School

By the time her alarm goes off the next morning she's dressed and ready to leave for school. She had read through her assignment and written an essay to go with it. She really believes that it's one of her better works, of course she did spend all night working on it. Backpack flung over one shoulder, Leona goes to the kitchen to say goodbye to her mother.

It's been their practice since she started school that her father leaves for work before dawn and her mother stays to see her off. It's just another of their family traditions that makes them such a tight knit group. It looks that way at least. Her mom holds out a plate of pop tarts for her as she comes in. Nothing is said of the night before and she knows that her parents won't acknowledge that it happened.

The last thing Leona wants is to eat, the sight of the pop tarts make her sick to her stomach. But she can't say no, she's usually starving in the morning. With a grin and a 'thank you' she grabs the pop tarts and goes outside to wait for the bus. It's still chilly outside even with her jacket on so she is grateful that she doesn't have to wait long for the bus. Since she can't see wasting good food, when the bus arrives she offers Carin the pop tarts as she takes a seat next to her. Carin, of course, never says no to food.

"Where did you go last night?"

"Where did I go? You were the one who disappeared, Carin!"

Carin had the decency to look embarrassed, though Leona doesn't care. It had been Carin's idea to go in the first place and then she had abandoned her.

"I'm sorry, I wasn't thinking. So who was the guy you were talking to?"

Leona can feel the beginnings of anger swelling up inside. Carin had seen Edward at her table and hadn't even come to rescue her. It would be so easy for her to blame Carin for the whole thing. But to say that would be to lie and put an unnecessary burden on her best friend. No one had forced Leona to do anything, it had been her choice entirely and her burden to bear.

"Why? Are you actually worried that something might have happened to me? The morning after?"

"I said I was sorry, Leona. I shouldn't have left you alone. Shit, the man was at least twice your age. Please tell me you didn't go anywhere with him."

When Leona looks away and doesn't answer right away Carin lets out a string of curses. Leona is saved when the bus stops at their school and everyone exits. The entrance to Fairview high school is packed with teenagers, most of which are reluctant to be locked away for eight hours. The school itself is brick, one of the original buildings from the 1880's when the town was first erected. Much about Fairview is based upon history and it's traditions, like the statue of Mitchell Fairview in front of city hall. Mitchell Fairview had founded the town, naming it after himself as many did in those days.

Leona has spent too much of her free time looking up the history of the city. She has always loved history, felt that she is a part of it, that she had somehow been there. The dreams that she's had since a child don't help. Too many times she's dreamt of being another person, in another time.

Inside the school it's a living testament to all of the kids that have walked it's halls. Pictures of overachievers and awards litter the walls, boards announce school events and milestones. The only thing that breaks up the monotony of praise is the dark grey lockers that line one wall. Some lockers are stark grey while others have been cluttered with stickers and marker art. The inside of each locker shows clearly the personality of each teen.

Leona's locker is empty except for her books, and only keeps what is necessary in her locker. Carin's locker is next to Leona's and is filled with pictures of actor's and old boyfriends, make-up and miscellaneous clutter. Carin's locker says a lot about her personality while Leona's, like the rest of her world, only reflects what others want to see. No one knows who Leona really is inside, least of all herself.

"You didn't, you know…"

Leona blushes and buries her head in the locker. Carin curses and swings Leona around to face her.

"What were you thinking? He was twice your age and, damn it, you were a virgin. Did you even use protection?"

"Stop it, Carin! I'm a big girl and I can make decisions on my own. You don't have to worry about me. It's not like anyone cares what I do as long as it appears I'm doing what's right!

If it helps you any, my parents caught me coming in late and I'm grounded until summer. So can we please just drop it?"

Carin's face shows her shock at Leona's outburst. Leona knows that her friend is worried about her, but she's still on edge after everything that happened last night. Normally she is good about keeping her cool no matter what. The outburst gave Carin a good reason to worry.

"I'm sorry, I won't bring it up again."

"Thanks."

Leona shuts her locker and starts to leave but stops for a moment, her back to Carin.

"It was unbelievably good, though."

Leona can just imagine the shocked expression on Carin's face as she walks away. It makes her smile just thinking about it. Their classes run differently so Leona doesn't have to worry about seeing Carin for a while, she just has to worry about getting herself through the day. Try as she might to concentrate on what the teachers are saying Leona is too distracted to really hear them. Not that she doesn't give the right answers when asked, or that she fears she'll fail. Without a life it's been easy for Leona to go ahead of the class.

Of course, graduation is in two months anyway so none of them are getting anything hard to do. What she does notice is how every guy is staring at her with a thin veil of desire, even the male teachers. They come up and offer to carry her books, to walk with her, things they had never worried about before.

During lunch period it's just as bad, every guy wants her to sit with him. If they aren't asking her to sit with them then they are asking if they can sit with her and Carin.

"What's up with all these guys today?"

"I don't know."

Leona shrugs and puts a little too much attention on her food. She does know what's going on and she would like it to stop, she's not used to getting so much attention. Since she doesn't know how to stop it, she decides to play it cool and ignore them when they come up to her, pretending she doesn't see or hear them.That's what they've done to her for years so a little pay back won't hurt.

When the last bell rings Leona quickly changes everything out at her locker and goes outside to wait for the bus, she's ready to leave. Even if it means that she still has to work at the store it has to be better than school. On the bus the girls take their usual seat in the back and breathe a sigh of relief. Carin comments again about the odd behaviors at school but then drops it when she sees that Leona is uncomfortable.

"So, do you want to hang out this weekend?"

"I told you, I'm grounded. I'm on lock-down until summer so I can't. I don't want to be stuck with my parents for that long, it'll probably make me go nuts."

Carin laughs. "Girl, you're already nuts! I guess it'll be just me this weekend, I might actually do some homework."

After twelve years of school the only friends they have is each other. For one reason or another, they've been too different to make other friends. Not that she minds having one friend, less friend maintenance that way. Leona remembers when they were ten they made a promise, best friends forever, no matter what happened. What would Carin do if she knew the truth about last night?