My name is Allison Reese. I’m 17 years old. I’ve always been a distant child. The kid picked last in gym class. But I was and am thankful for my family. Of course my life’s not perfect. My dad’s nothing but a mere shadow in my background. And my mom, well, she’s my best friend. My sister Chay and my brother Terrence are annoying of course it doesn’t help that they are twins either. Growing up I had the world until my mom was forced to quit her job and since then we’ve been living pay check to pay check with the three part time jobs she worked. I babysit a lot but I don’t mind because I’ve got nowhere to go. Only have one best friend named Natalie Monti. Never had a boyfriend; never really had any male interaction for that matter.
It’s September. Today’s the first and last day of high school for me. I’m a senior, naturally. I’ve been attending Clearwater High for 4 years and lived in Clearwater, New York since I could remember. I entered those familiar halls with hope that maybe the summer had matured some of the students of my senior class. I was wrong, dead wrong. As I approached my locker I noticed two buff-looking students wearing lettermen jackets stuffing this geeky-looking boy into a locker a few lockers down from mine.
I watched in unsurprised amazement at how stupid people can be. I rolled my eyes and opened my locker. I would think that seeing ignorance in this school for the past four years, I’d be used to it. I smiled to myself and shrugged out of my jacket. Since I didn’t have books yet, my locker was bare except for my favorite jacket. The one I still fit after six years now. As I shut my locker and swung my bag over my shoulder, Natalie ran up to me. The shock of her appearing, it seemed, out of nowhere delayed my recognition.
“Ally!” she shrieked.
She wrapped her arms tight around my neck. Her flowing brown hair smelt like raspberries. I was always jealous of Natalie’s hair. Her hair was so naturally silky. Mine was a brittle brown mess. Natalie was gorgeous and me? There’s just no comparison. She looked at me, her beautiful black eyes gleaming.
“Hey Nat, how was Arizona?”
“Eh. Dad was distracted most of the time.”
“Oh.” I dropped my eyes and we started walking arm and arm down the hallway. Natalie wasn’t one to be negative so she quickly changed the subject.
“How’s the Madre?”
“Good, good. Twins are horrible though.”
We both giggled and we continued to laugh and chat all the way to our first class. Of course Natalie and I never got to sit next to each other because our last names weren’t close in the alphabet. I expected to see Ashley Reedy, the most popular girl here, sitting in the desk in front of where I would sit but she wasn’t there. She sat in front of a boy today. A boy with red tinted brown skin and dark brown hair that looked smooth and glossy in the light. I blinked twice before stumbling to my seat. Class seemed to go on forever. I couldn’t stop staring at him, even though I was staring at his back. His hair was cropped really short in the back but he kept his hair long in the front. His bangs hung just below his eyes, shading them.
I couldn’t tell what color they were, not yet. The bell finally rang and I jumped a little. I had been completely lost in my daydream. I gathered my stuff sluggishly then Natalie appeared at my side.
“Damn. Did you see that boy??” her eyes bulging out of her sockets.
“What boy?” I asked innocently.
“The boy in front of you . . . ” She explained impatiently. She knew I was just trying to avoid this conversation. I didn’t respond.
“Oh c’mon!” She pressed the issue. “All the girls on my side of the room were practically drooling!”
“Oh?” I continued to play dumb.
“The boys here are gonna freak!” she concluded.
I finished gathering my things and walked Natalie to her English class and quickly walked, almost jogged, to my history class. I got to the doorway just as the bell rang. I smiled to myself, triumphant.
I looked around for an empty seat and noticed that Mrs. Williams was letting us sit where we wanted and the only seat left was in front of the new, mysterious boy. I did not like this at all. I sat down already burning with embarrassment. And maybe I was just being paranoid but it felt like his eyes were boring into my back. I heard him shift in his seat and his presence move closer to me. Mrs. Williams started passing out the class syllabus. When she finally got to my row, I turned to pass the papers back and the new kid was leaning forward with his hands folded on the desk. I took caution to not look at his face. He took the papers from me and I quickly turned back around.
