Chapter 3: Detention
I hurried ahead of them so that I would be in the classroom before Ms. Moore came in with Todd and Erik. They must have stopped along the way because I had a few minutes to unpack my notebook and a book to read. As I did so I found the note that Erik had dropped in my bag that morning. I'd forgotten about it. Glancing at the door, I pulled it out and unfolded it.
I saw my scribbled questions once more: "Why, How, When?" In hindsight, perhaps I didn't show as much excitement as I should have given his return. And if Todd hadn't just thrown me for such a loop that morning maybe I would have been more excited. I looked at the door again: still no sign of them coming. Then turned back to the note, this time looking to Erik's scrawled answers. "Why? You. And my mom is so busy with work and some new guy that she was agreeable to letting me come live with dad for awhile." I smiled, already starting to forgive him for his behavior at lunch. "How? I got on a plane." I laughed then, typical answer. "When? As I said, a couple days ago I knew, I arrived last night." Then he added his own comment "I told you I'd be right back. Love Erik" I giggled as the door opened and they walked in with Ms. Moore at their heels.
Erik, as I expected, walked to the desk next to mine, Todd looked disgruntled still and stayed on the other side of the room.
Ms. Moore waited for them to sit and I tucked the note back into my backpack. She stood at the front of the class and seemed preparing for a lecture. "Since you all managed to get in here on the first day, I suspect you don't have any real homework to keep you busy for the next hour and a half. So I'm giving you an assignment."
"I want you each to write an essay on what you did over summer vacation. No it is not for a grade, yes I still expect you to turn it in to me. Your detention will not be considered "complete" until it is. If, for some reason, you do no turn it in before the end of school tomorrow, I'll see you again here tomorrow afternoon. I will be checking in on you, I expect to find you quiet and working when I do." she said and she turned on her heel and walked out, leaving the door propped open.
I rolled my eyes, Erik pulled out a notebook then propped his feet up on his desk and leaned back with the notebook in his lap. Todd kept shooting glances my way and glares Erik's way. Finally he pulled out his own notebook and tapped his pencil on the desk several time. "What I did over summer vacation....hmm, got betrayed by girlfriend." he said aloud, looking my way.
"I am not your girlfriend!" I exclaimed and then covered my mouth and looked at the door hoping I didn't attract Ms. Moore back. I hazarded a look at Erik and saw him looking smug about my outburst and I rolled my eyes at him too. "Don't be so smug, I'm not sure I want to be yours either!" I narrowed my eyes at him. He looked annoyed and put his feet down leaning over his assignment. Everything was quiet for a moment and I looked at my own notebook. I glanced between Todd and Erik occasionally, expecting a new outburst.
Todd's pencil tapping got louder and I looked over at him, finding him looking at me. "What?" I asked softly.
"How soon after I was gone did you kiss him" he asked motioning to Erik, his face and voice filled with disgust.
I rolled my eyes just as Erik jumped from his seat, provoked by Todd. "Todd! Erik!" I said trying to keep them from beating each other again.
Erik ignored me and closed in on Todd. Todd glared at him but turned toward. "Well?" he asked, obviously expecting an answer.
"I met him a couple weeks after you left, after a month of complete silence from you, I assumed you and I were just friends Todd." I said, standing as well.
"She talked about you, told me all about you almost from the moment we met. She didn't betray you." Erik said with a glower on his face. "You betrayed her. She was upset you hadn't called or emailed; even as her Best. Friend." he added, again appearing just a little smug.
I stepped between them hoping that I could stop them from throwing each other around the room. Didn't do any good, they continued to glare and throw insults like I wasn't in the room. Erik had told the truth, Todd didn't like the truth.
"I didn't betray her!" Todd yelled through me, in Erik's direction.
"Enough!! Both of you! Erik! Please! Just let me talk to him." I said looking at Erik harshly. I softened my face and voice. "Please?" He seemed annoyed by agreed and walked over toward the window. I turned back to Todd. "What did you expect Todd?"
"That I'd be waiting for you like always? That you could ignore me, both as a friend and supposedly your girlfriend, for THREE months and I wouldn't find a new friend?" I asked feeling the hurt again.
"Friend, he just a friend?" Todd asked picking the only point he can make an argument out of.
