Thursday, July 23, 2015

Stone Glass pt. 2

"Jenny!" Merlot calls out from the crowded first-floor hallway. The mornings right before classes start and the afternoons right after classes end are when the halls are basically a sea of people. Think the worst rush-hour traffic you've ever been in, except with people. Almost impossible to hear anyone over the endless sound of footsteps and teenage gossip, and good luck finding someone recognizable. On the flip side, if you're into someone particularly cute, like ourschool'sstartingquarterbackJoshBrennan it's easier to ogle at them without being noticed--ya know, if he or she can even be found. Good thing Josh is 6'6", and easy to spot anywh....Jesus, Jenny, snap out of it!

"Merlot! Meet by the bathroom!" I shout as loud as I can. Once I'm able to gather my things from my locker, the bathroom is, for whatever reason, the least crowded place before class. Though that fact shouldn't bother me, it sorta does. Whatever, I'm weird. I swim through the sea and finally reach the bathroom. Merlot is already there with cell-phone-pasted-to-eyeballs waiting for me. She looks up.

"I was just texting you! It's about time you got here." Merlot whines.
"I would have been a lot quicker if I were Moses. Anyway, have you seen my brother?" As the question slips out of my mouth, I realize how dumb it was. We're Seniors. My brother is a Freshman. Sea of people. Etcetera, etcetera..
"Nevermind, dumb question," I edit a loud, "but do me a favor and keep an eye out. He disappeared on our way to school, and I haven't seen him since.
"Yeah, no problem, Jenns. So, did you see Josh this morning?" She asks with a wry all-knowing grin.
"Did anyone not see him, jerk? He's the tallest guy in school, and you better be keeping this a secret between us!"
"Relax, Jennzers. Your crush is safe with me," she says with a wink as if to say safe-with-me-in-my-possession.

Like the wine, sometimes Merlot is a perfect combination of friend and foe. Friend when you drink it socially to relax and have a good time with; foe when you drink enough to have the worst hangover-induced headache the next day. I love Merlot, but, boy, is the hangover part of her a huge bitch to deal with.

Most of the time I've known Merlot I have felt like I'm constantly trying to catch up. First off, she's gorgeous. I'm a straight 18-year-old girl. I have a firm grasp on my sexuality. I'd make an exception for Merlot. That is something that is hard for me to admit, but true nonetheless. Ya know, like how Dr. Who fans lust for David Tennant. Much the same between Merlot and I. Secondly, she's brilliant, but I admit her work-ethic, especially this year as a senior, is bar-known. And she's kind. Yes, she can be a jerk to me sometimes, but Merlot is loved by everyone. So, anytime she makes a semi-wanting sarcastic joke about a guy I like, I automatically assume that the potential of her snagging him is very real. I hate feeling like I'm less than her, but I appreciate her being my friend. Her biggest saving grace is that she's loyal to a point. Really, with everything other than men, but even then she's gotten better over the years. It's not like we've been in the dating game for very long anyway, so there's only so much I have to judge her for.

Do I ramble about pretty people? Yeah, I'll try to stop that.

Just before I enter my first period class, I see Ben running in the opposite direction towards the gym. There isn't a 1st period gym, so I'm suspicious. At least he's safe and at school. I'm sure I'll find out what's going on later. For now: Trig.

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