Yet again, the class went by slowly. This time because I sat there stiffly, feeling his eyes on me. The bell rang but I wasn’t startled his time. I realized I had been chewing on my pen cap and I looked down to see the damage. Deep teeth marks resided in the sides of the cap. I stood up and swung my backpack over my shoulder once again and someone pushed passed me causing me to fall back into my seat. As I gathered my bearings, I heard snickers from the boys who saw me fall. Embarrassment reached my ears and the tips of them burned.
“You okay?” a deep husky voice rang. I looked up; it was the new boy. I stared blankly.
“Uhm, y-yeah.” I stuttered. The boy helped me up and picked up my bag. He held it out to me patiently while I fixed myself.
“Caleb.” The boy spoke again. I looked up and beamed.
“Huh?”
“Caleb. That’s my name. Caleb Reegle.” He smiled it and made me feel warm inside. I took my bag from him.
“Oh.” I muttered. “My name is Ally. Reese.” I smiled back.
We walked out of the classroom to make our way to our next period. It was weird and kind of uncomfortable. We didn’t speak or even look at each other the entire way and I wasn’t about to take the initiative. When we finally made it to our next class he let me enter the room first. I wasn’t used to a male being polite. Most of the boys here had crappy personalities, unless you were part of the popular group. Typical high school cliques I thought to myself. I scoffed under my breath. My thoughts were interrupted when I heard someone clear their throat from behind me. I realized I was still standing in the door way. I turned around and saw Caleb waiting patiently. He smiled. I gave a tiny smile and turned. I found my seat and sat down. Caleb ended up sitting on the opposite side of the room. It made me feel self conscious. Did I smell bad? I sniffed my shirt and it smelled fine. Was it my breath? I discreetly breathed into my cupped hand and sniffed. My breath smelt like milk and toast from breakfast.
Why should I care anyway? Oh well. Class moved on silently. The teacher droned out as I scribbled in my chemistry notebook. I didn’t realize I was drawing ‘Caleb’ inside a heart all over my paper. I closed my notebook briskly and started paying attention to the teacher again. Chemistry wasn’t going to be easy for me; I could tell right away. I dreaded the rest of the year. The bell rang and I was quicker this time gathering my stuff. I rushed out the door and into the noisy hallways. Natalie sent me a text demanding I meet her at the locker a.s.a.p. I wove and bobbed through the packed crowd as fast as I could. When I finally got to the locker, Natalie was there waiting, shaking her head back and forth searching for me. I tugged at her arm and she looked at me. Instead of urgency in her eyes and a frown, a smile spread across her face ad excitement mad her eyes glow. I stood there confused, impatiently waiting for an answer.
“Well?” I blurted, more aggressively then intended.
“Joe Nelson just asked me out to dinner Friday night!” she shrieked.
“Natalie! That’s great!” we embraced and then realization spread across her face as we pulled away.
”Oh, Ally! We were supposed to hang out Friday! I’m so sorry. I was just so caught up in the moment!”
I must admit that I was sort of upset but more envious than anything. Natalie must have seen the sadness in my face.
“Ally, I will cancel if you’d like . . . ”
I looked at Natalie for a moment. Her words said she’d cancel but her face was hoping I’d encourage her to go. I gave in, what else could I do? Natalie’s happiness was more important.
“No, Natalie! Go have fun.” Natalie’s mouth hinted at a smile but quickly went away.
”Ally, are you sure? I mean really, I-“
“No Natalie. Don’t talk yourself out of it. Go have fun, for me?”
Natalie fully smiled now and hugged me. I hugged her back and we walked to gym together.
Thankfully the rest of the day went by quick. Since I had my own car, if you could even call it that, Natalie and I went home together. She would stay at my house until her mom came and got her. This night was different for me; when Natalie left I felt empty.
Usually I’d just be normal because being empty made me fell like I’d be alone forever. It didn’t help that I kept thinking about Natalie’s date. It’s not fair. I want my first kiss, my first touch; my first boyfriend.
Friday came all too quick and Natalie was ecstatic. I tried to put a brave face on and be happy for her. It wasn’t fake, I was happy for her . . . just felt sorry for myself, which was the stronger emotion. It was 5:00 and I was more than bored.
“Mom, can I go for a drive?”
“Sure sweetheart.” My mom called back. “Don’t come back too late though. 9:30 is the latest.”
