Cleaning up trash

Monday rolled around and I was heading into school. I caught up with some friends and went on like it was a regular school day. Half way through morning break I texted Ash.

“How’s today going?”

“Okay, I haven’t dealt with the girls yet. Dad took the news okay. They thus far have ignored me.”

“Well you know where I’ll be at lunch. If you need me I’ll do what I can.”

“<3”

I got to have class with Mr. Leeman before lunch which was fun. He asked me to stay behind and handed me a letter after I came over to his desk. It was cardstock so I knew it was fancy already. It was the acceptance letter for the art show! I read through and found the list of names. I was on there. Twice. It wasn’t all my work. But my work was going to be in the show.

“Ya did it kid.” He was kicking his feet and taking a fun smart alec attitude toward the whole thing.

“I did it.” I was speechless. I was practically going to cry. I ran around and hugged Mr. Leeman, fortunately he caught I was coming and put himself in a position to hug him. I hugged him and made an excited “AAAAAAA” shout buried into his chest. He just held me and pat me on the back.

“Proud of ya kid. Now go enjoy your lunch.”

“Thank you so much!”

“I’ll have a copy of this for you tomorrow.”

“Perfect!” I ran out of the classroom and just punched the air in excitement. Making my way over to my locker I was walking on cloud nine. I grabbed my lunch and started heading over to my usual spot. Parked myself down and leaned back against the tree. Man alive, did I just feel fantastic. Ash came out of the cafeteria and started making her way straight toward me. I smile and she just keeps walking. Sitting next to me she grabs my hand and squeezes it before eating her lunch.

“The cunts have decided I don’t get to sit with them. Which is fine, they’re cunts afterall. How are you doing?”

“Well I’m actually doing pretty great. Some of my art got into that art show.”

“That’s Great!” She leaned over and kissed me. “So now we get to go as a date night!”

“Sure, ya! I’m down for that.”

“Good. I’ll wear a dress I’ve been saving. I’ll have to take you shopping to get you something to match.” She said winking.

“Oh ya? I look forward to it. What’s the plan for the girls?”

“Well I’m gonna sit here and enjoy some time with my boyfriend and then let them think what they want. And then I am going to go to the locker room, grab my stuff. And go home. If they have any questions. They can eat me out.”

“Do you want me outside of the locker room?”

“You can be if you want.”

“I’ll be there. Also, when is the next time they’re away.”

“Uh, thursday.”

“Mk, meet me over by the art building after school?.”

“Sure, what’s up?”

“I wanna show you something.”

“Okay, sound’s good.” She crawled over and laid against the tree. We just made small talk and let the world spin around us. Eventually the bell rang and it was time for us to part.

“I’ll see you after class.”

“See you then.” We kissed for a moment longer and then went our separate ways. Walking towards my next class I heard someone shout my name. A voice I hadn’t heard in a while.

“Mike! Hey! Wait up!” Running toward me was none other than Jeff. Daisy’s new boyfriend and my former friend. I saw him online occasionally. We’d lobby together but chatting was not something that was gonna happen.

“Jeff.” I wasn’t exactly happy to see him. Given how there was no communication between us about the whole situation. “What can I do for you?” I started to walk away as I finished this sentence.

“So I was at a party the other night, and there was this guy who was asking about you.” He finally caught up to me by this point. That’s what happens when you are on track.

“Oh? Who’s that.”

“I think it’s Gabe or somethin. He keeps pestering Daisy about you so I figured I’d get involved to try and put an end to it.”

“I don’t know any Gabe. And why the hell is he going after Daisy if he wants to get ahold of me?”

“I dunno man. But that’s how he’s been doin it.”

“Whatever. Sounds like a problem for you two.”

“Hey man, can you at least talk to the guy? This isn’t about Daisy and I.”

“Oh no I think it is. If Daisy wanted to be rid of this guy she could have blocked his number. You could have told him to fuck off. You could have told him she’s not my secretary and if he wanted to get ahold of me that he could nut up and do it himself. But you didn’t, you let this thing persist and now you’re dealing with it. You already made one hard choice, make another one.” I had continued forward toward my class. When I got to that last sentence though Jeff grabbed my shoulder.

