Like We Used To (1)
“Correction,” I mumbled. “I really don’t give a crap.”
“Alex,” Rian warned. “Zack is waiting for us outside. You wouldn’t want to keep him waiting, would you?”
“I couldn’t care less. You don’t have to wait. Leave without me.” I groaned as I sat up in bed, feeling my head spin from the sudden movement.
“We can’t leave without you! You know that.”
I stood up, stretching and letting out a loud yawn. “Dude, since when are you so excited at seven in the morning, especially on a school day?”
“Well, you see, there’s someone very special to me named Cassadee.” Rian blushed.
“I cannot believe you are this excited to go to school because your girlfriend will be there! You saw her last night. Can’t you go more than twelve hours without seeing her?”
“Poor Alex. Wait until you fall in love.”
“Gag me.” I grumbled before stomping to my bathroom. I stood in front of the mirror, examining myself. I jumped in the shower quickly, then got out and straightened my hair, while brushing my teeth. I walked back into my room, wearing only a towel.
“Ah dude! Cover your pubes.” Rian yelled.
“That’s not what your mother said last night.” I faked a moan and winked at him, while throwing on random clothes that looked clean.
“Don’t even give me the mental images of you and my mom. That’s sick, bro.”
I smiled wickedly, then grabbed my backpack and slung it over one shoulder. We made our way downstairs and I waved goodbye to my mom before running outside to Zack’s car. We drove to school in our typical fashion, making jokes and trying to annoy the hell out of each other. Zack parked in the school parking lot, and they hopped out. Rian looked out at the parking lot and suddenly broke out into a run, screaming, “Cass babe!” He ran up to her and picked her up, swinging her around in princess fashion. “Ri, put me down!” she shrieked, but the look of pure joy on her face contradicted her tone.
“When did they get like this?” I asked, more to myself than out loud.
“Since Cassadee probably took Ri’s virginity. He’s eternally grateful that she finally stole that little part of him. Took him long enough.”
I laughed. Rian was the last one of all of us to finally lose his v-card, but I guess it’s cause he waited for the right person. Can’t say the same for me or Zack though.
“I gotta go, if I’m late for Peterson the first day of class, he’s gonna have a conniption.” I said, then took off, not even bothering to wait for Zack’s response.
I ran into the classroom.
“Nice of you to join us Alexander William Gaskarth,” the old man glared at me as I jumped into the first empty seat. “I sure am glad to have you for another year!”
“Ecstatic,” I said, laying on the sarcasm thickly.
I was doodling on my notebook when Mr. Peterson walked up to me. “Alex, please stop drawing, there’s an art class for that.” He leaned over and whispered in my ear, “Alex, you are a smart boy, you used to be one of my best students. What happened?” I looked at him, afraid to meet him in the eyes. How could I explain to a teacher that had probably been alone all his life that I got my heart broken? He wouldn’t understand.
“I don’t know sir.”
“You are smarter than anyone else here, please let it show through.”
I nodded, sighing as he walked away. Had I really changed that much?
---
I met up with Rian, Zack, and Cass after school. We walked through the almost empty hallways, pushing each other. We walked past the school office when suddenly Zack stopped. We kept walking until we realized he was standing still, staring into the Principal’s office.
“Dude, Wasserman isn’t that hot.” I yelled. Rian made a face at the comment I made about our principal.
“Holy shit.” Zack whispered.
Rian and I exchanged glances. We turned and started walking over to him. “Either he’s naked or he’s snorting cocaine, but I don’t know why you’re so immersed in him.” I said.
We stood next to Zack, following his gaze. I looked at Mr. Wasserman, seeing nothing out of the ordinary. Then I looked at who he was talking to. Suddenly it got way too quiet and I was aware of my heart beating faster than ever before. It was him. A year after he had left, he was back.
Rian suddenly screamed, “JACK!” He and Zack ran over to Jack almost knocking him off of his feet in a huge hug. I watched with Cass. They were rejoicing and laughing, when Jack looked at me. Our eyes met and I felt that same bolt of electricity spark through me as it had when we first met. My heart started hammering and blood rushed to my head. My vision got blurry and I felt my head pound. I didn’t want this confrontation, so I did the first thing I could think of. I bolted.
