Things You Never Learned In High School
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Pendergast 1 Things You Never Learned In High School I’ll tell you what; I was just trying to be romantic. I was trying to be someone that I’m not. You know optimistic, passionate… spontaneous. Fuck that, no more romantic gestures for me. I had this one and I’m finished. The rock I chose wasn’t huge; it sat lifeless in the palm of my hand like a dead bug. I let it roll gently through my fingers while looking up at Sarah’s window. The dark pane stared right back into my eyes; light from beyond the backyard fence casted my eerie shadow to the left. My first throw was perfect. The stone didn’t hit the glass too hard and continued to dribble down the shingles and into the gutter with a clink. I’ll have to admit my second was a little less accurate; I was never quite the athlete. To be honest, I was surprised she hadn’t come to the window by now, but I figured in this case the third time would be the charm. If this one didn’t work I would give up and head home. The second I heard the glass shatter I took off. Thomas Powell Boulevard had a certain glow to it. Not like in the movies, no, but more like a portrait, letting the darkness overcast the silhouette of my lanky body quickly rushing down the street. With every evaporating breath of air that rose from my lips, I let out a tiny prayer. “Please…God…” This was only half ironic considering the fact that I only seemed to pray when I was knee deep in shit. That guy up there has to have some sort of twisted humor. He gave me sirens. I could hear them surge from the eastside and climb into the cloudless sky. I slowed down and took a sharp left into the brush behind the Levatino’s house.
Pendergast 2 I was trying my best to explain what happened in my head, but as the sirens in the distance slowly crept closer to where I was hidden, my heart leapt into my throat and proceeded to thump violently throughout my whole entire body. You know there’s something wrong when you have to remind yourself to breathe. In these types of situations my common sense was more abusive than Chris Brown. It seemed to enjoy taking advantage of the fact that I am weak willed and extremely insecure. “You’re an idiot, you know that? Probably one of the dumbest motherfuckers I know.” I clenched the cold metal fence behind me as the branches from the bush sticking through it tugged onto my right sleeve. I waited until I saw the cop cars pass Thomas Powell to make my move but when I did the selfish bitch of a bush stole a souvenir from my favorite Slayer shirt. “Shit!” I grasped my arm and held back but decided it was too late. Stepping down from the curb and into the light. The coast was clear. I could see my house in the distance off of Jerome Drive. I inhaled one last breath and decided to make a run for it: Across the street, past the trees, over my fence, through my backyard and into bedroom window. Sanctuary! I sat on the edge of my desk heaving heavily, my lungs trying to reimburse themselves with the oxygen they had been so desperately deprived of. I hadn’t run that fast since Ronny Rothstein tried to kick my ass back in the eighth grade. I pantsed him; it was definitely one of my most shining moments. My bed was like a dream come true, a safe haven for my broken spirit and exhausted body. I lie there awake for a while just catching my breath and going through scenarios in my head. Doing this really only ended up scaring the shit out of me. I figured it would be much
Pendergast 3 better if I dozed off into total and complete darkness; after all, it seemed like a much better place than I was now. The next day I went over my midnight encounter with my best friend Zach in the boy’s bathroom during our eighth period study hall. “Wait a second. You what?” He stared at me in shock; his face caked with cover up. “I’m sorry man, I just can’t take you seriously with make-up on.” “Just do what every girl does dude, look through me. But c’mon you have to admit I look good, I really think I can pull this off.” I chuckled and rolled my eyes in response. “Oh and fuck you for dropping out.” He added, modestly. “Zach I can’t drop out of a plan I was never a part of.” He mumbled something about me being a dick and continued slabbing on his mothers lipstick. Zach has had this goal for months, well really since the beginning of the year. In early September rumors broke out about this famous stall in the girls bathroom on the east wing of our high school. It has been said that the girls rate the guys in the school by looks according to the amount of tally marks beside their name. Zach’s been obsessed ever since, cooking up numerous different plans to get inside and sneak a peak. I enjoyed poking fun at Zach. “Do you really think that bathroom stall even exists?” He sighed. “For the last time, yes Shawn, it has to. It’s what singlehandedly drives me to get up and spend time at this horrible place.” “I don’t know man, I heard its one big myth, like Moby Dick or Sasquatch”
Pendergast 4 Zach wasn’t having any of this. “First of all Sasquatch is real. Same with the Loch Ness Monster.” “Nah, some guy denied it on his death bed in like 2008 dude…” “Irrelevant. Why are we talking about this anyway, you brought me way off topic. Why in the world would you throw a rock at Sarah Martin’s window?” “I don’t know. I was…” I paused for a second considering Zach’s cynical and pessimistic view on romance and relationships. He knew I liked Sarah, but I wasn’t going to waste his time with the campy details. “I really have no idea man. I was high as shit.” I was really sober as a bird. “Well you’re an idiot you know that? Have you seen her at all today?” “No, I my next class is the only one I have with her.” “Are you going to tell her you did it?” “Are you kidding me why would I do that?” “I don’t know man to break the tension. The ice. Just say hey, sorry Sarah, I mean I love you and all so I thought I’d let you know by throwing a big fucking boulder through your window.” Zach howled in laughter, he always seemed to enjoy his own jokes more than anyone else did. The dismissal bell rang as Zach pulled out a blonde wig from his book-bag. He placed it on his head. “Check it out. It’s real hair, no big deal. I’m going all out.” He looked at himself in the mirror and smiled. “I’m sexy. If I were a girl I’d bang me, would you bang me?” “I’m going to throw up.” “I just need to make it to the other side of the hall during our half period and I’ll be in the clear. It’s a fool proof plan dude, fool proof!”
