Therese didn’t really like chemistry class, and she didn’t really dislike it either. She found it interesting enough, but never really thought about it when she wasn’t there. She sat down with her lab partner Benjamin, whom she tolerated when he was there, and missed him dearly when he wasn’t. Surprisingly, Benjamin was there, although his clothes were soaking wet, and his shoes covered in sand.
“Hitting the river between classes, isn’t it still too cold?” Therese asked him.
“It's complicated, and technically before classes because I didn’t go to any before that.” Benjamin told her.
“You might need to know this some day.” warned Therese.
“I doubt it, all I need is a D, and I have a Dee-ploma.” Benjamin told her. He, like Elijah, and a less academic game plan immediately following graduation.
Dr. Witee wrote out a chemical on the board. C8H10N4O2. “Extra credit for whoever can identify this compound first gets extra credit for their team.
Therese’s hand immediately shot up. “Yes, Therese.” said Dr. Witee.
“Caffeine.” answered Therese.
“Very good, extra points for you and that guy that managed to show up to class today.” said Dr. Witee.
Benjamin gave Therese a high-five and said, “Thank you, that is one less day I need to show up.” grimaced Therese.
“One day, you really might need to know this stuff.” Therese told him.
“Maybe, but I just need to know it enough for now.” replied Benjamin. He was glad today was lecture only, he did not feel like standing and doing lab in wet sneakers. Therese wished Peter was in her chemistry class, at least if he didn’t pay attention to the teacher, he paid attention to her. As she sat there, Therese diligently wrote down every note she could based on the lecture. Today the lecture was on the synthesis of caffeine in nature, and Therese was particularly interested.
As the class wound down and prepared to leave at the bell, Therese asked Benjamin “Tomorrow is lab, can you at least try and be here tomorrow?”
“I’ll try.” Benjamin said, then sobered his thoughts a little, “It’s important to you, learning all this?” asked Benjamin.
“Yes it is. I need you here tomorrow.” Therese told him. She shrugged, she had been used to being alone in her world so long, she found it difficult when she needed someone’s help. Benjamin might be a lost cause, but in his ignorance of the world, he was ignorant of her own struggles at the school, having just transferred there the year before. She viewed him as an outsider who tried hard to be an outsider.
“Hey, Therese. I’ll be here, and I’m sorry I haven’t really been trying, I just don’t see this being me.” Benjamin told her.
“I think we’re all looking for ourselves right now, you may not know who you will be, I don’t know myself.” Therese told him.
“Really, I just always thought you had your crap together. You’re smart, your nice. Am I missing something?” answered Benjamin, somewhat confused. “Oh, and you are a great lab partner, I wouldn’t have made this year without you, thank you.”
“Thank you.” said Therese, before the bell rang and the class scattered to their next destination, which for Therese was lunch with Peter. Benjamin was still confused by the questions. He really was glad Therese was his lab partner because she understood the subject, and tried a lot harder than he did.
“Really, thank you. I would have just dropped this class without your help. It’s a little overwhelming.” replied Benjamin.
“It would make more sense if you showed up all the time.” said Therese.
“I’m trying, I made sure I got back from fishing for this one. I guess I better get to the next class so I can take my shoes off, and air my feet out. See you tomorrow.” said Benjamin and he still left wet footprints as he walked off.
“So you say.” said Therese, as she turned and walked the other way. “If you show up all next week, I’ll bring you a candy bar.” Therese shouted back at Benjamin, who turned and grinned.
Therese was never in a hurry for lunch before Peter, she would just bring her lunch box and find a nice shady tree to sit under while everyone else was still in the cafeteria, and enjoy the peace of sitting on the grass. Peter never remembered to bring his lunch and so they always had to go in the cafeteria where it was noisy. She hated the cafeteria, but she loved Peter.
Peter was waiting under a tree for her, he was never one to miss use of the shade. Therese was glad to see Peter, and felt a little jitter in her stomach. She knew it wasn’t the hunger, but she was feeling hungry. Therese walked up to Peter under the tree, pulled an extra lunch bag out of her backpack and handed it to Peter.
“Thank you, I wondered why your backpack looked heavier.” Peter said.
“I hope you like it, my mom made it.” said Therese, but she knew Peter was never one to complain about given food. Therese sat down next to Peter, put her hand over his bag to stop him, and he said grace before the meal with her. Therese liked to be mindful in her prayers, and Peter was trying to be better about it.
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Therese had worn a sweater over her, and she was still chilling. She wondered if she should have sat in the sun, but the ground was dry and she liked the tree. Therese ate carefully, and looked around while she chewed. She had never fully understood the dynamics of high school society, but she liked to observe. Peter looked at Therese, the rest of the world was no interest to him, and when he saw Therese shiver, he took off his flannel shirt and put it over her shoulders like a cape.
“You’ll be cold now, we should just move to the sun.” said Therese, flatly, but looking at Peter who was now cold.
“If we did that, you wouldn’t wear my flannel shirt, and it looks good on you.” said Peter.
“I don’t think I want to give it back.” said Therese. She had noticed the other girls wearing their boyfriends' jackets, and felt it almost a right of passage that she should wear Peter’s flannel shirt. She chewed her sandwich carefully as she looked forward.
“It’s yours if you want it, I wish it was nicer for you.” said Peter.
