Monday (Part One)

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Allison

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I peeled my eyes open to the sound of my alarm clock beeping. The annoyingly bright red numbers read six in the morning and I sighed and rolled over. As consciousness took me, I shot up and out of bed faster then I ever had in my whole life.

This was it.

Today was Monday.

My stomach turned slightly inside out of nerves as I stood up and stretched. I walked over to the bathroom and began to run water in the shower. I shuffled some clothing together while I waited it to heat up before I hopped in.

Last night Andy and I had talked for hours. It was wonderful, really. I mean, Andrew Clark. Not only did he call, but it was one of the best conversations I have ever held, to be completely honest. My mind rolled back to the conversation as I began to wash my hair.

What's going to happen tomorrow?

You tell me.

He laughed and I smiled. I smiled now just thinking about it. It was so stupid really. We were all making such a big deal out of something that in reality was so meaningless. We're all people. Stupid, stupid, people.

I promise I won't let you down.

We'll See.

I finished up in the shower and stepped out to finish getting ready for the day. I dried my hair with the blowdryer and pinned my bangs back with a bobby pin I fished out of the drawer under the sink. It wasn't as glamorous as Claire had managed to make it look the other day but it was good enough.

I pulled on a pair of blue jeans and a black turtleneck. I looked in the mirror at my make-up-less face and sighed. As easy as it would be to pile on "black shit" around my eyes and walk out the door I promised myself I wouldn't today. Just today, unless everything went well. If not, I could go back to what I like to call my comfortable lifestyle.

I went a little heavier then Claire did out of force of habit. My eyes were surrounded in black but just enough to keep me from feeling naked. I kept the rest simple and walked back into my bedroom. It had been about a half an hour and I decided that I was going to walk to school today instead of waiting for mom to remember at the last second that she had a child that she had to take care of.

I picked up my bag and riffled through it to make sure I had everything I needed. I eyed the patch on my side table and smiled. I flipped off the light and headed down the stairs.

I at first went straight for the door but then hesitated on the door knob. I quickly went back into the kitchen and opened the drawer under the microwave I delicately plucked one of dad's cigarettes from the pack and scurried out the door.

Now, okay. I don't smoke. I almost never smoke. There was nothing else on this planet that was going to calm my nerves better then some nicotine at this very moment and it really wasn't going to take a rocket scientist to figure that one out.

On my walk I smoked the cigarette and enjoyed it just a little too much but then soon put it out and forgot the overwhelming joy that it had bestowed me. At the end of the day I was never going to be a smoker, but I never will find something to calm me down quite as nicely as a cigarette.

I popped a mint into my mouth as Shermer High came into sight. The nauseated feeling crept back but I was able to push it away this time. I was a little early so I walked around the back of the school not knowing what else to do.

Tucked away under the bleachers by the football field, I noticed none other then John Bender. He had already spotted me. He waved me over. I looked around me to see if there was anyone else in sight and then I hesitantly approached him.

"Happy Monday", he shouted as soon as I was in ear shot. His voice was dripping with sarcasm and I grinned.

"What are you doing back here?" I asked him sheepishly. I took a seat next to him as I noticed him puffing heavily on a joint.

"What does it look like, sherlock?" He responded with. I shrugged and chuckled as he tried to pass it to me.

"No, I'm fine"

"Your fine? You look like your about to vomit" Bender told me. I mean, he was right.

"I'm fine" I repeated. He frowned and blew smoke in my face. It smelled skunky but pleasant at the same time.

"You'll be fine soon" He chuckled.

"Have you talked to Claire?" I blurted. I expected some sort of arrogant response about me being nosy and it being none of my business. Instead, I was surprised.

"Yeah, but don't tell anyone" he blew more smoke towards me as I waved it out of my face.

"Can you stop blowing this shit in my face, please?" I asked.

"Why don't you smoke?"

"I don't know" I told him. Truthfully, I really didn't know. Nor did I care.

"One hit"

"No"

"Just one"

"Why"

"Why not?"

I looked at him through narrow eyes and sighed. I took one small hit off of the joint and handed it back to him.

"Do you like it?" He asked me.

"Why does it matter?" I sighed. It felt nice. It didn't really do much, but the nerves in my stomach were gone.

"This shit saved my life"

"Well, don't tell anyone and I won't tell anyone about you and Princess Claire, okay?"

"Ah, we have a little deal maker on our hands, today!"

I rolled my eyes and stood up, "Bye, Bender".

"See ya, weirdo" he waved me off with a smile. I turned on my heels and made my way back towards the school building. I mean, I guess so far today wasn't the worst. Granted, it has only been about five minutes.

I felt strangely okay. I mean, I guess people really did make a big deal out of weed. It wasn't really bad. As a matter of fact, I felt a lot less nervous about everything in general. Whats the worst that could happen? He makes a complete and total idiot out of me and what? I get laughed at some more? It's not like that wasn't what happened every other day. I guess it would just be the disappointment that would hurt. I didn't really care, though. I mean, that's what I'm going to keep telling myself. I'm just trying to get to my locker before today turns to hell.

I walked through the doors of Shermer to students flocking every which way. I made my way down the halls until I found my locker. I pulled a few books out and then headed towards my first class, Chemistry.

As I walked in I noticed Brian sitting in the corner next to an empty seat. He smiled at me and I went over to sit with him.

"Hi, Allison!" He pronounced happily. Brian was a nice kid. He didn't really have anyone to impress and thats what I liked most about him. He was as genuine as they come.

"Hi, Brian" I smiled at him. It would be nice to at least have one friend I could talk to in public. I expected nothing to come from Bender in general but at least he didn't hate me. What would come of Claire and Andy were two totally different stories. We made small talk and waited for class to begin.

I made it through the first half of the day without much more excitement then that. Whatever Bender had fed me earlier was definitely gone and I felt just as sick to my stomach as I did earlier. It was lunch time and the whole student body would be gushing over their stupid weekends and their stupid problems.

I walked into the lunchroom and luckily had spotted Brian with some of his friends. I made my way over to them slowly and said hello.

Brian gave proper introductions as his friends eyed me strangely. I think they were more bemused with the fact that their was a girl sitting with them at lunch then the fact that I was a basket case. Oddly enough, it was better then usual.

I scanned the room and found Claire sitting around a bunch of girls who were gossiping and making fun of passing teenagers. Claire looked miserable and was looking around the cafeteria herself. I'm sure she was looking for Bender but what she didn't understand was that he was definitely outside doing something illicit and not eating the mystery meat that they were serving for lunch. She made eye contact with me and lit up. She sent a wave my way and I smiled back. Her friends began to pester her as she rolled her eyes and gave some phoney advice back to them. She looked back to me and winked.

She was going to take time to detach herself but you could see it happening. It was the low-tide before the storm. Soon, there would be a flood.

"How was your day, Allison?" Brain asked me.

"Oh, it's been..." I paused, "alright" I nodded.

He immediately went back to some geeky debate he and his friends were having. I began to eat my sandwich slowly. Maybe Andy hadn't come to school that day. I don't know how I could have missed him. Maybe he was hiding from me. I frowned.

As if on cue, the lunchroom doors flew open and in walked none other then Andrew Clark.

I didn't know one's heart could possibly sink that far until that moment.

We made eye contact.

A/N: Sorry for the delay in posting! I have been traveling but I am finally back at school. I may be a little busy and the updates may be a little scattered but I am going to try my hardest to keep them coming at least once a week. Thanks for all your support!