Pendergast 5 I headed out the door and to my last and least favorite class of the day. Biology with Mrs. Marconi was like spending forty-five minutes in one of the seven circles of hell. Matter of fact, I wouldn’t be surprised if it was actually one of the circles in hell. I dreaded this class not only because learning about the human body was disgusting and boring, but also because Mrs. Marconi’s voice was like a tone-deaf version of Bohemian Rhapsody. The pitch of her voice was unbearable, and Freddy Mercury would be extremely disappointed. The only upside to my Biology class was Sarah. The truth is, I’d rather study her body than anyone else’s, after all she was pretty much all I really thought about in school anyway. Her beautiful face, with just the right amount of freckles (I always imagined them to be a perfect, even number.) Her wonderful laugh and the shape her lips curved into when she smiled, her lips, her hair, her black eye. Wait a minute what the fuck? No, I didn’t imagine it… right behind the small strands of hair that dangled beside her face and just above her right cheek was a large, purple ring around the corners of her eye. On the inside I panicked. There is no way in hell I did that, I couldn’t have done that. On the outside I tried my best to keep it cool, trembling with every step I took towards my seat. I collected my composure, pinched my leg and took a deep breath as I sat down. “Hey Sarah, are you okay?” I asked shyly. She turned to me smiling sweetly, not feeling bothered at all by the question I asked, that she had probably heard twelve different times today. This is why I loved this girl. “Shawn! Yeah, I’m fine. Some idiot was throwing rocks at my window last night.” I figured it would be in my best interest to totally eliminate myself from any type of suspect, and with that subtly find details about what Sarah knew. “What? Why would someone do that?”
Pendergast 6 “I have no idea, but my dad is pretty spooked.” She said. “He thinks it might have been someone that was against his campaign.” Thomas Martin has been the Mayor of Farmingdale for the past seven years and everybody in the town loved him. “Oh I’m sure it was nothing like that.” I assured her. After all I knew. “Did you get to see who it was?” I dug deeper. “No it was way too dark and when I went to check, well, this happened.” “Mr. Bradshaw!” Mrs. Marconi’s voice pierced my ears. I looked up to see the whole class shuffling in their seats to stare back at me. “Would you mind if I interrupt your most obviously important conversation with Mrs. Martin so I can start my meaningless lesson?” The glass giggled. “I’m sorry Mrs. Marconi.” What a bitch. I could feel my face turning all different shades of red and burning from embarrassment. Sarah straightened up in her seat and peeked back at me mouthing the words “Sorry…” It wasn’t her fault. After all I was the one who started the conversation in the first place. This was the last fifty minutes until the weekend and Biology could not be going any slower. I swear Mrs. Marconi could make Fight Club sound boring. Her squeaky voice echoed off of the blackboard. “And the esophagus retracts and then pulls back.” Kill. Me. Now. “The gag reflex is triggered, bringing up everything left in your stomach to the throat.”
