Thursday, November 20, 2008

Blink : 3

Rick cruised down the hall on his way to their spot. Ducking low as he passed by the door with windows. Desperately trying to keep his sneakers from squeaking as he went heavy on the breaks as he came up on corners. It was a bad idea, Rick was living with a strike on his record for being perpetually tired getting caught skipping to go neck would seriously harm any flexibility he had managed to get from his parents. But the danger was half the fun.


The feeling was heavy, like the air had turned into oatmeal. Rick tripped over his feet but stayed on them. He needed to get out of the hallway. There was no time to be choosy about it either. He turned ninety and bulled into the ladies bathroom, luckily it was unoccupied.

He slid down the back of the door until he was sitting on the floor. He was sweating and breathing heavy. A panic attack? There were foot steps, then it sounded like Mr. Jones, the chem teacher, talking to someone. He heard the student reply. Mouthing the words as he heard them echo in his head.

“I was on my way just now Mr. J.”

"Three years in this building, and you are just now forgetting where the science wing is? Not likely. Do you know what I think? Well of course not, if you did you would be in my class room instead of looking for a piece of ass with that tramp that is always slinking around you .”

“Watch yourself Mr. J. Talk that kind of trash and you might end up choking on it.”

“You're just wasted potential. By the way, your rendezvous has been canceled, you'll be able to find her in the office. Unlike you she doesn't have rich parents to buy her a second chance.”

“Its not going to go down like this.”

“Sure it is Rick, this is reality. Maybe you should have been skipping English, it must be all of that romantic fiction going to your head.”

Rick caught his breath and dared a peek out the door. Mr. Jones was coming down the hall but there was no one with him. No one in the halls at all. It was too weird, like he had just heard the conversation that could have happened. It was like he had just been there. He shook off the chills and got up.

He went to their place. Claire was not there, so he dared to swing past the office. She was there. She was completely covered but was still clutching her sweater across her chest. Rick recognized the words 'disappointed' come out of the secretary mouth. He has seen the words formed so many times he could read them in the dark.

He reached for the door nob, but Claire saw him and slowly shook her head 'no'. Rick couldn't let it go down like this, over something stupid, childish fun. If the administration wanted to they could make her life very hard, expel her if they deemed she was actively attempting to reduce the reputation of the school.

The same words from the hall echoed in the hall, 'It won't go down like this'. Rick brought his fist down on the door frame, slamming his locker shut. He turned and was facing the crowded hallway. Clair was just to his left, “Not if I can help it.” she said, “Want to go make out?”

The hallway spun, he bent at the knees holding on to the wall with one hand trying to steady. He expressed colorful words of disbelief, threw up and passed out.

Friday, November 14, 2008

Blink: 2

For Rick, and everyone else, High School was a mine field. Big Brother was watching and unforgiving. The other kids were watching even closer and constantly appraising each other. Their punishments were far worse than 'the man's' and were dealt out based on a highly subjective and suspect rules.

Rick was a junior, just few short months away from becoming part of the feared rule makers club. He barley fit in, and only then because his father had made millions in advanced AI technologies.At this moment his father's other children were mapping Mars and constructing the first base camp on the surface of another planet.

Needless to say, Dad was not around much. Even after the millions were made there was a family image to create and uphold. Philanthropist, Explorer, Leader. Rick had mentioned to him on a number of occasions that father was missing from the list. His father had responded in an end of discussion tone, “Be your own man. What I am to you should have little to do with who your decide to be.”. The demand for intelligent thought had been ingrained in him at a young age. He wondered what it was that brought his parents together. His train of thought was interrupted by Claire.

She rolled against his arm spinning herself around to face him and the hall traffic. “Missed you.”

Rick popped his locker open with his fist. It was empty minus a number of books that had nothing to do with school work. He took the one off the top and looked at his watch. 7:48.

Yeah, I overslept again. The Postman was on, with commercials. I was up till at least three.”

That movie is genius, totally under appreciated.” She winked. He had made her watch it no less that five times. Genius and under appreciated where the common theme of the live commentary. Rick caught the joke and laughed.

I know right.” He closed the locker and joined her point of view. “You going to chem?”

Not if I can help it. Wanna go make-out?”

Yes, but I have to drop off my lab form the last time we skipped first. Do you want meet me at the place or risk being seen with me.”

She started to walk backward down the hall away from him, she touched her lips and then held up her finger as if she had actually considered her options. “The place.” She playfully rolled her eyes, spun and was gone.

She reappeared in the flow of traffic, with her finger to her lips. She winked, spun and was gone.

Wednesday, November 12, 2008

Blink

-- This is how it starts --

The alarm clicked on, and the radio started playing a Hewey Lewis. Rick rolled over and slapped the radio, knocking it off the night stand. There was a light knock on the door and his mom stuck her head in. “Ricky, minutes, you have minutes until you are late for school again.”. Rick moaned and rolled over onto his face. Fifteen minutes mumbled out of the pillow. She sighed and closed the door. He was going to be late. Fifteen more minutes would land him in detention, or worse summer school. Rick held his breath and then out a long sigh.

The radio came back on, the same song still playing. Rick rolled over and clicked it off and looked at the clock. His mom stuck her head back in, “Ricky, minutes, you have minutes.” Rick sat straight up, “Yeah, yeah Mom, I heard you the first time.” She shot him a odd look and closed the door.