“I want it.” Therese said, the flannel was soft and smelled like Peter. Therese did not talk much that lunch, so much had happened, and she was processing recent events. “Thank you, I love you.” said Therese casually.
“You’re welcome, I love you too.” said Peter, his heart skipping a beat. Peter watched as Therese took the time to carefully put his flannel over on, with her arms in the sleeves. “If you sit next to me, you might be warmer.” Therese offered. Peter obliged and snuggled up with Therese under the tree in the cold. The flannel was warm, and soft, especially with Therese under it.
Peter put his arms around Therese and held her, content with the world. Then, like the evil bastard it was, the lunch bell sounded, ending lunch. Peter started standing up, and Therese pulled him back and leaned her head back. Peter did not need to wait to be asked, he kissed her. As much as Therese had started to hate high school, now she wished it would last forever, but as the bell rang, she let Peter lift her up to help her stand.
“I do love you.” Peter told Therese.
“I love you, very much.” Therese told Peter, then they hugged and started walking to separate classes. Therese dreaded going to history class, but it was one step closer to riding home with Peter.
“Good afternoon, Therese.” said Mrs. Smith when Therese entered.
“Good afternoon, Mrs. Smith.” said Therese, wondering if her teacher had switched tactics, but the teacher simply walked over to Therese with the sign-in sheet and handed it to her. Therese took the sheet and signed her name, then handed it to Elijah, who signed his name and passed it on. Elijah too, was suspicious of the teacher’s behavior.
“When Grant and Lee met at Appomattox Court House, Lee knew he had been defeated, but what impressed him the most, was Grant’s treating him with dignity and respect. Then men were paroled, and for them, the war was over then. They had to move forward, and part of that was the farm work, and men were allowed to take horses and mules home.” said Mrs. Smith, hoping Therese understood she was grateful for the terms of her own surrender.
“Before that, there were four years of bloody fighting. How did our country get so divided to result in such a terrible conflict?” Mrs. Smith asked. Someone raised their hands and Mrs. Smith called on them.
“People owning slaves?” asked a girl.
“I think we have established people are oppressed into slavery, but they are not owned, but yes, slavery was a huge cause.” corrected Mrs. Smith. Elijah and Therese looked at each other with questioning eyes, as neither Elijah nor Therese could believe the conflict was over. Mrs. Smith asked if anyone else wanted to contribute, and Elijah and Therese both looked at each other and shook their heads, neither wanted to address such a controversial subject in this class. The rest of the class seemed to follow suit, and Mrs. Smith continued her lecture about the tensions escalating and the resulting war.
“Elijah, who said a house divided against itself, cannot stand?” asked Mrs. Smith.
Therese shot a shut-up look at Elijah, and he resisted answering it was the Macho Man Randy Savage. “Abraham Lincoln?” Elijah answered. Therese relaxed the shut-up look, but Elijah was glad she supported his decision to behave.
“Therese, what did he mean?” asked Mrs. Smith. Therese gulped in her throat. Elijah returned the favor and shot her a behave look.
“There is a passage in the Bible, If a house is divided against itself, that house cannot stand, that America could not remain divided, the republic would fail.” Therese answered, hoping she had not said too much, but Mrs. Smith went on. Therese was feeling really uneasy, the teacher was being unusually polite to her.
Finally, the bell rang, and Therese hurried to pack her things, Elijah did the same, and then Therese hurried out of the classroom without looking over her shoulder. Elijah followed quickly. “That was weird.” Therese said to Elijah, who nodded in agreement.
Therese went to Economics class and sat down. She hoped the day would not continue to end weird, and Therese sat with silent anticipation. She started breathing easy when Coach T began discussing the moon landing. Therese sighed and opened her economics book hoping she would not get in trouble for studying the material that would invariably be on the economics test instead of the moon landing. Her relief came eventually from the bell, and Therese hurried to Peter’s car.
Therese got their quickly and noticed Kara was parked next to them. Therese thought she must have got to school late to need to take a spot next to Peter’s car. Kara came walking up.
“Hi Kara.” Therese said. Therese smiled, in spite of everything she only wished Kara liked her. Therese wished she was bold and confident like Kara. Therese’s voice was flat and Kara had been absent too long to decipher how happy Therese really was to see her.
“Hi. That was pretty cool what you said in English class.” Kara said, stopping to talk to Therese. This surprised Therese, but she was happy that Kara stopped.
“So, is that guy you ride with your boyfriend?” Kara asked.
“Yes, I love him.” Therese said proudly, to be known as Peter’s girlfriend. Therese stood their proudly in Peter’s Flannel, she adjusted it. “He let me have his jacket when I was cold.” Therese said, feeling the flannel in her fingers. She liked the soft touch.
“He seems to treat you good.” Kara said, wishing she had someone who genuinely loved her instead of the jerk after jerk story of her love life. “It’s a nice shirt, it looks good on you.” Kara added, wishing she had a boyfriend who would give up his jacket for her.
“It’s a good thing.” Therese told her. “Hey, Kara.” Therese started, absentmindedly asking if Kara wanted to hang out, then she stopped, fearing rejection. “Just, em thanks for saying hi.” Therese said.
“Good luck with the boyfriend, he seems nice.” Kara told Therese before getting into her own car and driving off. Kara kept herself together before driving off, then looked in her mirror and said “I fucking hate myself.” Into her own eyes.