Pendergast 7 Half the class of boys laughed, while the girls groaned in disgust. Mrs. Marconi continued. “Settle down, settle down children, its throwing up, we’ve all done it. And see this figure here? This is the larynx…” By the time I escaped the evil clutches of Marconi’s horrible class I had contemplated dropping out of school, running away or selling myself to slavery. All in that order, I just never wanted to be seen in Farmingdale again. Who in their right mind gives the person they love a black eye? My life was officially a joke. I waited to meet Zach after my class at the bike stands like usual. He walked towards me dressed normal now, with his goofy grin pasted on his face. I debated telling him about Sarah but decided against it considering the fact that he would only make me feel worse. We continued walking, but Zach still had the stupid grin on his face. He was waiting for me to ask. “The tension is killing me.” I said sarcastically. “What happened?” He laughed and turned to me, “I’m suspended.” I stopped dead in my tracks “What?” He never hesitated, or stopped so I had to run to catch up. “What do you mean you’re suspended?” “Well, my wig got caught in the door as it was closing. Erin Garvey was washing her hands and she caught me.” He sighed. “Man that girl can scream.” I couldn’t believe it. “Yeah, man. I was so close too. Principal Himbry gave me two days next week for cross dressing.” “You’re not mad?”
Pendergast 8 “Are you kidding, that’s hilarious, I could care less. Billy Dufrasne is back in town and I heard he’s bringing a keg to mini bridge.” “Billy Dufrasne?” I asked in complete shock. “I thought that kid was in jail.” “He was, or something like it at least. I heard he escaped, some Shawshank Redemption type shit.” “Jesus, really?” I asked. “Yeah. Didn’t he date your girl Sarah?” “Well, I think before he dropped out. Like Freshman year or something, she probably realized that he was a dirt bag.” “I don’t know it’s guys like that girls dig nowadays.” Zach teased me. “Yeah, I know.” “Don’t worry bud, maybe she’ll be at the party tonight.” “I hope so, text me later.” I shouted in his direction. “Sounds good.” Zach turned left and headed down Broadway and towards his house. Friday nights were usually my mom’s only time to actually go out, let loose and enjoy some time with her friends. God knows with working two different jobs and two twelve-hour shifts a week she deserves it. But as far as I’m concerned, I deserve to do the same, just illegally. After all high school is brutal. The one problem with this scenario is the fact that after my mom left I had to stay at home to “keep an eye on” my thirteen-year-old brother Peter. Peter understood though, and with a small fee of twenty dollars and an R-Rated flick in the DVD player for the next two hours, Peter wouldn’t tell. I guess I’m not qualified for getting the best big brother award this year, I hadn’t been in the running since I accidently lit the little man on fire like three years ago.
Pendergast 9 By nine thirty five I was out the door and on the road. I hadn’t heard from Zach since he got to the party, which was around eight. Located in an area behind the famous abandoned
warehouse in Farmingdale, mini bridge was the nickname of a premier spot for us high school kids to gather on warm nights and drink all of our worries away. It was just what its name implied, a small bridge, over a creek just down a dirt road. Most of the kids in our town never really threw house parties anyway, so we would all just go to the woods. To you it probably sounds pretty stupid, but to us it was freedom. There were some nights where we had to put some exercise in running from the cops, but most of the time we never really got bothered. We could drink, smoke and just hang out until it was time to go home with no trouble whatsoever. This was not one of those nights. By the time I got to the bridge the whole area surrounding the creek had been absolutely deserted. The keg was gone and there were cups, half empty bottles and crushed beer cans all over the ground. Boxes of Coors and Bud Light lied in the tracks left from footprints of kids. I could see the chaos in my head. The stampede of drunken teens running from the Police like gazelles being hunted in the jungle, shivering in fear of being caught and reprimanded. I reached into my pocket and grabbed my phone. Of course I had an unread text in my inbox from Zach: “Party busted. Cops came.” I could only laugh and blame myself for keeping my phone on silent. “Great,” I muttered as I kicked a can into the high grass. I watched as it sailed into the air. “Ouch!” A grunt came from behind the bushes. There was a person behind the grass. I slowly walked towards the shadow. “Hello?” I said.
