I Feel Insane.

I walked into sixth period Physics, mumbling harsh words under my breath.

"Fuckin' Alcaraz. She's a stupid mother - "

"I hope you don't finish that sentence about Mrs. Alcaraz, Ms. Anna," Mr. Alton said at the door.

"I won't, Alton," I smiled cheekily. I then frowned, "You know I don't like it when people call me Anna."

"Raquel, Raquel, I know," he waved it off as I sat down. "But Raquel is so long and hard to say."

"Raquel. Ruh. Kel." I rose my arms and gave him a "Wtf" look.

"I know; how about Ruh...uh, Racky? Or Kelly?"

I slammed the book down just as the bell rang (and just as Matt scurried into class), "NO, man. Raquel. Use it or don't talk to me at all."

"That's fine with me," Mr. Alton chuckled as he started passing out the quiz.

"Hey, Raquel," I heard a whisper behind me. I turned around.

"Hey, Matt. Oh! I have a question for you!" I started, realizing Matt was in the middle of saying something.

"No, you go first," he smiled. God, those dimples.

"No, you," I smiled.

I heard a throat clearing behind me. "How 'bout I go first? Take. Your. Quiz. No talking," he added.

"Later," I whispered to the boy sitting behind me with the pierced lip and gorgeous dimples.

I finished taking the quiz in no time, and was the second to turn it in. Unlike Tina Anderson (always the first person to turn anything in), I never got A's with turning them in early. I always got B's to low C's; hated it, too.

Walking back to my seat, I looked down and realized my shoe was untie - oof.

I looked up and saw Mr. Matt Sanders grinning at me, quiz in hand.

We stood there awkwardly, and well, he wouldn't move. He kind of needed to, too.How else do you go back to your seat if someone is standing in the middle of a very thin path?

"Go turn in your quiz, motherfucker," I whispered, grinning as I placed my hands on his chest and pushed him along.

I heard him give a low chuckle and plopped down in my plastic yellow chair once more.

After about 15 or 20 more minutes of silence, there was about 25 minutes left of class.

"Everyone done? Is anyone still taking the test?" Mr. Alton said, looking for any raised hands. No dice.

"Alright, you can talk. But quietly," he emphasized the word, lookingin the corner I was sitting in at, well, us.

I saluted him, and turned around. "As I said, you first."

"Okay, fine," he looked a little discomforted. "My friend's friend is having a party sometime next week, and I was wondering if you would be my date. To the party."

I was so glad he asked me; "I'll be your date if you'll be mine."

God, Raquel! Now, it sounds as if it's just a deal! And it's totally not! Fuck, fuck, fuck! Flirt, bitch, flirt! Make it seem like you're interested, damn it!

However, Matt didn't seem fazed by this; he simply smiled and said, "Sure."

"So, when's your party?" I asked him, pulling the strings on his hoodie.

"It's at a guy named Zack Backer's house, on...a Saturday. I think," he frowned, trying to remember the date.

"No way!"

"Shh!" Mr. Alton said hastily.

I rolled my eyes and Matt laughed, "What?"

"That's the party I was going to ask you to!"

He laughed, "So, what are you gonna wear? You know it's a costume party, right?"

I didn't, but it was a Halloween party; what else could you expect? Nonetheless, I nodded, and said, "I don't know. What about you?"

After class...

I walked out the door, taking a right to go to my car when something grabbed my arm. I turned around briskly, and saw it was Matt. With some strange guy.

"Hey, I wanted you to meet my friend, who was expelled with me from Huntington."

I nodded; I knew all about the expulsion the second day Matt was here. "Hey, I'm Raquel," I smiled, holding out my arms awkwardly to this giant, tall stranger. He had to bend down to hug me, and standing back up, he said, "I'm Jimmy. Well, James, if you want."

"Jimbo," I declared. He grinned. Matt cleared his throat, "Where are you headin' to now, 'kel?"

"Home, I guess," I shrugged. Even though it was a Friday, and my parents just left for their one-and-a-half week long anniversary, had a car, and was legally able to stay out after 10 PM, I had no intention of doing anything besides renting some funny earlier 2000 movies.

And...running over to CVS to buy a bag of Kettle Popcorn.

"Are your parents going to wonder where you are?" Jimmy asked.

I quirked an eyebrow at them both, and slowly said, "...No...Week and a half long anniversary. Why?"

"Come to our band practice!" Jimmy exclaimed.

"You guys are in a band?"

"So, you tell her about how we got expelled, but not our good points?" Jimbo shoved Matt playfully.

"Yeah, wanna come?"

"Sure, when?"

"Now!"

And five minutes later, I'm sitting on a rug in a small garage, listening to a band with one vocalist, one drummer, one bassist, and one guitarist.

After they had finished their first song, I told the really hot guitarist whose name I learned was Brian (who desperately needed a haircut), "Are you planning to go without a rhythm guitarist? 'Cause your solos are really hot, but it sounds kinda with only the bassline filling in as rhythm."

"That's what I've been telling these boys!" he yelled, walking over to me, and giving me a tight hug. "Finally! Someone who understands!"

They all took a break, and I sat between Matt and Brian on the couch in Matt's living room.

"Are you boys done with the music for the day - Oh, why, hello, dear," I turned to see a plump woman maybe as tall as me - or even a little shorter - smiling warmly.

Wanting to slap myself for forgetting my manners, I stood up and extended my hand to her, "Hi, I'm Raquel Bernascotti. I go to school with your Matt."

"Oh, it's nice to meet you, Raquel. What a beautiful name," she gushed.

"Mo-o-o-m," Matt said, groaning. "Leave her alone. What's she done to you?"

She frowned at him and waved her index finger in his direction; "If these boys harass you, just come into the kitchen or the basement; I'll be there."

"Thanks, Mrs. Sanders!"

"Come on, 'kel," Matt said, taking a hold of my hand and pulling me back onto the couch. Instead of taking a seat on the plump mattress, I sat on his lap.

"You're quite comfy, you know that?" I grinned cheekily. Then, I became self-conscious about my weight. Leaning forward and wrapping my arms around his body and putting my head on his shoulder, I asked quietly so no one would hear but him, "Am I too heavy? Want me to get off?"

He pushed me away, and for a second, I was hurt. Say yes or no, but don't push me away, Jesus.

"No, oh, my God," he said quietly, making sure no one heard. "You're the perfect weight. Well, I don't know, maybe gain a couple more pounds, but you're fine," he pulled my torso in, "okay?"

"She's better than fine; she's hot!" Brian whistled. I laughed, and turned pink. I was not good at receiving compliments. Even if a nerd told me I was pretty, I would blush. No lie.

"He's right, you know, you are pretty hot," Matt said, baring his teeth and showin' off those fine dimples.

You have no idea how much I just want to kiss you, Matthew Sanders.