Fast Times at Clairemont High

"Oh Jaime, this place is expensive. I don't really feel comfortable spending all your money on food." I said shyly. He gave me a kiss.

"I have money, and I want to take you here. I also have a surprise after we eat." He said, smiling. We took our seats and looked at the menus.

"Jesus, this stuff is expensive, Hime!" I exclaimed. He laughed.

"Just order what you want, I'm paying so..." He explained. A waitress came to our table, she looked about our age.

"Are y'all ready to order or...?" she trailed. She had a thick southern accent.

"Uh, I'll have the Caeser Salad, please." I said and handed her my menu.

"I'll have steak." Jaime said. Jesus, how much money did he have?

The waitress came back with our food and we ate. She was nice to Jaime, but bitter to me. I looked at the receipt to see a post-it note with the girl's number. I rolled my eyes and scoffed.

"She gave you her number." I said annoyed. He let out a little laugh. He payed and threw the note away on the way out.

~

Jaime was driving to a forested area. The car halted and I got out. I took off the high heels Lyric insisted I wore and threw them onto the backseat. Jaime laced out fingers together. We walked for a while, and then I heard rushing water. I saw a waterfall and a pond; it was rocky and lush.

I dipped my foot in the water. It was freezing. I lowered myself down onto a rock and put my legs in. Jaime sat right beside me.

"A-Azalea..." He said nervously. I looked into his deep brown eyes.

"I think I'm in love with you." he said. I smiled and kissed him. In the midst of our kissing, I lost my balance, and we both ended up freezing and sopping wet.

"I'm sorry Jaime," I said. "I ruined our romantic moment!" I pouted. Jaime scooped me up and kissed me all over my face. I giggled and he carried me back out to the car. We turned on the heaters and he drove me home.

~

"I had a really good time, Jaime." I said, kissing him once more. He kissed me back and then skipped off to his car.

I walked into the house and saw Audrey crying.

"Audrey, what's wrong?" I asked. She didn't answer, she just kept sobbing.

"AUDREY, WHAT'S WRONG?" I asked louder. I was scared; I had never seen her cry so much.

"Tony is in the hospital!" She managed to choke out. She handed me my phone, which had tons of missed calls and texts.

"Shit. Audrey, let's go!" I said nervously. We grabbed our bikes and pedaled as fast as we could to the hospital.

~

"Tony!" Audrey cried, running to him. He was asleep in the hospital bed. Everyone was gathered around him. Audrey was sobbing and holding his limp hand.

"Sweetie, he overdosed on his depression medication... the doctors said it could be an accident, but it isn't likely..." Mike said.

"Why? Why would he do this to me? What if he dies?" Audrey cried. These were like the questions than ran through my head when Audrey tried. She sat down on my lap and cried into my shoulder.

"If he dies, I'll die too." she whispered. I knew what she meant. Tony was part of her life; she would be ruined if he didn't survive. Audrey got up and once more held Tony's hand.

Vic gave me a hug. I had started crying, too. It was so sad to see Audrey in a state like this. She looked completely drained, all of her focus on the boy laying in the hospital bed.

Tony's eyes fluttered open. The first thing he saw was Audrey, and he quickly pulled her into a suffocating hug.

"I'm sorry." he said weakly.

Notes