Pendergast 10 There was a mumble back but I couldn’t understand what they were saying. As I crept closer I could see the figure lying in the grass. “Hello?” I said again. “Are you okay?” The figure turned over, I squinted to try and make out if I knew who it was. “Sarah?” I ran towards her, not believing my eyes. “Who’s there?” She cried out. “Sarah it’s me, Shawn.” “Shawn Hunter? I fell, running from the cops. I didn’t want to get up. I’m, I’m drunk.” “I know, I know.” I checked to see if she was badly hurt. There was no blood or cuts. “You’re okay here let me help you.” I grabbed both of her arms and wrapped them around my neck. Her knees were weak but she was able to stand with me as a guide. “That dick Billy left me here…” “I’m sorry Sarah, let me walk you home.” “Okay, my parents are out of town, my sister can help me.” She slurred in reply. I couldn’t help thinking that my night might have just taken a turn for the best. Here I was alone with Sarah Martin. I couldn’t help the fact that she was drunk, hell at this moment I was in the need of a little something to drink in order to slow down my heart rate. It felt like it was going to pound right through my chest. Sarah really couldn’t walk so I propped her over my shoulder, and she dragged her feet on the street behind me. There wasn’t much said other than that, she really was just groaning and thanking me repeatedly. It was really no problem for me, I enjoyed being this close to her
Pendergast 11 and her house was only two blocks away. But if it were up to me, I would have carried her to the other side of the town if she wanted. We sat on a curb in the moonlight outside of Sarah’s house for a bit. She claimed she needed some fresh air. She sat there breathing deeply and slowly, trying to sober up. In the light her eye looked even worse than before and I was working up the courage to let her know the truth. “Sarah I need to tell you something.” I said biting my tongue. She turned to me, eyes wide, pretty spaced out. “Yeah?” Her voice was still as sweet as ever. I couldn’t lie to her; it was the right thing to do. “I gave you that black eye. I was the one throwing rocks at your window last night.” She fell backward in the grass laughing, hysterical. I was more than confused. “What’s funny?” I asked. She lifted herself up and continued laughing, this time falling forward into my shoulders. “You were throwing rocks at my window? Why?” “Because…I don’t know I thought it would be romantic.” “You thought it would be romantic to break my window?” “Well, I wasn’t exactly trying to break your window. I underestimated my strength.” “You’re silly.” She peeled herself off my arms, tugging back and forth but still smiling with full force. “Do you feel bad about it?” “Of course I do, I’m so sorry. I can pay for the window, or whatever. I just really wanted you to know.” “Ahhh who gives a shit about the window? My dad will fix it.” She leaned in close to my face. I could smell the alcohol on her breath. “I have a secret too.”
Pendergast 12 My throat was closing fast but I was able to squeeze out one last phrase. “You do?” “Yeah... you didn’t give me this black eye.” Sarah must have seen the look on my face and realized that I was in way too much shock to say anything of any type of substance. She shook my arm and started to tear up. “He didn’t mean it. He doesn’t know how to control his anger.” My jaw dropped. “Who?” “Billy. We’ve been dating on and off for about a year now. Its supposed to be a secret, but I told Brittany by accident and he got angry and he hit me and he didn’t mean it I swear.” I was more upset than anything else. I mean what was I going to do, beat the shit out of Billy Dufrasne? That kid broke out of jail. I couldn’t beat the shit out of Barney, that purple bastard dinosaur. “When did this happen?” I asked. Sarah wiped her tears. “Yesterday.” It was hard to understand her through her garbling. “I was going to make up another story, but when my window broke, I figured it was a much better plan.” She broke into full on tears now, begging me. “Please you have to keep it a secret, you can’t tell anyone. Promise me.” I couldn’t believe what I was hearing. “Sarah, you cannot deal---“ “I’m not asking for a guidance counselor, I’m asking for a friend Shawn. I love him. I still love him, now promise.” “Okay I promise.” I imagined there was something right to say, but I couldn’t quite find the words right now. And honestly, I was way too exhausted to try.
Pendergast 13 “Can you stand up on your own?” I asked. She nodded confidently and lifted herself up. She stumbled backward for a second but caught herself smiling. “I’m okay, I can walk in on my own whir--, my own will.” She leaned in for a hug but stopped and stared into my eyes. “You’re cute…” There it was again, the floating feeling. The one I usually get when a beautiful girl is tugging on my heartstrings. I watched closely until she closed her eyes, leaning in, and I did the same.
I’m pretty sure it was chicken casserole, and carrots too. At least that is what it tasted like. Sarah collapsed to the ground, her projectile vomit dripping down my chin and onto the sidewalk. It took all the strength I had not to throw up myself. I dry heaved a couple of times on the curb before collecting my composure and checking on Sarah. She was out like a light. Still breathing thank god, but there was no way she was waking up anytime soon. I lifted her up on my back and dragged her to the doorstep. I reached into her pocket and grabbed her phone. Veronica Martin was Sarah’s older sister. She was just as gorgeous with the same smile and light blonde hair. I only really knew her because she works at the pizza place across the street from my house. Veronica did all the apologizing for her sister and thanked me greatly for taking care of her. She shook my hand, said, “goodnight Shawn, I’m so sorry” and shut the door. I looked up at Sarah’s window, still broken from where the rock went through, stepped down the curb and headed back home.
