This Is My Story - Chapter 1

I sat down slowly in my seat in the back of the room, waiting for class to start. I'm thinking that today is one of the weirdest days ever. Sean talks to me, Daniel was watching me. I am quite sure this is just a dream. Yeah, that's it. It's just another daydream. And it's in complete overdrive like earlier - that was just a dream inside the daydream to throw me off. 1

Class is starting, but I'm still confused. What in the world would compel Sean to confess what he did to me, and the I conveniently just happen to run into Daniel and find that he's watching me? Today was just spinning around me like that tornado that came a while back. I can't concentrate on anything. My mind is whirling and I can't think straight.2

The band room is full of all the people who practically live there. No one sees me, as usual. I'm like a nobody to them, to everyone. Well, of course, except for Sean, Daniel and Austin - but Austin doesn't really count because he's a totally creeper! As I'm trying to stuff all my crap in my bag, I hear the squeak of the door and look up to see, none other than, Sean entering. He looks straight at me, smiles, then turns to talk to Evan and some other people. I smile, far too late for him to see, then return to putting stuff in my bag. 3

I always get a ride from Cody, my good friend from Marching Band. He's a ladies man, and he's like a brother to me. But before he even walks in the room, Sean appears behind me out of nowhere, startling me like before - why does he keep doing that?!?!4

"Hey there... How was Geometry?" he asks.5

"Oh, hey. It was... actually I was too busy being confused about lunch to remember what it was about," I answered truthfully. I smiled up at him, hoping that he knew what I was talking about. 6

"Yeah, I had Jazz band.. I couldn't really concentrate either. But it was music, so I eventually came back to class." He smiled, his eyes trapping me again. I was thrilled to hear that he had experienced the same effects as me.7

"So, how was the rest of your day?" I decided to ask. It was kinda weird, but what else was I supposed to say? "Wow! That's crazy! So you like me or something?" Yeah, that'd be a nice conversation!8

"Oh it was pretty good. I got to talk to this one really nice girl who eats lunch by herself in the hallway. And my classes were interesting... for the most part anyway." Wow, I couldn't believe it!9

"That's good..." I don't know what else I'm supposed to say to that, so I just smile at him again, my eyes filled with happiness and laughter. This is not good, I thought to myself. I swore I would never fall for him because I told him I didn't like him! What a twist this was!10

"So, do you need a ride?" he finally asked. I just stared at him with even more confusion than before.11

"Why are you asking me this? You only just started talking to me today. I'm just so confused." 12

"I'd like to talk to you about that. So, do you need a ride?" he asked again.13

"Ummm, okay, but I want you to explain everything," I said.14

"I will. I've been thinking about how to answer that all afternoon. Come on, let's go," he turned and walked towards the door, leaving me gaping after him, wondering all the same questions I'd already been thinking before. Guys are SO confusing!15

"Just throw your stuff in the back if you want," he told me when I opened the passenger door to his red 2003 Mustang. I sat down, amazed at how comfortable the seat was. I could sit there all day and not get up or shift around.16

"Wow. This is a really comfortable car," I said, laughing. He laughed with me, but didn't say anything to me. He starts the engine and puts in drive. Slowly, we creep towards the exit of the high school parking lot. He drove off of Eleventh Street and onto Main. "Umm, sorry, but where are we going?" I asked, he usually turned before this to go to my house.17

"I need more than just a few minutes to talk to you. Your mom won't be worried?" he explained.18

"No, she works until 5:30 or so. But if she asks where I was, I'll just say I stayed at the school to practice for Drumline or something like that." Hey, it was kinda true.19

"Okay, so can I take you to a restaurant or something?" 20

"Ummm, I don't care. We could just drive around if you want. I really don't mind where we go. Just no seafood," I laugh as I add that last line in. I absolutely hate seafood!21

I just sat back and thought about how this day was just getting crazier by the minute. I close my eyes and just relax in the seat. Sean turns the music on and I just listen to it. I fight the urge to open my eyes and look at him. Why did he have to be so wonderful? I mean, my insides jump for joy every time he waves and says hi! Now he was actually talking to me and offering me rides home! This was crazy! It just HAD to be a dream!22

Sean pulls into the parking lot of Taco Bell, my favorite fast food restaurant. He turns off the car, turns to me and says, "Okay, there you go."23

I shake my head a few times and look out the window. We're parked outside my house. I turn to the back seat to grab my stuff and brush his hand that's reaching back to help me. We both freeze and look up at eachother. I quickly look away. My cheeks are hot again and I'm sure my whole face was red. I look back at him and burst out laughing because his face is probably more red than mine! His mouth cracks a smile and he joins me, laughing quietly. Apparently, he decided it would be best to just let me get my stuff because he turned back to face the wheel. I hurriedly grab all my stuff, praying nothing would fall out so I could escape as quickly as possible. I turn back around to open the door and find him looking out the wind, a solemn look on his face. "Thanks," I mumble, and stumble out of the car, not looking back as I run to my door. Before I open it, I look back to see him watching me, the turning back abruptly, punching the gas, and zooming away down the street. 24

'Man this day just keeps getting weirder,' I thought. I have to figure out just how much of it is true. When did I start day-dreaming about him in the car with me? Was it before he even asked me for a ride? Was it when he said he needed to talk to me about something? Or was it when we were actually in the car on the way to my house?25

For the rest of the day, I thought about all the possibilities of when and why Sean was doing this. It was a Friday, and so I wouldn't be able to see him again until Monday. Or so I thought...26

That Saturday night, I went to the school for a basketball game where I had to play for pep band. I hadn't remembered that he said he would be there. So when I saw him there, I was thrilled! I wondered what he was going to say to me or how much attention he was going give me. Would we have a conversation like we normally did during games?27

He smiled at me and made faces like he usually does when he's watching me while playing. I smiled back then watched the director. When I looked back at Sean, he was still watching me. Sometimes he just focuses on something while he's playing and a lot of the time it's me if I'm standing there. I try to keep my gaze on his watchful eyes, but then I'm afraid I'll turn bright red and start laughing for no reason, so I look down and watch his drum sticks fly. He's still watching me when I look up again. As soon as he finishes the song, he looks away. My stomach is doing flip-flops again.28

During the game, I sit next to the snares and behind the drumset with my bass drum. Sean and I have short conversations here and there. A lot of the time they're serious, but they can be fun at times. Whenever Sean comes to pep band, we talk a bit, and so I always hope he'll be there. Always, at the end of the games, I stay afterward and help put the drumset away, hoping I'll get the chance to talk to him again. When my brother doesn't come, I ask Sean for a ride. Sometimes he does it grudgingly, but other times, he does it happily.29

***will work on later***