"You're ignoring the issue Todd." I said sadly. "You think if you ignore it, I will simply forget. Five months ago, you were my best friend, and I admit I would have give anything for you to say I was your girlfriend then. Four months ago, we went to a dance and we kissed and for weeks I was walking on air because surely it meant something. And then nothing. Just nothing, it was horrible to lose that feeling; but it was worse to think I'd lost your friendship. You were my best friend Todd." I said looking away from him angry and hurt.
When I felt a little more composed, I looked back at him. "And then I found a new friend, and he talked to me and he made me feel better. He was there fore me when you weren't."
"Ginny...Gin..." Todd saw the tears welling in my eyes and all his hot air dissipated in an instant. "I'm sorry." he said, not saying more. He sat back down in his desk.
"So am I Todd." I said looking away from him and blinking back tears.
Erik came up beside me and tried to put a comforting arm around me. I should have just accepted it and leaned into him. But I shrugged his arm off.
"What did I do?" Erik asked annoyed and confused.
"What did you do?!" I asked, annoyance from lunch and the fight surged into me.
"How about that 'Me Tarzan! You Jane!' display at lunch? You intentionally tried to get a rise out of Todd! And it worked because you two got into a fight - in front of MY locker! That's what you wanted right? To put him in his place? Mark your territory?" I realized my voice was raising and I was surprised Ms. Moore hadn't busted in yet. I also noticed that Erik wasn't saying anything and was letting me get it all out. He was surprisingly calm.
"Feel better?" he asked when I stopped.
I looked down at me feet, suddenly feeling a little embarrassed. As much as the cafeteria display had annoyed me at the time, I could almost understand it and had been on the verge of forgiving him before they'd come into detention. "Little bit." I said to the ground. I looked up at him. "I didn't like the way you acted at lunch. I still don't. I'm not territory to be marked Erik."
"Okay." he said simply.
"Okay?" I asked.
"Okay." he said again. "I'm sorry. For lunch, for the fight." he looked over at Todd who looked sullen and then turned back to me and lowered his voice. He lift his hand to stroke my cheek but hesitated. I leaned into it.
"So, are we good?" he asked quietly. I looked at him and at Todd and back at Erik.
"Will you play nice?" I asked with a smile.
Erik looked briefly pained and then looked over at Todd. "I'll try."
"Okay, then we're good." I said stepping closer to him. He put his arm around my shoulders and for the first time all day, I didn't shrug it off.
End Chapter
Chapter 2: The First Day
After I managed to make my legs move again, I went for the desk next to Erik's. I couldn't believe he was here, I didn't even know WHY he was here. Was he here to stay? He was in my school - in my class....that suggested staying right? It seemed to take me an hour to walk from the front of the classroom to the back. When I reached the desk, I sunk into it wondering briefly if everyone's first day was shaping up like this.
"Erik. Hi..." I paused briefly and keeping my voice low as Ms. Moore was starting roll call. "What are you doing here?" I asked looking at him.
"I thought you'd be happy to see me." Erik said softly.
"I am!" I said a little too loudly, attracting attention from the students around us.
"Genevieve Bartlett" Ms. Moore called coming to my name on the list. I raised my hand and waited for her to move on before turning back to Erik.
"I am happy to see you - I'm just surprised." I said smiling. "Very surprised."
Erik winked. "That was the idea" he said. "I've only got back yesterday but I've known for a couple days."
"Known what exactly?" I whispered, looking toward him.
"That I was moving here." he said as Ms. Moore called his name. He acknowledged her and then looked back at me to see my mouth still hanging open in surprise.
"You're staying?!" I asked loudly. Ms. Moore turned her attention on me. I blushed and caught Erik grinning out of the corner of my eye as I looked at Ms. Moore. "Sorry" I said meekly. She didn't saying anything but her look was enough to keep me from even looking at Erik for at least ten minutes. When her back was turned I looked back at Erik and smiled. I waited until he looked at me and mouthed "You're staying?"
He put his hand to his ear like he couldn't hear me and grinned. I gave him a half hearted glare and he finally nodded. I wanted to ask him questions but talking was out of the question so I pulled out my notebook and opened it to the first page. He was watching me and caught sight of his post it note goodbye still inside (now taped down as the sticky was long gone). I scribbled a few quick questions along the lines of "how, why, when..." and pulled out the paper and passed it to him. He scrawled out some answers but didn't hand it back. I was still looking at him questioningly when I heard a tap-tap behind me.