Pendergast 14 It’s sort of like losing something you never really even had at all. Or constantly trying to convince yourself to believe in something you’ve never even seen or felt before. You’re so wrapped up in this this wonderful, new thing that you’re willing to dress up like a girl to prove everyone else wrong, or throw a couple rocks at some chicks window to find out if what you feel inside is real. But in this accumulation of shitty situations and fucked-up scenarios that make up your life, there is this moment. A moment you realize how there is nothing you can do to change your emotions. Where you just need to accept the fact that the girl who holds your heart in her hands is in love with some guy with a really lame French last name. A guy who has more criminal records than grades on his high school transcript, because let’s face it: “it’s guys like that girls dig nowadays.” I went to bed that night knowing fully well that Sarah Martin had not only changed my mind, but my entire life as well. Not that it matters all that much to her though, I highly doubt she’ll even remember.
Pendergast 2 I was trying my best to explain what happened in my head, but as the sirens in the distance slowly crept closer to where I was hidden, my heart leapt into my throat and proceeded to thump violently throughout my whole entire body. You know there’s something wrong when you have to remind yourself to breathe. In these types of situations my common sense was more abusive than Chris Brown. It seemed to enjoy taking advantage of the fact that I am weak willed and extremely insecure. “You’re an idiot, you know that? Probably one of the dumbest motherfuckers I know.” I clenched the cold metal fence behind me as the branches from the bush sticking through it tugged onto my right sleeve. I waited until I saw the cop cars pass Thomas Powell to make my move but when I did the selfish bitch of a bush stole a souvenir from my favorite Slayer shirt. “Shit!” I grasped my arm and held back but decided it was too late. Stepping down from the curb and into the light. The coast was clear. I could see my house in the distance off of Jerome Drive. I inhaled one last breath and decided to make a run for it: Across the street, past the trees, over my fence, through my backyard and into bedroom window. Sanctuary! I sat on the edge of my desk heaving heavily, my lungs trying to reimburse themselves with the oxygen they had been so desperately deprived of. I hadn’t run that fast since Ronny Rothstein tried to kick my ass back in the eighth grade. I pantsed him; it was definitely one of my most shining moments. My bed was like a dream come true, a safe haven for my broken spirit and exhausted body. I lie there awake for a while just catching my breath and going through scenarios in my head. Doing this really only ended up scaring the shit out of me. I figured it would be much
Pendergast 3 better if I dozed off into total and complete darkness; after all, it seemed like a much better place than I was now. The next day I went over my midnight encounter with my best friend Zach in the boy’s bathroom during our eighth period study hall. “Wait a second. You what?” He stared at me in shock; his face caked with cover up. “I’m sorry man, I just can’t take you seriously with make-up on.” “Just do what every girl does dude, look through me. But c’mon you have to admit I look good, I really think I can pull this off.” I chuckled and rolled my eyes in response. “Oh and fuck you for dropping out.” He added, modestly. “Zach I can’t drop out of a plan I was never a part of.” He mumbled something about me being a dick and continued slabbing on his mothers lipstick. Zach has had this goal for months, well really since the beginning of the year. In early September rumors broke out about this famous stall in the girls bathroom on the east wing of our high school. It has been said that the girls rate the guys in the school by looks according to the amount of tally marks beside their name. Zach’s been obsessed ever since, cooking up numerous different plans to get inside and sneak a peak. I enjoyed poking fun at Zach. “Do you really think that bathroom stall even exists?” He sighed. “For the last time, yes Shawn, it has to. It’s what singlehandedly drives me to get up and spend time at this horrible place.” “I don’t know man, I heard its one big myth, like Moby Dick or Sasquatch”
Pendergast 4 Zach wasn’t having any of this. “First of all Sasquatch is real. Same with the Loch Ness Monster.” “Nah, some guy denied it on his death bed in like 2008 dude…” “Irrelevant. Why are we talking about this anyway, you brought me way off topic. Why in the world would you throw a rock at Sarah Martin’s window?” “I don’t know. I was…” I paused for a second considering Zach’s cynical and pessimistic view on romance and relationships. He knew I liked Sarah, but I wasn’t going to waste his time with the campy details. “I really have no idea man. I was high as shit.” I was really sober as a bird. “Well you’re an idiot you know that? Have you seen her at all today?” “No, I my next class is the only one I have with her.” “Are you going to tell her you did it?” “Are you kidding me why would I do that?” “I don’t know man to break the tension. The ice. Just say hey, sorry Sarah, I mean I love you and all so I thought I’d let you know by throwing a big fucking boulder through your window.” Zach howled in laughter, he always seemed to enjoy his own jokes more than anyone else did. The dismissal bell rang as Zach pulled out a blonde wig from his book-bag. He placed it on his head. “Check it out. It’s real hair, no big deal. I’m going all out.” He looked at himself in the mirror and smiled. “I’m sexy. If I were a girl I’d bang me, would you bang me?” “I’m going to throw up.” “I just need to make it to the other side of the hall during our half period and I’ll be in the clear. It’s a fool proof plan dude, fool proof!”
