Crushes Chapters 1-4 (Edited for Contest)

Part 1

I glance at him out of the corner of my eye. He hasn't noticed yet. I have been stealing glances at him all class. Not that he would notice. I'm not someone you usually look at.... I'm really a wallflower, part of the furniture. Sure I have my friends (some are VERY outgoing) but I am more on the shy side. I don't know how I had the good fortune to be put in this class.

I look back at the teacher and listen to what he's saying. He's explaining our next assignment. I should be listening but I can't. I glance at him again.

He's looking at me! Oh my gosh! I turn away quickly and look down at my desk, blushing.

I won't look at him anymore, I won't! I focus my attention back on the teacher.

Finally he finishes talking and I move on to do my assignment, keeping my eyes focused directly on my desk. I hear movement at the front of the class, Where he's sitting, but I don't look up. I share a small smile with my friend behind me. She hasn't noticed anything odd about me lately. Turning back, I start to write. We have to write a story. As I get into it, I don't even think any more and my pencil practically flies across the paper. The words seem to just flow.

"It's clean up time!" the teacher calls out in his nasal voice. I look up, surprised.

That was fast! All around me, I hear sighs of relief and groans as people stretch. The talking starts again and I hear laughing at the front. I still don't look. I keep my promises, even if they are ones to myself.

"Hey, how'd it go?" Jamie asks me, poking me in the back.

I turn around and grin at her. "It went by so fast!"

"Are you kidding me? That time seemed to drag forever!"

I laughed at my friend and just shook my head. "And yet I bet that you will still come out with the best story in the class," I tease her.

She shrugs and smiles. "Maybe. But I doubt it."

I feel someone's eyes on me. 'What?'

I don't look around and smile back at Jamie.

The bell rings and I pick up my stuff quickly, barely stopping to push in my chair before racing out the door. I hear feet behind me but don't stop.

"Mega-" I thought I heard my name. Probably not. I get to my locker and shove my stuff inside. Grabbing my lunch, I head to an open classroom where my friends and I always eat.

Jamie sits down beside me, accompanied by Charla and Lela. "Hey," I smile at them. I'm so lucky to have friends. I glance around the room again, taking in everyone. It's filled with happy chatter and laughter. My attention is drawn to the doorway where I see him coming in. I get up.

"Hey, sorry guys, I have to run."

"Coming back?" Charla asks.

"Probably," I answer and get out of the room as fast as I can without it looking like I'm running. Someone calls my name. I almost turn, but ignore it. I'm still embaressed. I don't want to look at him.

It's raining outside, but I go out anyway. The cold water hits my face and slowly soaks me to the bone. I start to shiver.

"You should go inside. You'll get sick." Someone is talking to me. I turn slowly.

"John!"

Part 2

I lick my lips although they are already dripping from the rain. "I-I was just going back inside," I stammer, tucking a piece of my dripping hair behind my ear. Why is he talking to me? Why is he out here? What am I doing?! I look around for an excuse to leave. But I can't. It would be rude. The bell rings. Perfect!"I have to go." I turn and run inside before he can say anything else, my cheeks flaming although my teeth are chattering. I rub my arms to warm up. People jostle against me to get to their lockers and I smile. Nothing's different. I open my locker and put my lunch back inside. Options this afternoon, don't need anything. I go to close it. "DON'T!" my locker partner, Laura comes running up.

Always just in the nick of time. I smile to myself.

"Meg, what do I have today?" she asks.

"Gym then band, same as me," I answer without even thinking.

Laura asking me what she has is as normal as the sun rising in the east and setting in the west.

"Seriously, what would you do without me?" I joke and then sneeze.

"I'd probably get lost," Laura shrugs.

It's nice to be needed. I sneeze again. Am I getting sick? My nose is running. I cover it up with my hand and run to get a kleenex from the classroom. Darn! He was right. I am getting sick.

