Under My Nose

It took me 4 years to see that the guy I’d been looking for was right under my nose.

Freshman Year

“Ok, partner up for 3 laps around the track.” The entire gym class with the exception of me groaned in unison. This was the

perfect time for me to talk to my new boyfriend, Chad, without getting in trouble by the teachers. I caught Chad’s eye and

he smiled and made his way over to me, oblivious to the girls eyeing him hungrily. At 5’9, he was tall without that awkward

lanky look that most guys were sporting, and with his blond hair and blue eyes, he looked like an angel, and was as sweet

as one. We had been dating for a week now, and so far everything had been perfect. Even my parents couldn’t say anything

bad about him, which was unusual, because as my first boyfriend, I expected them to grill him. I stood up from tying my

shoe, only to have some guy bump into me. “Watch where you’re going, you almost hurt Zoë!” My heart melted as Chad

defended me, not caring that the guy was at least 6’2 and was on the football team. The gym teacher blew his whistle and I

winced, missing the look on the football players’ face when he looked at me. “Let’s go baby,” Chad said, and took my hand,

a smile on his face.

Sophomore Year

“Tell me again who picked a car wash as our first fundraiser?” My best friend Carol rolled her eyes, “The chauvinistic males

who love to see girls in their bikinis, washing their huge trucks and getting wet.” “Ugh, men,” we muttered in unison as we

both changed into bikini’s with our school colors on it. As president and vice-president of our classes National Honor Society,

we were obligated to participate in the car wash, and I for one wasn’t looking forward to it. I had just straightened my long

curly black hair the day before, and I didn’t want it to get wet. I grabbed a pair of sunglasses out of my bag and after

applying sunscreen, headed out to the school parking lot, or at least I tried. “Just where do you think you’re going?” asked

Carol’s mother and president of the PTA. “Outside,” I answered meekly, knowing instinctively what she was about to say.

“When did you develop a figure like that?” I giggled while Carol rolled her eyes. I tried to find a conservative swim suit, I

really did, but my body just looks provocative in everything. I blamed my full-figured Filipino mother. With a coke bottle

figure, I had already realized that it was time for me to take it down about 6 notches with my clothing. When we got

to the parking lot, there were at least 20 cars already lined up, and I felt my annoyance rise when I spotted my ex, making

out with his current bimbo on top of his car. “Chad straight ahead,” murmured Carol, but I just shrugged my shoulders. We

had broken up at the end of last year, and he was the reason I was staying single. After what seemed like the perfect

relationship the first few months, he had changed after Christmas break, and began demanding that we have sex. After he

tried to force me one night, I had broken it off and he was still bitter. “Let’s just wash these cars so I can go home.” After

washing 37 cars and 16 SUV’s, not to mention a hummer, I was exhausted. I grabbed the bullhorn off the nearest table. “Ok

guys, good job today. Now let’s pack it up, so we can head home and watch TV!” I bent over to pick up a pile of wet towels

when someone sprayed my ass with water. “What the fuck!” and looked up to see my friend Will laughing. “Not funny

William!” “It kinda is Zoë, you look like you pissed your pants.” I threw a sponge at Will and picked up the towels. “I don’t

have time to play with little kids today; I have things waiting for me at home.” “What a boyfriend?” I rolled my eyes at him,

“I will never date another boy at this school for as long as I live!” I exclaimed and stomped away; missing the thumbs down

signal he gave to a tall handsome football player.

Junior Year

“Can we share your book?” I looked up into a pair of brown eyes and felt a fluttering in my stomach I quickly attributed to

hunger. I nodded and slid the text book over to the middle of the desk and scooted over. He slid his chair closer to the desk

and I got a whiff of his cologne. “My name’s Jayson.” “Zoë,” I mumbled, trying not to stare. “What happened to your book,

it’s only the second week of school?” I asked and he explained sheepishly, “My locker is stuck, and the engineer said he

doesn’t have time to open it, so I have to share.” I shrugged nonchalantly and picked up my romance book, determined to

ignore him and the teacher.

“Zoë, did you do your homework?” I slid Jayson my worksheet without glancing up. It was a daily routine; he’d come to class

and copy my work frantically while I proceeded to read a new romance book. “Thanks, you’re a life saver!” I nodded,

engrossed in whether Maria would take back her Latin lover or marry the man that her father picked out for her. Just as I

was getting to a particularly juicy scene, Jayson snatched my book out of my hands. “What is this, porn?” he drawled and I

felt my face flush with anger, “No it’s a romance book, now give it back!” He raised an eyebrow and opened the book,

“Romance, eh?” he read a particularly steamy passage aloud and laughed, “What a bunch of crap.” When he saw my beet

red face, he quickly handed the book back and muttered an apology. Luckily the bell rang signaling the end of class and I

grabbed my things and left.

“What a jerk!” exclaimed Carol as we sat in the library waiting for out student development meeting to start. I nodded, “but

it was just so random that he would say anything to me. Other than copying my work or asking for supplies, we never talk.”

