Blank by Rachel Plotkin
(a small section from the book)
(a small section from the book)
The news was spreading throughout the school like a virus. There was a new family moving in and they were from sunny California moving here, to boring old Oregon.It was a family of four--or so the rumors said. There would be a mom, and her three sons. It all sounded too odd to me. I had lived here for five years, and it would be nice not being the odd one out, but all the excitement for the new family was nothing like it was for me, I was sure of it.
“Tess” Someone called from behind me.
It didn't take long for me to realize it was Marc. Marc was tall, blonde, a typical “guy next door”. He was morally obsessed with boring old me, and I loved every minute of it. We met sophomore year when I moved, and he was still in his awkward puberty stage. He was gawky, nerdy nothing at all to the perfectly proportioned muscles on his body now.
“Hey Marc”
“Walk you to lunch?” He asked with his new voice I still wasn't used to.
I smiled and walked next to him sheepishly to lunch. I realized how awkward I must have looked next to him. I was 5”3 to his 6”2, he was gorgeous and I was..well nothing short of plain. Though we had been going out for two years now, I still never got over why he didn’t choose Amanda Croftin, the spunky brunette whom every other guy was fawning over from dawn to dusk. I laughed to myself thinking about how the three new boys would react to her inhumane beauty.
We took out usual spot in the cafeteria next to his football team, cheerleaders, and people who I could barley stand. I never let it on though, because his dumbfounded happiness was to upsetting to let down. So I sat there for 45 minutes, smiling and nodding. Making pointless conversation about hair and nails, then hikes and practice. I let out a sigh, but it came out much more pained than I had planned.
“You okay?” Marc asked kindly
“Tired I guess” I lied, but he seemed to catch me.
He took his stuff, including my tray, dumped it and came back only to take my hand and walk away. It amazed me at how sometimes my life seemed so simple and at ease. Walking toward the outside parking lot, he sat me down on the bench.
“I have to talk to you” He finally said.
I gulped
“I love you”
“I love you too” I said, now more confused than ever.
“I..um...got a letter..yesterday”
Maybe I didn’t want to know, or maybe I really didn’t. I don’t honestly know. I just sat there, waiting.
© Rachel Plotkin 2005