Now how long had she been there? Long enough I guess because she was not happy. I didn't say anything as she looked down at me. Again she didn't say anything as she turned and walked back to the front of class. Great start Gin. I paid attention through the rest of class. As the bell rang and she dismissed us I heard her voice over the den of scraping chairs. "Genevieve, please stay a moment." she said not even looking at me. I slumped back in my chair and saw Erik slip the note into my bag as he left the class room.
I waited until she approached and started to apologize but she cut me off. "You have detention this afternoon, don't talk or pass notes in my class Genevieve." she said simply and walked to her desk. I sighed and nodded, gathering up my stuff. Detention - on my first day. Great. As I stepped into the hallway, Erik materialized beside me. "Lunch?" he asked simply.
"Huh?" I asked looking at him.
"Will. You. Have. Lunch. With. Me.?" he said each word alone.
"Yes...wait, no, I can't. I have to have lunch with someone." I stuttered.
"Okay." he said looking at me curiously. "Can I take you home after school?"
"I have detention...for..." I looked back at Ms. Moore's classroom. "That." I said looking cross.
"Right. Okay." Erik said. "Then I guess I'll see you later." he leaned in and gave me a quick kiss on the cheek before heading down the hall.
I made it to my still locked locker and leaned my head against it.
My moment was interrupted by a throat clearing. "Hey Gin." Veronica said feigning niceness. She wanted something or she was plotting something.
I turned and looked at her and saw her standing with a pretty girl I vaguely remembered from my disastrous first period class. "This is Mei-Ling" Veronica finally said when I made no verbal acknowledgment of her. "She's an exchange student from China that my parents..." she paused, looking annoyed. "agreed to house." she said eying Mei-Ling. I lost track of her explanation as I saw Erik pass and look my way.
When he was gone, the trance broke and I looked from Veronica to Mei-Ling. "What do you want me to do V?" I asked, fearing I missed this part. The look of annoyance on Veronica's face told me I was right and she did NOT want to ask nicely again.
"Just show her around, introduce her to people. She speaks English fairly well." Veronica said and without waiting for a response she turned away from us. "Thanks Gin! You're the best!" she said waving.
"Is she your friend?" Mei-Ling asked.
"Hmm?" I asked turned back to Mei-Ling. "Sometimes, sometimes not." I said rolling my eyes. I stuck out my hand. "Hi I'm Genevieve, but you can call me Gin or Ginny." I said with a smile. She shook my hand.
"So what is her problem with me?" Mei-Ling asked after the introduction.
"Well, you're cute, smart probably, seem to have a good fashion sense. But mostly?" I said pausing a moment. "You're breathing the same air she is. Don't worry, she's like that with just about everyone." I said trying to reassure her. I showed Mei-Ling to her next class and told her I'd catch up with her later. My next couple classes were dull, which given my morning so far, I was thankful for dull.
I found Todd at lunch and tried to ignore the looks I was getting from Erik.
Todd was still eating but I really wasn't that hungry - or wouldn't be until I cleared this up with him. "Todd, I'm not sure how we ended up on different pages but...." I stopped. He had stopped eating but wasn't looking at me. "Todd?"
"Hmm?" he said, still not looking at me. "Go on"
"Um...well, we're friends - we've been friends for a long time and when we went to the dance last year it was great....but it was as friends." I said biting my lower lip.
"And the kisses?" he asked looking up at me finally.
"Well...." I trailed off as Erik approached and put his food down next to me.
"Erik....please?" I asked looking at him. He continued to sit down, intent on sitting next to me and apparently show Todd some male dominance thing.
"Who is this guy Gin?" Todd asked glaring at Erik.
Erik put his arm around my shoulder before I could say anything and and I just looked down at my food. "Right." Todd said. "Got it..." he said and got up, leaving his plate behind.
"Todd." I said shrugging off Erik's arm. "Todd, please, let's talk..."
He didn't look back but he paused. "Nothing to talk about Gin. As you said - we're just friends." and he walked away. Erik looked smug even as I smacked his chest.