Even though law said at 17 I had to be in the house by 9 my mom allowed me an extra half hour. I grabbed my coat and car keys and ran out the door. As I was stuffing the key into the lock I saw a boy walking towards me.
It made me nervous so I opened the car door more quickly.
“Ally?” I heard someone say. I looked up into the face of the boy. It was Caleb. Relief flooded through me and I stood inside the open car door. Caleb walked towards me and stood two feet in front of me.
“Hey Caleb, What are you doing out?” I questioned.
“My dog got loose . . . have you seen her by the way?”
Just as I was about to give my response, a golden retriever came trotting out of my backyard. Caleb looked over and I followed his eyes.
“Sophie!” the retriever went over to Caleb at the sound of her name and Caleb bent down on one knee to pet her.
“Hey girl, so glad I found you!” Caleb pulled a leash out of his jacket pocket and hooked it into Sophie’s collar.
“Oh! Caleb! I didn’t know she was here! I’m-“
“Don’t worry, Ally. It wasn’t on purpose.” Caleb smiled at me and I smiled back.
“See you Monday!” Caleb called and started walking away. I sat in the driver’s seat and pondered the option of offering Caleb a ride. My kind-heartedness won. Before Caleb could get too far I got of the car and shut the door.
“Caleb, wait!” I called after him. I jogged to catch up with him. Caleb had the decency to stop and actually wait.
“You want a ride?”
“Sure. Thanks.”
I got into the driver's seat and put the key into the ignition. Caleb put Sophie into the backseat and then got into the passenger's seat. I started up the car and pulled out of the driveway.
“So,” I began “Where do you live?”
“Oh, on Lark Street . . . ”
“Oh, okay.” Not too far I thought to myself. Duh, he walked over here. I mentally smacked myself in the forehead. The ride went by quick; mostly because he only lived five blocks away but part of it as because we sat in silence.
“Okay . . . pull up, right . . . here!”
I abruptly stepped on the break. Caleb turned to me and smiled
“Thanks so much, Ally.”
“You’re welcome. See you Monday?” I asked, hopeful.
“Definitely.” Caleb got out and let Sophie out of the back. Caleb bent over and waved to me through the passenger’s side window. I waved back and waited for Caleb to get in his house before driving away. I didn’t really feel like going to the movies anymore. This new sensation washed through me. Was it butterflies? I thought to myself. Remembering Caleb’s answer to my question: “Definitely,” he had said. Thinking about it sent shivers down my spine and excitement in the core of my stomach. Yup, it was definitely butterflies. I smiled.
The weekend passed by slowly because I was overly anxious for Monday. When Monday finally came I couldn’t hurry faster to pick Natalie up and get to school. It took me 10 minutes to get to Natalie’s house. She got in with a huge smile and I had one to match.
“I see you’re smiling. How was your date?”
“Good. Great actually! Wait, why are you smiling?”
“Huh?” I asked stupidly.
“Ally, I’m not dumb,” Natalie pressed. “What is it?”
“Well . . . ”
“Well?? Tell me! C’mon!”
“Okay,” I caved.
“It’s Caleb!” Natalie chimed in before I could finish.
I just sat there looking back and forth between the road and her.
“What?” I asked in shock.
“Oh, please Ally. I see the way you look at him and he looks at you”
“Really? But every time we’re together it’s awkward . . . ” I broke off.
“Of course! You just met him. But you guys are fond of each other. Give it time.”
“Nah, Natalie, I’m so-“
“Shut up.” She cut in. “You’re amazing and Caleb thinks so too. Stop doubting it.”
Natalie and I didn’t speak again until we got to school. We were at our locker when Caleb passed. We exchanged smiles and shared a brief intimate look. His brown eyes were gorgeous and warm. I looked away and blushed and Natalie giggled. In history class I wasn’t so afraid of Caleb staring at my back. I was actually feeling a little . . . sexy, like I was wanted. I crossed my legs and smiled to myself. Just then Caleb leaned forward and put his lips to my ear. He whispered, “You look really good today” and it sent chills down my spine. I kept still and refused to look at him. He sat back down in his seat feeling triumphant. I finally looked back at him and he had his hands behind his head with a crooked smile on his face.