High School Love Again
9 am, Sociology class. Caitlyn has all her books and pens laid out neatly on the desk before her as the students chatter, buzzing about the first day of the year for the high schoolers. Caitlyn scans the room, recognising everyone from the previous high school years, until she lands on the face of the girl sitting at the desk next to her. She wears her bright pink hair in an undercut on the side, and something about her piercing grey-blue eyes send an electric shock through Caitlyn’s body.
As the teacher finally emerges, introducing herself and beginning the lesson, the class quiets down and everyone, including Caitlyn. A few minutes in, Caitlyn notices her classmate beside her discreetly placing a small, folded piece of paper on her desk, not breaking her attention from the teacher. Caitlyn examines the note, written with a red ink pen:
- Hi, can we share textbooks? I don’t have one
With her dark blue pen, Caitlyn writes her response. The girls begin passing the note back and forth slowly.
- Sure. What’s your name?
- Wouldn’t you like to know
- Well I can’t just lend my book to a complete stranger
- I need to protect my identity. I saw you staring, what if you’re a serial killer?
Caitlyn laughs quietly and lightly blushes at the other girl’s response.
- I wasn’t staring! I was just observing
- I’m Vi
- I’m Caitlyn. Nice to meet you. Also, I like your jacket
Caitlyn looks at Vi after she passes the note. Vi returns her gaze with a soft smile before writing her next response.
- Very formal, thanks. Nice to meet you too :) . Can I sit with you at lunch?
- Sure! :)
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“No! You’re wrong, She’s the Man is NOT the best high school comedy.” Caitlyn laughs, shaking her head.
Caitlyn and Vi are sitting on the wooden table outside the English Block, surrounded by a few trees. Caitlyn is nibbling on her turkey sandwich while Vi demolishes her chicken wrap.
“Oh really,” Vi responds with a semi full mouth, “then what is?” Caitlyn rolls her eyes at her playfully.
“Mean Girls, obviously.”
“Hmm. I’ve never watched that one.” Caitlyn gapes at Vi with wide eyes, teasingly shocked.
“What?! You have never seen the best, most iconic piece of early 2000’s cinema satirical comedies have to offer?” Vi shakes her head bashfully, her cheeks filled with the food she took another bite of. Caitlyn can’t help but think how adorable she looks. “No, I will put an end to this madness. I’m forcing you to come to my house today and watch this cinematic masterpiece and you can’t say no.” Vi looks at her in a way that Caitlyn can’t decipher. She worries that Vi can see the pinkness in her cheeks as she smiles lightly.
“Whatever you say, cupcake. But I won’t make any promises on changing my opinions about She’s the Man.” Caitlyn’s cheeks suddenly go a deep shade of red as she avoids eye contact with the girl sitting across from her, darting her gaze to the trees instead - How the hell am I being so affected by a girl I just met? - she thinks to herself.