The bell rings and I hurry to homeroom before going to gym. I change into my gymstrip quickly and tie my hair up in a ponytail. As I run into the gym, I feel someone's eyes on me again. I look around. There, across from me. He's looking! I blush and look down. I'm still embaressed. Why does he keep looking? Does he want me to feel stupid?

Christina jostles me as she sits down beside me. "Hey!" she smiles.

"Hi," I smile back.

She looks around the gym and groans. "Uhhhhh, it looks like we're doing push ups or sit ups or something today." The mats are all out.

"Uhhu. Why-" I start, but am cut off when the teacher starts talking. We are told to get into groups of five.

I am put in a group with four other girls.
I can't resist looking over at John. He gets a good group, one with all the "jocks"...of course. I see his head turning in my direction and quickly look away and back to the teachers. They explain what we have to do and send us off.

We line up, I'm third. When the whistle goes, so does Christina. I watch her run and everyone urges her faster. When she gets back, it's Sofia's turn. She runs a little clumsily and does the "stations." Then she runs back to me. I'm against one of the jocks too. I run fast and get it done in no time. It's Elizabeth's turn now, then Moira. We sit down. I'm still trying to catch my breath but smile at my friends in the next group and give them the thumbs up.

Another relay starts and soon its my turn. I look over to see who I'm up against. Some of my friends, a jock and...John?! I wasn't against him before! He sees me looking and smiles. I give him a weak smile back and face forward. Now I feel a little jittery. But then, I start to run and I don't think, just do. I smile when I get back and give Elizabeth a high five.

The bell rings after a few more relays and we all troop off to change. Next period goes by quickly and (finally) the day is over. I wait for Charla outside and then we walk Jamie to the parking lot where her mom picks her up. I see John coming out of the corner of my eye. "Okay Char, let's go."

She looks at me a little strangely but nods and we start walking. I walk her to the intersection and say goodbye. With a wave, I turn around and start walking home. The buses go by and I wave to some of my friends on them. It's cold! Brrrrrr....better put my gloves on. I pull them out of my pocket and put them on, as well as my toque. Ahhhhh, that's better! A car drives by and I look up automatically to see if there's anyone I know inside. It's John! He smiles and waves. I wave back, how could I not? Suddenly, I feel a whole lot happier. I start to whistle and swing my lunchbox. Hee hee! I'm happy, but I don't know why....

Part 3

I try the front door. It's locked. I don't think anyone's home, but it can't hurt to look can it? I ring the bell...no answer. Sighing, I dig my key out of my pocket and unlock the door.

"Hello?" I call into the empty house. Of course, no one home, as usual. I drop my backpack on the floor and head to the kitchen. Opening the fridge, I take out the water and grab a glass from the cabinet. I pour myself a glass of water and drink it as I listen to the messages on the answering machine. As usual, none of them are for me. But everyone's been at school today so....

I take my homework out of my bag and manage to finish half of it before my sisters get home.

"Meg, I'm home!" Claire calls, coming in the back.

"Great," I sigh.

Claire immediatly heads to the fridge. "Do your homework," I say automatically.

"I'm having a snack," Claire answers.

"Do your homework," I said again.

Claire stuck her tongue out at me in reply.

I sigh and go back to my own work. Why should she listen to me? I only take care of her all the time....

I finish my homework just as my youngest sister, Eve gets home.

"Hi!" I call.

"Meg!"

"Where's Dad?" I ask.

"He went out!" Eve calls back.

Of course he did, because he's always going out. No, I guess that's not fair. He is home a lot of the time...but I'm home more.

"Do you have any homework, Eve?" I ask as she comes upstairs.

She takes too long to answer, so I know.

"Do it," I say, putting my work back in my bag and sitting her down at the table. "Call me if you need any help. And no T.V!" I say to Claire as she reaches for the remote.

"Oh, come on Megara!" Claire whines.

"No Claire. Now do your homework!" I say.

