It was Wednesday, which meant that the first week of school was almost half way over, and it was closer to the weekend. Despite getting yelled at and slapped by her father the day before, Michelle was pretty excited about today. She had no particular reason to be, but she just was. She awoke earlier than her usual 7:45 schedule. She began her morning by actually taking a jog around her neighborhood; she felt the need for speed that day. When she arrived back home around six o’clock, her household was still asleep in their rooms. She took a quick shower, put on her regular tomboyish clothes, and went back under the covers until it was closer to the time to leave for school.
It was 8:25 when Michelle woke back up; she was still just as energized as when she woke up the first time. She knocked on her sister’s door to make sure she was getting ready, so that they could leave the house in ten minutes. After doing that, she went downstairs to say her good mornings to her parents.
“You’re in a chipper mood this morning,” Elaine smiled to her daughter when she saw her skip in to the kitchen.
“Yeah, what’s gotten into you, young lady?” Ben put in his two cents while reading the paper.
“Oh nothing. I just woke up and felt super great. At first I got up around five thirty and went for a quick around the neighborhood. I didn’t realize how peaceful our community is. Then when I got back, I showered and got dressed and went back to sleep. Now, I’m awake and loving this new day.”
“Well, hopefully this will make your day a little better because your father has something he wants to tell you.” Elaine nudged her husband.
“Um, yes, uh, Elle, I, uh, wanted to, um, apologize about, uh, yesterday. I was, um, a little out of um, line and I’m, uh, sorry,’ her father struggled with getting the words out. Even all the while, he couldn’t even look at the person he was talking to. He, instead, was looking at the newspaper.
“You know what, Dad? I don’t except your apology. If you can’t even look into my eyes, instead of at your stupid paper, and say those words without stumbling over them, then I refuse to accept it. What you have to say is worthless, and I don’t care anymore. Now if you’ll excuse me, I need to go to school.”
When Michelle and Morgan left for school, Ben was furious, but he also looked hurt.
“Ben, I told you she may or may not forgive you. Now you know her answer. Don’t be mad at her either. Honestly, I wouldn’t accept that apology either. You’ve never stumbled over your words ever as long as I’ve known you, yet you apologize to your own daughter and struggle each and every way possible. I just don’t get it, Ben, not at all. Now, I need to go to work. I’ll see you for dinner.”
Ben Harper was left alone at the kitchen table with nothing to say or do but look at the newspaper that suddenly didn’t matter anymore.
“He did what?” Charles freaked when his friend told him what happened after school yesterday and this morning as they were heading to their homerooms.
“Yeah, he called me into his office. He yelled at me then slapped me pretty much for no good reason. Then he decided he wanted to apologize for everything, but his apology was lame as heck. I told him in his face I didn’t accept it. He’s so fake. I just can’t trust him.”
“Yeah, that’s rough. Who hits their own daughter and treats them like that?”
“Apparently, mine does that; however, I refuse to let him bring me down today. I was so hyped up, and I’ll still continue to be hyped up no matter what. This is a great day!”
“Yeah, it won’t be so great if we’re both late for homeroom. I’ll catch ya later on our way to first period. Peace.”
Homeroom lasted about five minutes before classes officially started. Besides attendance being taken, nothing really happened in that class. To Michelle it was just another way to waste a good five minutes. When it finally let out, she met up with Charles, and they walked to their lockers. When she opened her locker, she found another note inside reading:
Dear, Michelle, sorry for not seeing you last night as you went out looking for me. I hope to see you really soon to make it up to you.
“Again?’ she whispered to herself as she reread the anonymous note again.
“Elle, what is it?” Charles looked over her shoulder.
“This note. I got one yesterday, and now I have one again this morning. I have no idea who it’s from. To be truthful, it’s kinda freaking me out.”
“That’s strange. Have you seen anyone hanging around school acting weird?”
“No. All of these lame guys here still act the same and show no interest in me. I have an idea, but I think it might be a little too far fetched.”
“Who do you think it is?”
“I think it’s Mark from down the street from me. The only thing is, I hardly talked to him at all, and I didn’t tell him what high school I go to or even which is my locker number. Also, how did he know I went out last night for a walk? I’m just really confused right now.”
“Well, maybe we can go ask the office if they know who the guy is. He had to have asked which one your locker is, unless he took a random guess. In which he’d be good. But we must not be good today, cause we keep running behind on time. And if we don’t hurry up in less than fifty seconds, we’re gonna be late for first bell. You know how these teachers are too. I’ll catch ya at lunch.”
“Ok, cool. But we’ll need to eat super-fast. I want to know who this guy is by the end of today.”
