I smoothly pulled into my senior parking space, cutting the engine and throwing open the door. The red convertible had been a present from my grandmother for Christmas two years ago. My parents just got me money, like always. They would always say, "So you could get anything you wanted." Didn't they ever think that I would like to be surprised?

Blinking out of my thoughts, I slammed the door of my car, grabbed my backpack, and headed towards first period.

A couple of boring classes later, I walked up to the door of my most-anticpated class of the day.

French was one of my favorite classes, not just because I enjoyed French, but also due to the fact that I shared a table with Zach. I sat down in my chair as the bell rang. Madame Abuchon bade us good morning, and started to go through the days schedule. She was rudely interrupted as the door burst open.

Zach stood in the door, five minutes late to class, as per usual. If I was ever a minute late to class, my heart would explode. Madame Abuchon sighed. "Your late, Mr. Collins." She said, sternly.

"Sorry Miss A," Zach smiled. That easy smile of his that always sent my heart reeling. Who knows if it was the good kind. Either way, I liked it.

He slouched over to the seat across from mine and plopped into it, grinning at me. I felt myself blush, making me bury my face deeper in my book. Madame Abuchon, finished with the daily schedule, started to lecture us on some new topic. Normally I'm a good student, but today I was lost in my daydreams.

Staring at Zach while the teacher droned on, my heart couldn't help but ache with love at his spikey blonde hair, and electric blue eyes. Slipping into the clouds, I could image those blue eyes staring into my green ones with a passion I could only imagine.

In my fantasy that I've dreamed before, I was sprawled on a long couch. It was plush velvet, the same color blue as Zach's eyes. My stomach was swelled up, probably due to the fact that I was very much pregnant; with Zach's child.

I was clutching my stomach as a round of Braxton Hicks washed over my body. Zach was no where to be found. Probably since I assured him I was fine so he could go to work.

As if he was called, he stepped into the room, older than he is now, but no less cute. His blonde hair was slightly longer, but his eyes still sparkled in the soft sunlight filtering through the windows. Zach dashed over to me, grabbing my hand. Laying his large hands on my larger stomach, I cried out in pain. He held me close as the pain faded which left us cuddling on the couch. He leaned in and kissed me tenderly, with love. Our lips were in sync as we sped up the pace.

The room had started to heat up when I heard Madame Abuchon calling my name, sternly.

"I- Yes? I'm sorry!" I gulped. I was caught. Zach must have seen me. I turned to Madame Abuchon, pushing a strand of hair back from my pink face.

Madame Abuchon was standing in front of my desk, holding out a stack of papers.

"I asked you if you would pass out the quiz." She said.

"A q-quiz?" I stuttered.

"Oui! I just explained it so I hope you were listening." Madame Abuchon snapped.

"Oh- I was! My brain just wandered for a moment."

I mentally cringed at my words, knowing how fake they sounded. Taking the papers, I stood up and cursed softly. Glancing at the quiz as I passed it out, I knew I should have payed attention. These words are jibberish.

Walking back to my desk and slumping in my chair, I stared at at the paper in front of me. My eyes darted over the questions and blank spaces waited for me to scribble the answer. Doing the best I could, I filled out the sheet. My face was twisted with confusion as I turned it in. One class. One class that I drift off in is the class that I have a quiz.

I walked back to my seat and my head started pounding. It was like my brain was jumping around in my skull. I could feel a faint pulse in my left ear that traveled over to my right.

I started to bounce my leg. It hit the bottom of the desk so loud some students glared at me as they finished their quizzes. I wiped my hands against my shirt only to return them back through my hair.

My breath shortened and I quietly gasped for more air. My neck burned like it was lit on fire but I refused to make a scene.

Many students had returned to their seats and waited patiently for the lunch bell.

I glanced at the clock. There were 2 minutes left before the hand reached 11:35.

My eyes darted across the room landing on Madame Abuchon who was scowling at the quiz in front of her. Her eyes shot up in my direction and I averted my gaze over to the clock once more.