I sit at my desk and open my laptop. Logging on, I see that Jamie is online.

"Hey!" I write happily.

"Hiya Meggie," she writes back.

I smile. Jamie was one of my first friends last year and has been one of my best friends ever since.

"What's up?" I ask.

"Not a lot, darlin' you?"

"Nothing really. I think I might be getting sick," I answer.

"Awww, poor Meg!"

I type in a nod and blow my nose. Euch! Someone else comes online. They say "Hey."



I reply "Hey," before I realize who it is. It's John!

"Oh, umm, hi."

"What's up?" he asks.

Why is he still talking to me?? What does he want? Should I answer?

"You there???" he writes.

"Ya, I'm here. What did you say?" I ask.

"What's up?" he asks again.

"Nothing really, watching my sisters. You?" I had to ask that question to be polite.

"Not a lot."

I could see he was about to type something else so I 'interupted' him.

"I have to go," I wrote quickly. "Bye!" and I log off before he could say anything else.

I'm scared, I admit it. Okay, not scared really just nervous...shy. What does he want from me? Does he enjoy embaressing me? I thought he was a nice guy!

"Megara!!!" Eve is yelling.

"Coming!" I call back, shutting the laptop.

"Claire, what are you doing?" I call. I know that its her before I get there.

"Nothing!" Claire calls back too innocently.

"She's throwing erasers at me!" Eve whines.

"Claire! Leave Eve alone and do your homework. Please?!"

"Fine. Baby" she mutters at Eve.

"Meeeeeg!!!"

"Eve, she didn't hurt you! Ignore her and please finish your homework!"

I sigh as I rummage in the cabinet for pasta for supper. It's going to be a long night.

Part 4

My parents get home just in time for supper.

"Hi!" my mom calls as my dog runs to attack her.

"Mommy!" Eve calls back, running down the stairs to give our Mom a hug.

"Mmmmm, something smells good," she says, coming upstairs.

"Pasta," I say, indicating the pot.

"That's great Meg. You're doing wonderful. Where's Dad?"

"Out," Claire replies. She's on the lap top now. She's almost always on, as soon as I get off.

"Ahhh, well do you guys know when he'll be home?" she asks.

"No," I answer. "Would someone mind setting the table? Please?"

Eve looks around before answering. "I will!" she says, proudly.

"Thanks Eve," I smile, giving her a kiss.

"Ummmm, Mom, can you help me get the plates down?" Eve ask, trying to reach.

"Sure," Mom answers, and gets the plates down for us. "I'm just going to go change. You guys will be all right?"

I roll my eyes. We've been all right when you weren't home, I think to myself but out loud say, "Yeah Mom, sure. We'll be fine."

"Good. Thanks for making supper Meg," Mom says, kissing me on the forehead.

"Yeah, yeah. Go change already," I say, pushing her away.

My dad gets home not long after. Even though he's out, he's still home more than most dads, and I do love him. He comes in and gives us each a kiss.

Once the pasta is ready, I put it in a bowl and bring it to the table. We have salad to go with it. It's really a delicious meal if I do say so myself.

After dinner, Claire once again takes over the computer so I go to my room to read. My room's nice. It's blue and large because it used to be my dad's office. It is also almost completely soundproof. I sit on my bed with the latest book in hand, but instead of reading, I begin to think.

I wonder what John wants. I mean, he seems like a nice enough guy...but why is he 'tormenting' me? Is he just teasing me? There's no need for him to try to make me feel more embarressed. I already feel bad enough. Oh well. I wish there was someone I could talk to this about! Most of my friends at school don't like the 'preps' or 'jocks.' Charla hates them! No one would get it anyway. Oh well. I'll just have to deal.

I sit back on my bed and read until late. I didn't notice how late it was until my mom came down and yelled at me to go to bed! I'm tired anyway, so it doesn't matter. I'd be able to fall asleep if I could only get that picture of John standing in the rain out of my head.