Pendergast 5 I headed out the door and to my last and least favorite class of the day. Biology with Mrs. Marconi was like spending forty-five minutes in one of the seven circles of hell. Matter of fact, I wouldn’t be surprised if it was actually one of the circles in hell. I dreaded this class not only because learning about the human body was disgusting and boring, but also because Mrs. Marconi’s voice was like a tone-deaf version of Bohemian Rhapsody. The pitch of her voice was unbearable, and Freddy Mercury would be extremely disappointed. The only upside to my Biology class was Sarah. The truth is, I’d rather study her body than anyone else’s, after all she was pretty much all I really thought about in school anyway. Her beautiful face, with just the right amount of freckles (I always imagined them to be a perfect, even number.) Her wonderful laugh and the shape her lips curved into when she smiled, her lips, her hair, her black eye. Wait a minute what the fuck? No, I didn’t imagine it… right behind the small strands of hair that dangled beside her face and just above her right cheek was a large, purple ring around the corners of her eye. On the inside I panicked. There is no way in hell I did that, I couldn’t have done that. On the outside I tried my best to keep it cool, trembling with every step I took towards my seat. I collected my composure, pinched my leg and took a deep breath as I sat down. “Hey Sarah, are you okay?” I asked shyly. She turned to me smiling sweetly, not feeling bothered at all by the question I asked, that she had probably heard twelve different times today. This is why I loved this girl. “Shawn! Yeah, I’m fine. Some idiot was throwing rocks at my window last night.” I figured it would be in my best interest to totally eliminate myself from any type of suspect, and with that subtly find details about what Sarah knew. “What? Why would someone do that?”
Pendergast 6 “I have no idea, but my dad is pretty spooked.” She said. “He thinks it might have been someone that was against his campaign.” Thomas Martin has been the Mayor of Farmingdale for the past seven years and everybody in the town loved him. “Oh I’m sure it was nothing like that.” I assured her. After all I knew. “Did you get to see who it was?” I dug deeper. “No it was way too dark and when I went to check, well, this happened.” “Mr. Bradshaw!” Mrs. Marconi’s voice pierced my ears. I looked up to see the whole class shuffling in their seats to stare back at me. “Would you mind if I interrupt your most obviously important conversation with Mrs. Martin so I can start my meaningless lesson?” The glass giggled. “I’m sorry Mrs. Marconi.” What a bitch. I could feel my face turning all different shades of red and burning from embarrassment. Sarah straightened up in her seat and peeked back at me mouthing the words “Sorry…” It wasn’t her fault. After all I was the one who started the conversation in the first place. This was the last fifty minutes until the weekend and Biology could not be going any slower. I swear Mrs. Marconi could make Fight Club sound boring. Her squeaky voice echoed off of the blackboard. “And the esophagus retracts and then pulls back.” Kill. Me. Now. “The gag reflex is triggered, bringing up everything left in your stomach to the throat.”
Pendergast 7 Half the class of boys laughed, while the girls groaned in disgust. Mrs. Marconi continued. “Settle down, settle down children, its throwing up, we’ve all done it. And see this figure here? This is the larynx…” By the time I escaped the evil clutches of Marconi’s horrible class I had contemplated dropping out of school, running away or selling myself to slavery. All in that order, I just never wanted to be seen in Farmingdale again. Who in their right mind gives the person they love a black eye? My life was officially a joke. I waited to meet Zach after my class at the bike stands like usual. He walked towards me dressed normal now, with his goofy grin pasted on his face. I debated telling him about Sarah but decided against it considering the fact that he would only make me feel worse. We continued walking, but Zach still had the stupid grin on his face. He was waiting for me to ask. “The tension is killing me.” I said sarcastically. “What happened?” He laughed and turned to me, “I’m suspended.” I stopped dead in my tracks “What?” He never hesitated, or stopped so I had to run to catch up. “What do you mean you’re suspended?” “Well, my wig got caught in the door as it was closing. Erin Garvey was washing her hands and she caught me.” He sighed. “Man that girl can scream.” I couldn’t believe it. “Yeah, man. I was so close too. Principal Himbry gave me two days next week for cross dressing.” “You’re not mad?”