"What the heck Erik! I told you I was having lunch with him...why couldn't you just walk away for one lunch?!" I said, my voice raising with each syllable.
He looked dumbfounded and confused as I got up and walked out of the cafeteria.
Veronica slithered up to Erik as I walked off, she was always trying to know everyone and everything. Probably trying to get all the details about Erik's life - particularly as they pertained to me. I shook my head and silently wished him luck.
I didn't have any other classes with Todd or Erik. My last class of the day was with Veronica and we walked toward our lockers in silent company. As we got closer, we saw a gathering crowd and hurt raised voices. "Oh what now?" I muttered pushing my way toward the front
Todd was insulting Erik, that much was clear although I missed the majority of the insult. Within a moment, Erik made his move and I just shook my head. And right in front of my locker too.
The crowd grew more animated as a real fight escalated. Veronica was standing near me and smirking. "Two guys fighting over you..." she said. "How romantic" she mocked.
I rolled my eyes at her. "Shut up V." I said
Most experienced high schoolers can detect when a teacher or faculty arrives on the scene and the same was true this time. In a blink of the eye, half the crowd disappeared, eager to be elsewhere as Ms. Moore, followed closely by Principal Watts, arrived on the scene.
The rest started moving when she cleared her throat and gave them a piercing look. "Don't you all have homes to be going to...or detention" she added looking in my direction. I looked once more at my blocked locker and then then headed away from the scene, lingering only once I was out of her sight.
"Well boys?" she said looking from Erik to Todd and back again. Neither spoke or tried to wiggle out of it. She nodded. "Both of you, detention. You can join Ms. Bartlett there this afternoon." From around the corner, I raised my eyebrows; detention with Erik AND Todd....that couldn't end well...
End Chapter 2
Chapter 1: Summer Nights
"Do you want to come over tomorrow?" I asked him as we strolled along the beach. Summer was coming to an end but the weather was still warm which made sunset walks on the beach one of my favorite activities.
"I leave tomorrow Gin, remember?" he said quietly, breaking a hazy dream state I was in.
I'd completely blocked it out. I felt like I'd barely had any time with him and now he was leaving. "Oh yeah" I said shaking my head a bit to clear the rest of the haze. I was still walking and realized I'd walked past him. I turned back and faced him. I looked down toward the sand with a half smile "I think I blocked that out" I admitted.
He took my hands in his and smiled at me. "I wish I could change it." he said as his smile fell.
"I know. This has been the best summer of my life and it's ending." I said blinking back tears.
"We'll call." he offered.
"And email" I countered.
"Right." he said unconvinced. He'd come to town at the beginning of summer to be with his dad but he and his mom lived 3000 miles away. Carrying on a long distance relationship as anyone would be hard enough but at 15, with 3000 miles - we both knew.
He pulled me close and then gave me a long kiss.
When he broke the kiss he seemed to be struggling to find the words he wanted. "I won't... I can't ask you to not see anyone but" he paused and took a couple breaths..."Just remember me." he concluded.
I smiled. "I couldn't forget you Erik, ever." I said softly looking at the sand and moving it around with my flip flop.
"I love you." I said toward the sand. I hadn't intended to say it, I'd been holding it in for weeks because I knew he was leaving and that was too much but it came out all the same. I looked up at him and shrugged. "I love you, so I won't forget." I said blinking back tears.
Erik gave me a weak smile. "I love you too Gin." he said pulling me too him again. He held me close and whispered against my ear "I love you too."
Eventually we pulled apart and that one movement seemed to break everything. I felt the 3000 miles creeping between us already as we continued down the beach. "I'll be back for Christmas" he said, staring straight ahead. "And next summer." he added.
"Yeah, maybe my dad will let me come out at Spring Break." I added meekly. We both knew that was unlikely. We walked in silence a few minutes longer. "Should I....Can I go with you to the airport; ya know, see you off?" I asked not really sure what answer I wanted from him.
"I uh....I don't do goodbyes like that very well..." he said looking out toward the water, the sun had now almost set. "I think....it would be better if we just..." he trailed off, not sure what to say anymore than I knew what I wanted him to say.
"Yeah" I said quietly. Part of me wanted to stay with him until the end but I knew I'd be crying in the middle of the airport if I went. "Right." I added "Okay" I said nodding in agreement.
"It's just..." he stopped and sighed.
