: Give Her One Summer : -

The first days of school aren't really to get to know the school, or get acquainted with your teachers, your new classes, and your schedules. They're actually just to see old friends, well that's what I think anyway. I never paid much attention to what was happening the first days of school, for me they were just to see how everyone's summer went and what was going on with who.

Plus, it gives you a chance to see who's changed or not.

I walked to school with two guys you I've known since kindergarten, Mark and Jack. We played football, hockey, and lacrosse together. You can say we're like the three amigos.

“So how'd things go with you and Jodi over the summer Mark?” Jack asked as we neared the school.

I adjusted the strap on my backpack as Mark answered.

“Jodi left me for some dude on the B-ball team,” he shrugged, “didn't really bother me.”

“What about you Brady?”

I shrugged. “Single and still kickin'.”

Jack shook his head at me. “Dude, you aren't going to become a 60-year-old virgin, are you?”

I let out a laugh and shook my head. “Nah, I'm probably going to lose it the summer 'fore I go to college.”

Mark laughed at me. “You're planning? What guy plans when to lose his V-card? That's just gay.”

We stepped onto the grounds of the school and saw that there were a fair amount of people already there, a few were going into the school already.

“Oh hey, looks like Gerad and Julia broke up over the summer.” I looked over at the two and noticed that there was a fair amount of space between them.

“You know what I love about new school years? Fresh meat.”

“Oh and you can't forget the hot new girls,” Jack added.

“Speaking of new girls, here comes one now.” I nodded to a girl who was walking with a backpack slung over her right shoulder. She had black hair with maroon streaks in it, I was pretty sure she was wearing purple contacts, jeans and a red polo.

“Hey, that's not a new girl,” Mark narrowed his eyes at her, “she looks familiar.”

Jack looked at her too. “Hey, wasn't she that fat girl who was in our art?”

The more I watched her the more it came to me. To tell the truth, before she wasn't that fat, a little chubby, but not extremely overweight. She was kind of short too. I remember her being in my Art, English and Gym. She was pretty good at all three, if I remember right.

“What was her name again?”

“Tammy? No...”

“Tara? No.”
“Tori,” I said as I looked at her, “her name was Tori.”

Tori had sure changed over the summer...

- : -

Tori was in three of my classes again, the same ones as last year. As a usually first day routine the class shared things about themselves. I found out Tori loved to draw, played hockey, and some soccer. She sat somewhat next to me in those three classes. Every now and then I'd take a quick glance at her, to see how much she'd changed. It was sort of freaky.

In the hall Jack accidentally ran into her when we were walking to class.

“Hey, watch it asshole,” she growled at Jack before going on her way.

That both caught us by surprise. The Tori we knew from last year was shy and reserved, and we had never heard her swear.

Man she had changed.

- : -

During lunch I sat at the jock table, that had popular girls mixed in with it, for another time today I found myself darting my eyes around the room, trying to find Tori.

“Who are you looking for Brady?” Samantha asked me.

“Oh he's lookin' for some chick who majorly changed over the summer. I think her name was Tori,” Jack answered for me.

“Tori?” Sam let out a laugh, “you mean that ugly girl? Did she get even fatter?” She let out a laugh.

“Actually she's pretty hot,” Mark admitted.

“She's right there,” I pointed to the girl who was walking this way and looking for place to sit. She looked around and bit her lower lip.

“Hey Tori!” Jack said waving his hand, “we have a spot for you right here!” He shoved people aside to make a spot with just enough room for Tori.

“Oh, thanks Jack.” She smiled graciously at him and he ate it up. Huh, she got her braces off too.

As soon as she sat down Samantha started asking her questions.

“So, you still hang out with your nerds- I mean those people...?” I knew she made that mistake on purpose. But Tori only shrugged in return.

“Alex is dating Nick Jerchovski, this weirdo who collects trains or something, and she's become obsessed with wearing this green that looks like goose crap and puke combined.”
“Eww, that's gross.”

“My thoughts totally,” Tori agreed. “Emila is going to a private school and Anna went all-out cheerleader.”

Sam nodded. “So, now... you've changed... a lot.” I rolled my eyes at how blunt Sam was.

Tori didn't seem to mind it. “Lost weight; obviously. Got colored contacts, hairstyle's different, no more braces, and took up a sport.”

“Oh, what sports do you play?”

“Soccer and hockey.”

Samantha nodded. “Well, uh, Tori, you're free to sit with us whenever you want to now. You're cool with the cool kids.”

Tori smiled again. “Alright, thanks Samantha.”

- : -

I walked home alone because Mark and Jack had something to do after school. As I kept walking I eventually saw a familiar figure; Tori.

I picked up my pace to get a little ways behind her, then I slowed down.

“Hey Tori.”

She paused in her tracks and looked back at me. I didn't know how I noticed this, but her eyes softened and her cheeks became a slight pink.

“Oh hey Brady.”

“You walk home this way?”

She nodded. “Yeah a couple houses down that way.” She pointed down the street.

“Oh that's cool.” We started walking in time together. After some silence I decided to speak.

“So... you liked me last year, right?” Wow, what a way to start a conversation.

“Still do.”

That was pretty straight forward. I looked over at her face and it was completely casual, apparently she didn't have a problem with telling me that.

“Is that why you changed over the summer?” I was kind of flattered.

“Not really.” Flattery just got flushed down the toilet.

“Then why'd you change?”

“You need something to do for three months.”

“Oh...”

“You gave me a summer.”

“... what?”

“You gave me a summer to change. Don't you remember?” she stopped to look at me. “You said that if I can do something over the summer, and show it to you, and it'll shock you on the first day of school. Then you'd give me another summer; as your girlfriend.”

It felt like a distant memory but I nodded. “Yeah, I remember now.”

“So did I shock you?”

“I...I guess so, yeah.”

“Does that mean you'll give me half a summer?” Her eyes looked so hopeful and I thought about it. I wasn't quite sure yet, I mean it was only the first day of school. But I couldn't help but want to see her smile, or look for her when entering a room.

Maybe I'd give her at least half a summer; or something.

“Well, I can't really give you half a summer.”

I saw the hopefulness drain from her face.

“But I can give you 9 months, how does that sound?”

- : -

End Note: Written EARLY in the morning xD I dunno what the actual point of it WAS, but OH WELL. XD I should sleep now. xD