Sitting in class was nothing like it normally was, listening to the instructor and always writing notes as he spoke.
Today was different. Today was prom day. Instead of listening to Mr. Erickson talking about America's history, and taking notes; I was scrolling through Pinterest; looking at all the dresses, the beautiful, red, long, puffy dresses. Then looking on Instagram at the girls who skipped school to get ready for prom tonight.
"Ms. Reynolds, is their something more important then learning about Lewis and Clark?" Asked Mr. Erickson.
I hid my phone in between my legs, and looked up at Mr. Erickson, my cheeks flush red. Panicking never been in this situation. "No, sir, I was just looking at a text from my brother." I half smiled, hoping he would believe my lie.
I was asked countless times to go to prom, but I didn't except a single offer. Prom is supposed to be with someone you know, and all the guys that had asked me, i had no idea who they were, and I wasn't about to lower my standards to help my ego, and go to prom, something I've really never felt interested in until this year, when I was allowed to go without an upperclassman's help.
"I understand, it's a Friday, it's prom night, and none of you want to be here. But, you are, so put your phones away, and focus, there's 20 minutes left of class before lunch."
What I hadn't realized that I really wanted to just have a fun night, not stay home and do my regular 4.0 GPA routine.
Go home, eat, do homework, take a shower and skin care, study, watch women's college volleyball games and learn how to be a better player, eat dinner, and then go to bed at 8:00 pm to wake up at 5:00 AM and repeat my life the same everyday.
Prom night was supposed to allow me to change that, have some fun, be a new me for a night.
For the next twenty minutes I learned for the 100th time how Lewis and Clarks expedition led to great knowledge about the plants and animals we know.
Once the bell rung people had already packed their bags and left. I always was to good to pack up early while the teacher was still giving a lecture, or a lesson.
I put my binder and shoved it nicely into my backpack, my pencil next, my computer after.
"I'm surprised by your actions, Ms. Reynolds." Mr. Erickson's voice popped out while he was looking over his lesson notes for his freshman class.
"I don't know what got over me, Mr. Erickson. I would never do that when I know I shouldn't."
"You're a teenager, Ms. Reynolds. You are bound to break rules, learn by their mistakes. Go on your phone. Just don't let me catch you on your phone next time, you're my best student."
I smiled at him before getting up from my seat, "Have a nice weekend, Mr. Erickson."
"You too, Tessa."
I walked out of the classroom, and around the corner to meet up with Sydney, my best friend. Knowing she is waiting for me, like always.
"Don't suppose you have a condom in you backpack, do you?" She asked.
"Of course not, Sydney."
We both kept walking to the lunch room, as she held her school items against her chest, refusing to use a backpack because she thinks it's going to make her shoulders ugly. "He has the hots for you, you should just take this opportunity and f*ck him."
"EW! No way! I will be married before I have sex, Sydney."
"No you won't. You're not that kind of Christian, you're just pretending to be for your parents. You could totally do him."
"Just because I don't call myself a Christian doesn't mean I won't follow some of the rules my parents set."
Sydney knows everything about me, from my favorite color is down to my darkest secret. There's not a thing she doesn't know about me, if there's something I haven't told her, then I don't know about it myself.
We made it to the cafeteria, the line to long to get in that the food would be gone before we even reached it.
"I got Chic-fil-A I hope you don't mind." She salad.
"Well, I don't really eat and you know that." I said, placing my backpack next to me, sitting at the round table where our group normally sits.
"Exactly, I got you a four course meal, and you're not leaving until eat a whole burger."
She dished out the food in front of me, Chicken nuggets, the chicken sandwich, fries, and another thing of chicken nuggets.
I grabbed the chicken sandwich and unwrapped it, taking small bites as some of our friend slowly pile in around our table with their school lunches.
"So, Tessa are you going to the party, or are you going to prom, staying home? What are your plans?" Daniel asked.
"I've got things to do, I have to go home."
"No! You said you were going to take me to the party, you told me you were going to be my sober driver as soon as you asked your mom. You promised."
There's a thing with our large group of friends, most people would just go to a party and have a designated driver, and that driver can drink, that driver can do whatever they want as long as they are still able to drive everyone home. But here in Pueblo, Colorado, we call designated drivers: sober drivers.
Under no circumstance you can not be under the influence of anything. A sober driver is that, sober.
I'm my friends' go to Sober driver. Because I don't have fun, I don't allow myself to.
"I'm sorry but I have homework to do, If I don't do it, then I'll get behind which will bring my grade down, lower my GPA, and lose good college applications." I said, rambling on.
"One night, Tessa. One night you will survive not writing your 100 page essay that totally doesn't exist." Jessica, my co-captain on the varsity volleyball team said.
"Yeah but—" I was interrupted by Asher of all people, "Hey Tessa. I was wondering if anyone was taking you to prom?"
I stared at him as my heart beats fast, in and out of my chest, running circles, making my stomach feel like it's floating. I couldn't reply to him, I was just staring making the whole situation awkward.
"She can't, she had prior commitments, should've asked sooner, Mr. Fuqboy." Sydney said with a glare.
Asher walked away without saying anything and my friends all looked at me, "I heard him and Cassidy broke up just last night because he wouldn't stop looking at you." Titus said.
"Don't go for assholes like him. All he wants to do is get in your pants and you shouldn't let them."
"Everyone is after Tessa, the perfect virgin." Cassidy interjected, coming from literally nowhere.
I got up from my seat, not finishing my food, grabbing my backpack. I knew Cassidy was looking for a fight but I wasn't going to start, finish or even participate in it. I don't like the attention, or the drama behind it."
"You know, I heard a rumor that Ms. Perfect was attracted to Mr. Erickson. Like the palm sweaty, lips stammering, heart palpitating, wet panties, rooms kind of hot, type of attractive." I stopped in my track and turned around, a smile in my face.
"And I heard you got knocked up." I smiled, "I guess we both get information from the wrong people—" I looked up to my right before continuing, "Wait, I got my information from Chelsea." Everyone ood while my friends laughed.
Chelsea is Cassidy's actual best friend, share everything, kissed each other once or twice, and done things only siblings should do together.
I'm quite but rumors from Chelsea just boil my blood, I couldn't understand what she hated about me, why she hated me.
There's nothing good with fighting back with the same evil intent she gives me but I literally can't handle the drama she likes.
I walked to my mothers classroom on the other side of the school. She teaches the junior and senior English class which I don't get until next year, but it will be the senior class for me, since it will be my last year of high school.
I know confusing. I'm a sophomore, but graduating with Sydney next year. I took most of the credits I needed way before I even got to high school in which resulted me to graduate one year early.
I opened the door to her classroom, seeing her working on papers. I knocked twice on the border of the door as I entered the room.
"Hey Tessa, what can I do for you hun?"
"Sydney and a few of my other friends need me to go to a party with them in Denver tonight, is it alright if I go?"
She put her red pen down and took a bite of her lunch before she really contemplated about me going.
She doesn't like when I ask if I can go to a party because of my brother who had died from a drunk driver on his way back home. Which turned into a lot more problems than it should have.
"Yes you can go, but you have to promise me you will not, and I mean it Tessa Penelope Reynolds. You will not drink a single pint of alcohol." She said, not breaking eye contact, her face very serious.
"Yes mom, I promise."
"Okay, go have fun, call me as soon as you get there. I don't want any funny business with anyone, and absolutely no boys, Tessa."
"I know the rules. I don't know when we'll get back but I'll let you and dad know."
"See you when we do. Love you, and stay safe."
"I will mom, thank you."
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