The sound of the bell ringing snapped me out of my trance-like state, bringing me back to reality. With a shaky breath, I noticed a bunch of students entering the bathroom, their voices echoing off the walls. Some of them even started smoking, but in that moment, it didn't matter to me. I was consumed by my own thoughts, trying my best to stay calm despite the chaos around me.
I took a deep breath, trying to calm my racing heart. Despite what just had happened, I knew I had to calm down and focus on getting through the day. Ignoring the students smoking in the bathroom, I washed my hands and splashed some water on my face, trying to shake off the lingering unease.
As I walked back to the gym, I could still feel my heart racing, thinking about what just happened. relieved to see Kirah wasn't there. I quickly grabbed my backpack and made my way to my next class.
That day felt like one of the longest days in school ever. Little did I know, it wasn't even close to being over. After the final bell rang, I made my way to Ms. Kelly's office with Jasmine.
Jasmine was quiet, and I had convinced myself that what had happened that day was all fake, a hallucination. Then, out of nowhere, Jasmine asked me, "Why were you late?"
I answered, "I was talking to Kirah," Jasmine remarked, "That's the girl you're always with." I nodded, confirming, "The only one," and she chuckled.
Then, she shifted the conversation, asking, "What are you doing for your birthday?"
I tried to sound cool by saying, "We're going bowling," and Jasmine responded with a casual, "Cool, can I come?" I looked at her confused, and she quickly added, "I'm playing Dex chill" She said laughing and I started nervously laughing, feeling a bit relieved.
But then she caught me off guard by asking, "If I were to ask, would you let me come?"
Then, I heard the voice again, faint yet insistent, saying, "Yes, say yes, or I will take over again."
With my heart pounding in my chest, I said it. Nervously, I stammered, "Y-yes, you can come."
Then we arrived at the office.
Ms. Kelly greeted us with a warm smile. "Dex, Jasmine, please have a seat. I'd like to have a quick chat with both of you."
We sat down, waiting for Ms. Kelly to speak. She folded her hands on her desk, her expression serious yet kind. "I understand that you both were late to class this morning. Is there a reason for that?"
uncomfortably in my seat, unsure of how to respond. "I'm sorry, Ms. Kelly. It was my fault," I admitted.
Jasmine chimed in, "We got caught up in a discussion and lost track of time. It won't happen again, we promise."
Ms. Kelly nodded, her expression softening. "I appreciate your honesty. Just make sure to be more mindful of your time in the future. Punctuality is important, especially as you prepare for the future."
Ms. Kelly then handed us both a detention note for the following day during lunch. "I'm giving you both a detention as a reminder to prioritize your responsibilities. Please make sure to attend tomorrow," she said firmly.
Jasmine and I nodded, accepting the consequences of our actions. As we left Ms. Kelly's office, I couldn't help but feel a sense of unease lingering within me.
Jasmine and I walked out of the office in silence.
I couldn't shake off the feeling of unease that had settled in the pit of my stomach. What would Aunt Amélie think about the detention? Would she be disappointed in me?
"Hey, it's not the end of the world. We'll just have to serve the detention and move on."
I nodded, grateful for her attempt to lighten the mood. "Yeah, you're right."
As we made our way out of the school building, I couldn't help but feel a pang of guilt. Jasmine had been kind and supportive, yet I had let my fears and insecurities get in the way of probably becoming closer to her.
"Hey, Dex," Jasmine said, breaking the silence as we reached the parking lot. "I know today didn't go as planned, but I still had fun hanging out with you."
I smiled gratefully at her words, feeling a wave of relief wash over me. "Yeah, me too. Thanks for helping me today ."
She grinned, her eyes sparkling with warmth. "Of course! Friends support each other, right?"
I nodded, feeling a sense of gratitude swell within me."Definitely."
"do you still need a ride home Dex?" she said.
I hesitated for a moment, weighing my options. Part of me wanted to decline, not wanting to impose on Jasmine any further. But another part of me, the part that longed for her friendship, urged me to accept.
I hesitated for a moment, weighing my options. Part of me wanted to decline, not wanting to impose on Jasmine any further. But another part of me, the part that longed for her friendship, urged me to accept.
"Yeah, that would be great," I replied, trying to sound casual despite the nervous flutter in my chest.
Jasmine smiled, her expression warm and inviting. "Awesome! Come on, my car's this way."
We made our way through the parking lot, the chatter of departing students fading into the background as we approached Jasmine's car. It was a sleek dark blue Toyota Camry, the afternoon sunlight glinting off its polished surface.
Jasmine unlocked the doors and gestured for me to get in. "Don't worry about the clothes, just move them back," she said, pointing to a pile of clothing on the backseat.
I nodded, sliding into the passenger seat and pushing the clothes aside to make room.
I couldn't help but notice the pile of clothes in the backseat once again. It struck me as odd that Jasmine's car was a bit messy, considering she seemed so put together in every other aspect of her life. Aren't girls supposed to be the neat ones? I thought to myself
"Hey, Jasmine," I ventured, breaking the comfortable silence between us. "How did you get your permit already? I just turned 16, and I haven't even started driving lessons yet."
Jasmine glanced over at me, a small smile playing at the corners of her lips. "Oh, I've been driving for a while now. My parents wanted me to start learning early, so I've been practicing for a few months already."
I nodded, feeling a pang of envy at her early start. "That's cool. I guess I should probably start practicing soon too."
Jasmine chuckled, her eyes twinkling with amusement. "Don't worry, Dex. You'll get the hang of it soon enough. And hey, if you ever need someone to practice with, I'm always here."
I smiled gratefully at her offer, feeling a sense of relief wash over me. "Thanks, Jasmine. I might just take you up on that."