, or I could give you some fake nuclear launch codes?"

"I’ll just take your number."