Pendergast 8 “Are you kidding, that’s hilarious, I could care less. Billy Dufrasne is back in town and I heard he’s bringing a keg to mini bridge.” “Billy Dufrasne?” I asked in complete shock. “I thought that kid was in jail.” “He was, or something like it at least. I heard he escaped, some Shawshank Redemption type shit.” “Jesus, really?” I asked. “Yeah. Didn’t he date your girl Sarah?” “Well, I think before he dropped out. Like Freshman year or something, she probably realized that he was a dirt bag.” “I don’t know it’s guys like that girls dig nowadays.” Zach teased me. “Yeah, I know.” “Don’t worry bud, maybe she’ll be at the party tonight.” “I hope so, text me later.” I shouted in his direction. “Sounds good.” Zach turned left and headed down Broadway and towards his house. Friday nights were usually my mom’s only time to actually go out, let loose and enjoy some time with her friends. God knows with working two different jobs and two twelve-hour shifts a week she deserves it. But as far as I’m concerned, I deserve to do the same, just illegally. After all high school is brutal. The one problem with this scenario is the fact that after my mom left I had to stay at home to “keep an eye on” my thirteen-year-old brother Peter. Peter understood though, and with a small fee of twenty dollars and an R-Rated flick in the DVD player for the next two hours, Peter wouldn’t tell. I guess I’m not qualified for getting the best big brother award this year, I hadn’t been in the running since I accidently lit the little man on fire like three years ago.
Pendergast 9 By nine thirty five I was out the door and on the road. I hadn’t heard from Zach since he got to the party, which was around eight. Located in an area behind the famous abandoned
warehouse in Farmingdale, mini bridge was the nickname of a premier spot for us high school kids to gather on warm nights and drink all of our worries away. It was just what its name implied, a small bridge, over a creek just down a dirt road. Most of the kids in our town never really threw house parties anyway, so we would all just go to the woods. To you it probably sounds pretty stupid, but to us it was freedom. There were some nights where we had to put some exercise in running from the cops, but most of the time we never really got bothered. We could drink, smoke and just hang out until it was time to go home with no trouble whatsoever. This was not one of those nights. By the time I got to the bridge the whole area surrounding the creek had been absolutely deserted. The keg was gone and there were cups, half empty bottles and crushed beer cans all over the ground. Boxes of Coors and Bud Light lied in the tracks left from footprints of kids. I could see the chaos in my head. The stampede of drunken teens running from the Police like gazelles being hunted in the jungle, shivering in fear of being caught and reprimanded. I reached into my pocket and grabbed my phone. Of course I had an unread text in my inbox from Zach: “Party busted. Cops came.” I could only laugh and blame myself for keeping my phone on silent. “Great,” I muttered as I kicked a can into the high grass. I watched as it sailed into the air. “Ouch!” A grunt came from behind the bushes. There was a person behind the grass. I slowly walked towards the shadow. “Hello?” I said.
Pendergast 10 There was a mumble back but I couldn’t understand what they were saying. As I crept closer I could see the figure lying in the grass. “Hello?” I said again. “Are you okay?” The figure turned over, I squinted to try and make out if I knew who it was. “Sarah?” I ran towards her, not believing my eyes. “Who’s there?” She cried out. “Sarah it’s me, Shawn.” “Shawn Hunter? I fell, running from the cops. I didn’t want to get up. I’m, I’m drunk.” “I know, I know.” I checked to see if she was badly hurt. There was no blood or cuts. “You’re okay here let me help you.” I grabbed both of her arms and wrapped them around my neck. Her knees were weak but she was able to stand with me as a guide. “That dick Billy left me here…” “I’m sorry Sarah, let me walk you home.” “Okay, my parents are out of town, my sister can help me.” She slurred in reply. I couldn’t help thinking that my night might have just taken a turn for the best. Here I was alone with Sarah Martin. I couldn’t help the fact that she was drunk, hell at this moment I was in the need of a little something to drink in order to slow down my heart rate. It felt like it was going to pound right through my chest. Sarah really couldn’t walk so I propped her over my shoulder, and she dragged her feet on the street behind me. There wasn’t much said other than that, she really was just groaning and thanking me repeatedly. It was really no problem for me, I enjoyed being this close to her
Pendergast 11 and her house was only two blocks away. But if it were up to me, I would have carried her to the other side of the town if she wanted. We sat on a curb in the moonlight outside of Sarah’s house for a bit. She claimed she needed some fresh air. She sat there breathing deeply and slowly, trying to sober up. In the light her eye looked even worse than before and I was working up the courage to let her know the truth. “Sarah I need to tell you something.” I said biting my tongue. She turned to me, eyes wide, pretty spaced out. “Yeah?” Her voice was still as sweet as ever. I couldn’t lie to her; it was the right thing to do. “I gave you that black eye. I was the one throwing rocks at your window last night.” She fell backward in the grass laughing, hysterical. I was more than confused. “What’s funny?” I asked. She lifted herself up and continued laughing, this time falling forward into my shoulders. “You were throwing rocks at my window? Why?” “Because…I don’t know I thought it would be romantic.” “You thought it would be romantic to break my window?” “Well, I wasn’t exactly trying to break your window. I underestimated my strength.” “You’re silly.” She peeled herself off my arms, tugging back and forth but still smiling with full force. “Do you feel bad about it?” “Of course I do, I’m so sorry. I can pay for the window, or whatever. I just really wanted you to know.” “Ahhh who gives a shit about the window? My dad will fix it.” She leaned in close to my face. I could smell the alcohol on her breath. “I have a secret too.”
