Short Stories

I sat down, fidgeting around in my seat. Mrs. Matz kept droning on and on about polynomials and binomials and trinomials and monomials, it started to make my head hurt. I tapped my pencil against the paper, agitated by her voice. Finally, the rustle of everyone packing up came up and I immediately put the algebra book down, slid my pencil and papers into my bag, and slid out the door right at the sound of the last bell. It was finally the end of school.

Tagging with me, was my friend Ava. "Sometimes I wish this actually made sense." I laughed and agreed. I tried to casually scan down the hallways, pretending to be nonchalant. "I can't find him either, Michi. Stop looking like a stalker." She said, giving me an I-know-you look. I rolled my eyes and pouted. No use of keeping up the act when she already knew it was a lie. "I need to see him... Today is Valentines Day. I don't care 'bout the regular guy-asks-girl tradition. At this rate, there's no chance in HELL that he'd ask me out." I said, bitting the edge of my lip.

I was a bit nervous, and it was a nerve-wrecking day, not seeing him all over. I knew for certain he wasn't absent, because Ava came and told me in 2nd period that he declined four girls who asked him out for Valentines Day. Somehow that was supposed to make me happy and hope that he'd choose me, but that could also mean he's just being hard to get. "Speak of the Devil, the Devil returns calls..." Ava murmured, and then suddenly, he was right there. It wasn't like those crappy chick flicks where I'd run and up, ask him, and have him be romantic to me. I had to play it cool. I turned to Ava, who gave me a wink good luck.

I took slow strides to where he stood. "Hey Michi!" He waved at me, and smiled. I smiled, and tried to ignore the slow blush that crept its way up to my face. "What's up?" I asked, fixing my hair, trying my best to sound normal. "Not much, having an average day. You?" I smiled at him cheerfully, and then reached for my bag. "Hold on, I need you to look at something first." I reached in, trying to find the origami box for him, rummaging around until I finally found it. Once I pulled it out, I waited and looked at Carlos' reaction. "What's that?" He asks, curiously. I gave him a look, and passed it to him. He opened it with interest, and inside he found a circle-shaped note. It was written on with a black sharpie, asking, "Be MINE?" with a sloppy yet pretty heart at the bottom.

I glances at Ava, who gave me a thumbs up, staring at our exchange in the middle of the deserted hallway. I silently plead he'd agree. But of course, life was never too easy on me. He looked up at me with unreadable eyes. There was too much emotion passing through. He shrugged, and placed the box into his pocket. "Maybe, I'll think about it..." He portrayed a sly smirk, and swiftly walked away, not after giving me a quick half hug.

I glared at Ava. How could I trust her on this? She just kept smiling, what-so-ever. I told her everything tht happened, but all she did was pat my back, and tried being optimistic. "Be happy, and hope for the best, Michi." I nodded and tried making small talk with Ava while we walk down to the busses, but Carlos just kept popping back into mind. She saw me daze at Carlos getting on the bus with his guy friends, and told me to give it up, she could see through my poker-face.

"Michi, he likes you. This I know for sure. But, give him time." I sighed, hugged her, and bade her goodbye. Soon enough the queasy feeling reached my stomach again. I had martial arts today. With my ex boyfriend.




I slowly suited up into my uniform, and dragged myself into the dojo. My sister looked at me as if something was severely wrong with me. "Why are you so SLOW!?" She cried out, as I was halfway through the threshold. I glared at her for yelling out to me, because now the entire room was staring at me snail-crawl through the door. Including one particular blonde blue-eyed boy, and his little brother. He snorted, and rolled his eyes at me.

I looked down, red as a tomato, and silently walked torwards the center. "Look who's back; back again." Zach said, with a slight annoyance preserving itself in his tone. I made a face at him, and turned around from him. "Hey, come sit over here, Michi." He said sweetly, patting down at the seat next to him. I gave a slightly nauseated look, and tried making small talk to my friend Kayla, who I hadn't talked to since I first left. "Michi, won't you sit here?" I turned around to see Zach patting his laps. I made a slight annoyed sound, and hid my head from embarassment.

"MICHI!" I looked up at the sudden change of voice. There, by the door, stood the one I least expected. "Carlos!?" I called out, a slight grin breaking out on my face. He grinned a silly goofy grin at me, and quickly jogged over to me. I suddenly felt conscious and aware at how the martial arts uniform made me feel and look fat. He reached me, and pulled me into a tight hug. From the corner of my eye, I saw Zach get up, and walk to the other side of the dojo, a bit angry. "Yes." Carlos whispered, pulling me out of my observation.

I smiled as his breath tickled my ear. He was obviously panting, but he wouldn't let go of our hug. Suddenly, he pulled back, and leaned in, to give me a gentle kiss on the lips. I let my lips part open to his tongue, and enjoyed the magical first kiss I shared with Carlos.