45 seconds.

I looked down at my arms and an electric shock rang through them. My mouth widened in surprise but no noise came out.

The shrill bell rang throughout the room and I quickly dashed out of the class, flustered.

As I was leaving, I heard Madame Abuchon call out, "I'll have your quizzes graded by the time you get back!"

Lunch was loud and bustling, as usual, but that gave me no source of comfort as I sat at the lunch table staring at my food. By the time the bell rang signaling us to go back to class, a bead of sweat trailed down my head.

I walked into the room with shakey steps just as the bell screeched through the halls. I looked at the clock as my eyes widened with horror. I was almost late.

All eyes were on me as I scurried to my seat. I sat down, flustered, and Zach looked at me with his gorgeous smile.

Madame Abuchon stood up with crumpled papers in her hand. As she gave out the scores, I spotted many grimaces and scowls form on the faces of my peers.

I gulped as Madame Abuchon walked over to my desk and slapped down my paper. A big, red 'F' greeted me. I could feel my face pale as all hopes of college flew out the window.

I looked up with pleading eyes and met Madame's shameful ones. It was as if she was taunting me for not paying attention.

Madame Abuchon told the class to take our quizzes home and check them over but I didn't hear. I was thinking about how furious my parents would be. My breathing had quickened and I could feel my heart beating fast as I tried to hold in tears. Taking deep breaths, I tried to calm my breathing.

A voice jolted me from my thoughts of the doomsday yet to come.

"Hey. Olivia, right?"

It was Zach. My face immediately broke into a rosy flush, bringing some color back into my face.

"Um-Yeah! What's up?" I stuttered.

Zach grinned at me.

"I was just wondering if you wanted to go to Charlie's tonight,"

I mentally freaked out! All thoughts of my paper slipped out of my head.

"Sure, I think I'm free." I replied, trying to sound casual and cool, not like the total nerd my parents made me into. Inside, I felt like an invisible soul was clutching my heart between long, skinny fingers.

"Great! Meet me there at five? I'll text you when I'm there." Zach asked.

"Sounds good! See you then."
I cringed at how stupid I sounded.

Just then, the bell rang, sparing me from more awkward conversation. Also, leading me to deal with my parents.

*****************************

I walked to my car, alone. Hopping in, I revved the engine and started home. Pulling into the second garage, my garage, I climbed out and started to my room. My parents were in their offices, as usual, on their cellphones. Their tired voices were hushed through the walls.

In my room, I lugged my backpack over to my desk. Sorting through the papers, I found the paper. So I wasn't dreaming it. The F, in blazing red marker, was still there.

If I wanted to go with Zach tonight, my parents could not find out about it. They had a strict policy about dating. It could get me off track of my college goal or even leave me 18 and pregnant. So I did the only reasonable thing to do.

I shoved it under the lamp on my desk, kind of awed at my own actions.

Not wanting to think about it anymore, I stumbled over to my closet and threw open the door.

As nerdy as I was, I loved clothes, and had a ton of them. For as many clothes as I had, none of them seemed fit to go on a date with Zach. I groaned in frustration, half the contents of my closet strewn around me. I took two deep breaths, reminding myself that Zach asked me out, so he must like me for who I am. Right?

Finally I noticed one last shirt. It was one I had got last year, at Hollister. It was a light, heather purple with a cold shoulder design.

I pulled it on over a plain white tank top with a pair of ripped jeans. It was perfect. But not too perfect.

I matched it with a pair of white
converse, gold earrings, and a necklace. It was four by the time I was done. I wanted to be at the restaurant early, so I started to walk out to my car when I heard my dad.

"Olivia, shouldn't you be studying?" He called to me.

Oh no. If he found out . . . No Zach.

"I'm going to the library to study. My books are in the car." I answered back.

"Okay," He distractedly said, going back to his phone. I was safe. For now. Pulling out of the driveway, I knew I was safe. As safe as I could be in this moment.