Carol chewed her gum thoughtfully, “That’s odd that you guys have been sharing a book for the whole year. I know of

people who got their lockers opened the same day they asked. And aren’t there some attractive girls in your class?” “I think

he only sits with me because I’m the quietest one in the class and I actually know how to do the work. It’s definitely not

because of how I dress.” Carol nodded and blew a bubble. I had starting dressing more and more conservatively after an

incident in which a picture of me at the beach was posted on a facebook group. “Do you want to go shopping after school?”

I asked? Carol and I were participating in the foreign exchange program, and would be going to France for the rest of the

school year starting February 17. She nodded and I smiled before pulling out my book.

“Are you excited about France?” asked my calculus teacher and I smiled, very excited to be going somewhere new with my

best friend. It was Friday, and I would be leaving Monday. “We’ll you currently have the highest grade in the class, and I’m

sure you’ll do just fine over there. Who knows, maybe you’ll find a cute guy.” I smiled weakly and gave her my grade slip,

and after she added my A, I went back to my seat, nearly tripping on the huge teddy bear that was blocking the aisle. This

year, students had gone overboard, and the amount of PDA was disgusting. I had dressed for the occasion in a pair of dark

blue skinny jeans and a black shirt that had a huge heart with an x going through it. “Hi,” Jayson said, and I slid him my

worksheet to him. “No thanks,” he said, laughing and I peeked at him through my bangs. “Happy Valentines day!” he said

and reached behind his book bag for something when he noticed the paper on the desk. “You’re going to France too?” I

nodded my face lighting up. I looked at him, suddenly noticing how sad he looked. “I’m sorry I didn’t tell you, but I’m sure

you can find someone else to copy off of for the rest of the year.” He nodded, and grabbed his bags, “Hope you have a good

time,” he muttered and moved to another seat on the other side of the class. I watched, perplexed, until the bell rang and I

hurried off to my next class.

Senior Year

“I am so freaking glad that we’re seniors this year!” Carol said as she settled into my car. It was the first day of school, and

even I was glad to be back. France had bought me out of the shell I had somehow retreated into after Chad, and I was

bubblier around strangers and more confident in my figure. “Have you thought about Prom?” I laughed, “Carol, prom is

months away. How about we concentrate on making it to school on time?” I parked; we separated to head to homeroom. I

got there just as the bell was ringing, and found myself to be the only one standing up. “And you are?” asked Mrs. Johnson,

the same homeroom teacher I’d had for the last 3years. “Zoë Jefferson.” I stated, watching her face light up. “You look so

different,” She said and I nodded a huge grin on my face. “Most of you guys know each other, but we have a few new

additions to our class because the school decided to take away a few homerooms." I sat down in the last seat in my row,

and noticed Jayson a few rows over, looking at me. I waved and he turned his head. “I guess,” I muttered under my breath

and pulled a book out of my bag.

I watched as Zoë pulled a book out of her purse and sat back in her seat. When she walked into the room, I barely

recognized her; she looked younger, and looked almost as she did when I first noticed her freshman year. Her long wavy

hair was in pigtails and she had on a yellow baby doll dress that made her legs seems longer and her eyes seem green

instead of their usual hazel color. I felt pathetic, as one of the most popular guys in the school, I could have any girl I

wanted, and I wanted Zoë. Four long years of wanting her, and every time I worked up my courage, I was shut down. ‘This

is the year I ask her out. It’s now or never.’ I told myself.

“Hey Zoë.” I looked up from my locker to see Jayson there. “Hi Jayson. I thought you were gonna avoid me for a second

there in homeroom.” He laughed, “How was France?” “Awesome.” He nodded, “Well, I gotta go to class, but give me your

number, maybe we can hang out later.” I smiled we quickly exchanged phones. The ball rang and I gave him back his phone

and hurried off to A.P. Biology.

“So, what’s going on with you and Jayson?” Carol asked as we shopped for Halloween costumes. I felt my face flame,

“Nothing, we’re just good friends.” “Who talk every night?” “Yes, we talk every night. But it’s not a big deal.” Carol snorted

and I rolled my eyes. “What about this?” I asked, pulling out a little red riding hood outfit. She nodded and we paid for our

costumes. The cheerleaders were having a costume party at the gym and I wanted to look my best for Jayson. I stopped

suddenly when that thought went through my mind. I liked Jayson? “Carol,” I whispered and she looked at me, “I think I

like Jayson.” She smiled, a huge cheesy smile and said, “I called it. When you guys get married, I want a baby named after

me!” “Carol!!”

“So where are you going to school at?” Jayson asked and I immediately responded, Hawaii Pacific University!” He laughed,

“Why Hawaii?” “It’s where my parents met. What about you?” “UCLA, they’re giving me a full scholarship.” “That’s great,

why didn’t you tell me this earlier?” Later that night, after I got off the phone with Jayson, I felt tears well up in my eyes. He

was leaving, and though California was closer to Hawaii than him staying here in Florida, I still wanted us to be together.