The white mist of snow was thrown up as a car sped through it, its wheels spinning as the driver pushed on the gas, paying little heed to the speed limit, afraid he might arrive at school late. Clenching a piece of toast in between his teeth, Jeremy spun around the corner, hardly slowing down. He would not be late today; he did not want to miss seeing her again. Maybe if he could say a few words to her in passing more often, he would have a better chance with her. Anything he could do, he was willing to try. After all, it was his last year, the last time he would have to impress her. Brittney, the blonde-haired goddess, the desire of any guy in his right mind, and the girl Jeremy had a crush on since his freshman year. Sure, he had dated other girls, but they were just side shows, small flings, he really had always wanted to be with Brittney, and now it was senior year, and it all came down to this.

Swallowing his last piece of toast, Jeremy tore into the school parking lot, slamming on his bakes as he got behind the long line of cars pulling in. But as soon as he got into the aisles, he stepped on the gas again, pulling into the first parking space he spotted. He just caught the strap of his backpack as he launched himself out of his car. He sprinted to the front door of the school; disregarding the couple of underclassmen he “accidentally” sent sprawling. However, as soon as he placed his hand on the front door of the school, he slowed up, collecting himself, trying to make himself look as dignified as possible with his chest rising and falling rapidly, and his breaths coming short and sharp.

As Jeremy entered the school, he ran a hand through his disheveled hair, attempting to correct what his run had ruined. He tried desperately to slow his breathing as he descended the stairs in the front of the school, and turned towards the senior hallway. Walking with his head held high, Jeremy struggled to appear dignified, refined, and above all else, desirable. As he proceeded down the hall, he greeted his many acquaintances, all the while watching out of the corner of his eye for the blonde-haired girl he had arrived on time for in the first place. Finally, after Jeremy had stopped at his locker, and had finished walking down the entire hall, resolving to just return to his car, and spend first period at the Starbucks a few blocks away, she appeared out of nowhere, almost right in front of Jeremy. It was a sign, or so Jeremy believed.

“Hey, Brittney!” Jeremy called, waving and smiling at her.

“Oh, hello Jeremy.” Brittney returned, giving Jeremy an appraising glance, and only slightly turning a corner of her mouth upwards without any real emotion behind the gesture. “Say, have you seen Nick?”

“Nick?”

“Yeah, he asked me out last night.”

Jeremy swore under his breath.

“What’s that?”

“No, no I haven’t seen him.”

“Oh... well, see you.”

“Yeah, later.” Jeremy said quietly, waving weakly as Brittney turned from him without so much as a second glance. Nothing in high school ever worked out the way one hoped. But at least he would be gone from it soon, things would get better than, or so Jeremy believed. Suddenly the energy to even walk to his car had been seeped from his body, and he just sunk to the floor in front of his locker.

“Hey Jeremy, what’s up?”

Jeremy looked up to see his friend Allison smiling down at him, her brown hair falling into her eyes. She had been Jeremy’s good friend since middle school, always willing to hang around him even when he was in his most bazaar moods, ranging from extremely hyperactive, and ultra-depressed, the basic emotion swings induced by hormones that could become so annoying, and yet Allison was always patient with him. Hardly showing any of the symptoms of teenager-hood herself, she was continuously prepared with one her smiles; like then, as she sunk down on the ground next to Jeremy.

“So, what is it today?” Allison asked after Jeremy didn’t return her greeting.

“She...”

“Ah, it’s about her, is it?” Allison’s smile faded, replaced with a knowing expression. She had heard various forms of this same lament since freshman year. “So, what is it this time?”

“She’s going out with someone again.” Jeremy whined, leaning his head back against his locker, staring hopelessly towards the ceiling.

“Jeremy, you should expect something like that from a girl like Brittney,” Allison said, shaking her head.

“Come on, you don’t need to talk about her like that.”

“But it’s true Jeremy, she gets around, everybody knows that.”

“Whatever,” Jeremy replied, standing once more, “Hey, would you like to go get a cup of coffee with me?” Jeremy asked, a devious smile spreading across his face as he looked down at Allison.

Allison did not reply immediately, but instead reached out her hands, asking for Jeremy’s assistance to stand aright again. Jeremy complied with her unspoken request, gently taking hold of her hands and pulling her up onto her feet.

“So, will you come?”

“I’ll go with you if you wait until after class,” Allison stated brusquely, as she walked right on past Jeremy.

“Oh, come on, you’re such a party pooper!” Jeremy called after her.

Allison smiled, “So, I’ll meet you back here after class?” She said it more as a statement of truth rather than a question, and Jeremy knew why. Allison knew that he would rather go with her than by himself.

“Fine, but don’t be late!” Jeremy called after her.

“Don’t worry, I won’t.”

Halfway through her morning class, Allison began to think it would have been just as beneficial if she had gone with Jeremy instead of attending the period. She wasn’t able to focus as all, as her thoughts kept drifting back to Jeremy. He was such a stubborn guy, he couldn’t see things if they were laid right before his eyes. Most everyone else had already been convinced of Brittney’s unfaithfulness, but not him. And he wouldn’t even accept someone better, could not even recognize her blatantly obvious intentions. Or at least, Allison’s friends told her that she was rather obvious with the fact that she liked Jeremy—even if she did attempt to mask it, afraid that her frivolous crush might ruin Jeremy’s and hers friendship. High school was so problematic with all the social complexities; she was so hoping that in the real world it would improve.