Lessons Learned I

I walked out into the hallway from my history class, thanking God it was lunch time. I really needed the break; it had been a considerably long day.

Unfortunately, I was stopped by a tap on my shoulder.

I turned around and faced Adam.

Maybe hedoes stalk me, I thought.

"Um...hi," I said, forcing a small smile.

He smiled a little. "Hey. You heading to lunch?"

"Yep. It's noon and Wednesday, so I get an hour."

"How about I buy you lunch?"

"Um...you don't have to..." I mumbled.

"No, I want to." He smiled charmingly.

I smiled a little. "Okay, then."

He smiled and we took off to the Bean Scene.

We got a table and ordered, then began talking.

Adam looked around. "Never come here too often..."

I raised my eyebrows. "Really?"

"Mhm." He shrugged. "Not big into cafes, I guess," he said, chuckling.

I smiled a little. "I love this place. I have since eleventh grade."

He looked around. "It's got a nice setting."

"Yeah..."

A random flashback of the day Alex and I had met popped into my mind. I drifted off into my own little world, catching myself smiling.

I came back to Earth and saw Adam staring at me. I looked at him and smiled a little, then looked down at the table.

He smiled at me. "So, how's classes?"

"Good so far. Really boring, though. My interesting classes don't come about until the afternoon. What about you?"

"Eh, all my stuff is dull."

"I hear ya..." I muttered.

"College sucks."

"Yeah," I agreed, laughing a little. "I've met some interesting people, though."

"I'll say..." he mumbled. "That Jake dude is a fine example."

I smiled and began laughing. "He's actually really cool."

"The hair and make up kinda freaked me out..."

"Haven't you seen gothic people before? Sure, they over-do the makeup, but their clothes are really cool. Not the Victorian freaky crap, but the punk-goth stuff."

"Nope. I was at one of those prep schools before coming here..."

"Lucky you..."

"Not really. Everyone was really stuck up."

"Were you?" I asked, sipping on my drink.

"Naw."

"We had a few of those at Seattle High. Thought they were better than everyone because they were rich or pretty or something like that."

"It's retarded."

"Yeah, I agree."

He smiled a little at me; I politely returned his smile.

Things were awkward for a moment or two. I looked down. "Um...do you have the time?"

"Sure." He looked down at his watch and announced it was one.

"...CRAP! I'm supposed to be back at frickin' school," I said, getting my crap together and standing up. "Thanks for lunch, Adam."

"No problem."

I smiled a little and left.