“Alex,” Rian warned. “Zack is waiting for us outside. You wouldn’t want to keep him waiting, would you?”
“I couldn’t care less. You don’t have to wait. Leave without me.” I groaned as I sat up in bed, feeling my head spin from the sudden movement.
“We can’t leave without you! You know that.”
I stood up, stretching and letting out a loud yawn. “Dude, since when are you so excited at seven in the morning, especially on a school day?”
“Well, you see, there’s someone very special to me named Cassadee.” Rian blushed.
“I cannot believe you are this excited to go to school because your girlfriend will be there! You saw her last night. Can’t you go more than twelve hours without seeing her?”
“Poor Alex. Wait until you fall in love.”
“Gag me.” I grumbled before stomping to my bathroom. I stood in front of the mirror, examining myself. I jumped in the shower quickly, then got out and straightened my hair, while brushing my teeth. I walked back into my room, wearing only a towel.
“Ah dude! Cover your pubes.” Rian yelled.
“That’s not what your mother said last night.” I faked a moan and winked at him, while throwing on random clothes that looked clean.
“Don’t even give me the mental images of you and my mom. That’s sick, bro.”
I smiled wickedly, then grabbed my backpack and slung it over one shoulder. We made our way downstairs and I waved goodbye to my mom before running outside to Zack’s car. We drove to school in our typical fashion, making jokes and trying to annoy the hell out of each other. Zack parked in the school parking lot, and they hopped out. Rian looked out at the parking lot and suddenly broke out into a run, screaming, “Cass babe!” He ran up to her and picked her up, swinging her around in princess fashion. “Ri, put me down!” she shrieked, but the look of pure joy on her face contradicted her tone.
“When did they get like this?” I asked, more to myself than out loud.
“Since Cassadee probably took Ri’s virginity. He’s eternally grateful that she finally stole that little part of him. Took him long enough.”
I laughed. Rian was the last one of all of us to finally lose his v-card, but I guess it’s cause he waited for the right person. Can’t say the same for me or Zack though.
“I gotta go, if I’m late for Peterson the first day of class, he’s gonna have a conniption.” I said, then took off, not even bothering to wait for Zack’s response.
I ran into the classroom.
“Nice of you to join us Alexander William Gaskarth,” the old man glared at me as I jumped into the first empty seat. “I sure am glad to have you for another year!”
“Ecstatic,” I said, laying on the sarcasm thickly.
I was doodling on my notebook when Mr. Peterson walked up to me. “Alex, please stop drawing, there’s an art class for that.” He leaned over and whispered in my ear, “Alex, you are a smart boy, you used to be one of my best students. What happened?” I looked at him, afraid to meet him in the eyes. How could I explain to a teacher that had probably been alone all his life that I got my heart broken? He wouldn’t understand.
“I don’t know sir.”
“You are smarter than anyone else here, please let it show through.”
I nodded, sighing as he walked away. Had I really changed that much?
---
I met up with Rian, Zack, and Cass after school. We walked through the almost empty hallways, pushing each other. We walked past the school office when suddenly Zack stopped. We kept walking until we realized he was standing still, staring into the Principal’s office.
“Dude, Wasserman isn’t that hot.” I yelled. Rian made a face at the comment I made about our principal.
“Holy shit.” Zack whispered.
Rian and I exchanged glances. We turned and started walking over to him. “Either he’s naked or he’s snorting cocaine, but I don’t know why you’re so immersed in him.” I said.
We stood next to Zack, following his gaze. I looked at Mr. Wasserman, seeing nothing out of the ordinary. Then I looked at who he was talking to. Suddenly it got way too quiet and I was aware of my heart beating faster than ever before. It was him. A year after he had left, he was back.
Rian suddenly screamed, “JACK!” He and Zack ran over to Jack almost knocking him off of his feet in a huge hug. I watched with Cass. They were rejoicing and laughing, when Jack looked at me. Our eyes met and I felt that same bolt of electricity spark through me as it had when we first met. My heart started hammering and blood rushed to my head. My vision got blurry and I felt my head pound. I didn’t want this confrontation, so I did the first thing I could think of. I bolted.