“Look Mike I get it. You don’t like that Daisy and I-”

“Do you get it? I don’t think you quite do. Not this time. This isn’t two bros that are coming from an equal space. This is the person who stabbed me in the back holding a bloody knife. While I’ve started to heal from that wound. And you are here going “Hey, can you help me out with this problem?” What you two did was fucked up, and I’m finally turning around from that. I’ll deal with you two when I’m ready. And we aren’t there yet.” He was pissed, I could tell he was pissed cause not only did I interrupt him and call him on his bullshit. He knew I was right.

“Fuck you Mike.” I just shrugged and walked away. I was angry. But I didn’t shout him out. I was coherent. I explained my situation, I didn’t raise hands. My voice never got to shouting. The rudest thing I did was interrupt. I got to my next class and went about my day.

“So you and that nerd then? That’s who you’ve shacked up with?”

“Bet he’s paying her to go out with him.”

“That would make sense.” Rina was just standing on one side of Ash at the end of some lockers. Maxi was sitting on a bench on the other side.

“He’s not even that hot. You really could have done better.”

“I thought he was gay too? Well you know what they say, the gays gotta stick together.” Ash just ignored them as she grabbed the last of her stuff into her bag. She shut her locker and walked away with her bag of stuff. Before she could pass, Maxi blocked her way with her leg.

“Is this really how you are gonna walk out of here? Silent? C’mon Ash, you owe us more than that.”

“No, I really don’t.” She stepped over Maxi and continued out.

“You’re making a mistake.”

“No, you are. You’re letting the only person here who told you not to go too far. Leave. Remember when you almost drove drunk last year Maxi? Or when Rina almost hooked up with that guy who turned out to have an STD? Or when you BOTH almost got arrested trying to get your purses back from a place you two shouldn’t have been in the first place? I won’t be there the two of you decide to find out. So have fun fucking around.” Ash walked over to the athletic office, dropped off her lock key and walked out of the locker room.

“Hey, let’s go.” Ash walked out and toward me. She looked similar to the last time we left campus together. It didn’t seem to be as bad.

“You good?” I whispered, attempting to keep her cover.

“Ya, I’m just ready to get out of here. I’m ready to move onto our next step.” She reached down and grabbed my hand, giving it a squeeze.

“Cool.” I smiled and we made our way back to the car. The walk back got a stare or two. But we didn’t care. Ash was walking with pride on her face and I was walking like there wasn’t anything to fuss over at all. It was just another day for me. Ash and I got to our cars and went home for the day. It was simple and easy. Later that night I got a text from her:

“Hey, so my parents want to meet you.”

“Oh? Well I knew this was coming. What’s the plan?”

“They want to take you out to dinner. How’s wednesday sound?’

“Sure, I can make that work.”

“Your dad will just have to fend for himself lol”

“He’ll understand.”

“Ya, he’s the understanding type.” That’s gonna be an interesting pairing. On one night Ash and I are going to be formal and polite with her parents. The next, Ash will meet Lily. And will probably want to jump bones. After Ash’s messages I got some messages from an unknown number

“Hey is this Mike?”

“Who wants to know?”

“I think Jeff mentioned me. It’s Gabe.”

“Ah, can I help you?”

“Ya I think you have something of mine?”

“Don’t really know what it could be since we’ve never met.”

“You have a pink key that belongs to me.” How the fuck does he know about the key. I do not need to deal with this shit.

“I have no idea what you are talking about.”

“Don’t lie. I know you have it. Just give it back to me and I won’t have to do anything.”

“Well that's ominous. Blocking this number”

“Look man, you don’t know how powerful that thing is. It’s not meant for people like you.” He got that text out before I blocked the number. I have no idea what this guy’s deal is. But it warrants a conversation with Lily if anything. I’ll save it for thursday, she deserves to know about this if I’m getting her involved.

I spent my night taking my art and organizing my folders of my computer. A daunting task considering that my organization skills at that point were. Weak to put it lightly. But I finally came together and made a folder of art that I was confident in. The ones that could put up and use as display pieces of what I could do.