Pendergast 12 My throat was closing fast but I was able to squeeze out one last phrase. “You do?” “Yeah... you didn’t give me this black eye.” Sarah must have seen the look on my face and realized that I was in way too much shock to say anything of any type of substance. She shook my arm and started to tear up. “He didn’t mean it. He doesn’t know how to control his anger.” My jaw dropped. “Who?” “Billy. We’ve been dating on and off for about a year now. Its supposed to be a secret, but I told Brittany by accident and he got angry and he hit me and he didn’t mean it I swear.” I was more upset than anything else. I mean what was I going to do, beat the shit out of Billy Dufrasne? That kid broke out of jail. I couldn’t beat the shit out of Barney, that purple bastard dinosaur. “When did this happen?” I asked. Sarah wiped her tears. “Yesterday.” It was hard to understand her through her garbling. “I was going to make up another story, but when my window broke, I figured it was a much better plan.” She broke into full on tears now, begging me. “Please you have to keep it a secret, you can’t tell anyone. Promise me.” I couldn’t believe what I was hearing. “Sarah, you cannot deal---“ “I’m not asking for a guidance counselor, I’m asking for a friend Shawn. I love him. I still love him, now promise.” “Okay I promise.” I imagined there was something right to say, but I couldn’t quite find the words right now. And honestly, I was way too exhausted to try.
Pendergast 13 “Can you stand up on your own?” I asked. She nodded confidently and lifted herself up. She stumbled backward for a second but caught herself smiling. “I’m okay, I can walk in on my own whir--, my own will.” She leaned in for a hug but stopped and stared into my eyes. “You’re cute…” There it was again, the floating feeling. The one I usually get when a beautiful girl is tugging on my heartstrings. I watched closely until she closed her eyes, leaning in, and I did the same.
I’m pretty sure it was chicken casserole, and carrots too. At least that is what it tasted like. Sarah collapsed to the ground, her projectile vomit dripping down my chin and onto the sidewalk. It took all the strength I had not to throw up myself. I dry heaved a couple of times on the curb before collecting my composure and checking on Sarah. She was out like a light. Still breathing thank god, but there was no way she was waking up anytime soon. I lifted her up on my back and dragged her to the doorstep. I reached into her pocket and grabbed her phone. Veronica Martin was Sarah’s older sister. She was just as gorgeous with the same smile and light blonde hair. I only really knew her because she works at the pizza place across the street from my house. Veronica did all the apologizing for her sister and thanked me greatly for taking care of her. She shook my hand, said, “goodnight Shawn, I’m so sorry” and shut the door. I looked up at Sarah’s window, still broken from where the rock went through, stepped down the curb and headed back home.
Pendergast 14 It’s sort of like losing something you never really even had at all. Or constantly trying to convince yourself to believe in something you’ve never even seen or felt before. You’re so wrapped up in this this wonderful, new thing that you’re willing to dress up like a girl to prove everyone else wrong, or throw a couple rocks at some chicks window to find out if what you feel inside is real. But in this accumulation of shitty situations and fucked-up scenarios that make up your life, there is this moment. A moment you realize how there is nothing you can do to change your emotions. Where you just need to accept the fact that the girl who holds your heart in her hands is in love with some guy with a really lame French last name. A guy who has more criminal records than grades on his high school transcript, because let’s face it: “it’s guys like that girls dig nowadays.” I went to bed that night knowing fully well that Sarah Martin had not only changed my mind, but my entire life as well. Not that it matters all that much to her though, I highly doubt she’ll even remember.