"Erik it's okay, I get it." I said with a faltering smile. He squeezed my hands. "We should probably head home." I said glancing toward the darkening sky.
"Yeah." Erik said putting his arm around me. We didn't talk much on the way back to my house. He kissed me on the doorstep and we lingered there for sometime, unwilling to let go. Finally we didn't have the choice anymore and we whispered weak byes to each other. I barely had the energy to change after making my way upstairs and didn't even crawl under the covers of my bed. Light tears rolled down my cheeks as I drifted into a fitful sleep.
When I woke up the next morning, I was happy at the prospect of seeing Erik for a few short moments before my brain woke up. Sitting on my nightstand was my notebook - which I knew should be on my desk. I snatched it up and flipped it open. Stuck inside was a post it note, scrawled with Erik's hand writing.
"I'll be right back" was all it said. I laughed softly, painfully, in spite of myself. We both knew that "right" was at least five months away.
I should have gotten up then but I didn't. I put the notebook containing the post it back on the side table and laid back down just staring at it.
Despite the efforts of my dad, I couldn't be coaxed further than the living room. I missed all the end of summer events and stayed in my room as much as my dad would allow for the final two weeks of summer. It was just as well, all my friends were still out of town.
Eventually summer was over and my first day of high school had arrived. My father absolutely refused to write me a note (even though I didn't ask for one). After two weeks of sulking, I put on something comfortable with pastels to try and give me a chipper attitude to face the day.
When I found me new locker, I saw my friend Timothy a few lockers down. "Locker neighbors again eh?" I said with a smile.
"Hello Genevieve." he said coming over. Timothy was a goofy guy but he was sweet. He refused to use nicknames, ever. I'd known him since elementary school. I saw him looking past me and followed his gaze. Veronica Meyers was in his sights.
"Still?" I asked. He just nodded, he'd had a crush on Veronica for years, she didn't acknowledge his existence. I was trying my supposed locker combination for the third time when Timothy nudged me. "Todd's coming" he said quietly.
"Hey Ginny!" I heard him call out from down the hall. "Where were you this morning? I was gonna walk with you." he asked loudly, still on the other side of the hallway. Todd, oh Todd. Todd is the Boy Next Door, quite literally. Did I mention that I've had a crush on him about as long as I've known boys don't have cooties?
He made his way through the students finally and I turned to greet him. He tried to kiss me!
For about 5 seconds my body betrayed me but my mind caught up finally and I pushed him away. "Todd what are you doing?"
Todd looked stunned. "I thought I was kissing my girlfriend who I haven't seen in three months." he replied as shock gave way to anger.
"You're...gir...you're what? No, you're kissing your best friend who you haven't seen in three months" I sputtered trying to understand him.
"Ginny, come on. We went to Spring Dance together, we kissed a few times if you recall." he said looking at me like I'd lost my mind.
"And then you went to summer camp and didn't call or email for three months Todd." I retorted. I'd been hurt by his complete lack of communication this summer.
"As you said" he argued, getting the attention of a few passing students "I was at camp, communication was challenging."
I took a breath to keep my voice from raising. "You called your parents every week - they told me. You emailed Veronica" I tried to hide the annoyance as I said her name and glanced her way "several times as I understand it."
Todd faltered, I had him pinned. I saw him look toward Veronica, his ex-girlfriend, and then back at me. "Look Ginny I'm sorry, I thought we were on the same page" he said lamely. He squared his shoulders and resumed his charmingly confident appearance. "All better?" he asked grinning.
I touched his shoulder and didn't smile. "Todd, we need to talk." I said as the bell rang, final warning to get to first period. I gave up on my still locked locker and started to head for class. I looked once more at Todd. "Lunch? Okay?" I said. I didn't give him a chance to reply before turning and heading for class in a hurry, it was on the other side of the school. I left behind a very confused look Todd.
I walked into my first class, still glancing at my schedule. I shoved it into my bag and felt someone brush beside me. I could tell it was Timothy and smiled, glad to have a friend in the class with me. Finally I straightened up and looked for an empty desk. That's when I saw him, watching me with his small, almost undetectable smile. He was sitting in the back row and when his eyes captured mine, I felt like I was rooted to the floor.
"Erik" I said, barely even a whisper.
