Eric Lemarque:

[RRRRIIIIIIINNNNNNGGGGGGGGGG.....]

I looked at my old fashioned alarm clock. It's six am. I turned it off and gave a big yawn.

"Ahhhh... This is gonna be a great day!" I said to myself.

I got up and head towards the bathroom, when a compact figure dashed and overtook me.

"Hey!"

"G'morning to you too slowpoke. Hahaha." Said the little dynamo before closing the bathroom door.

That was my sister Jacquie. A junior in highschool, but still acts like a kid sometimes. Of course you will never see her like that in school. As one of the more popular kids in school, she is the image of poise and intelligence there. At 5 ft flat, with shoulder length chestnut hair, and sparkling hazel eyes a lot would say she was a pocket sweetheart. But don't let her appearance fool you, she's a firecracker when you get on her nerves.

Since I'm only a year older than her, even though we're very different, she being very outgoing and has lots of friends and me a bit introverted preferring to read books to partying, we were still very close. We fight as all siblings do but at the end of the day we usually make up. Usually...

With a dark look at the bathroom door, i turned away and went downstairs to see what's for breakfast.

Hmmm... Smells good. Blueberry pancakes! Mom must be home. I turned to the kitchen and saw my mom cooking and dad reading the newspaper. A very typical family scene. Sadly, not very frequent here in our household.

Sophia Lamarque, that's my mom. She looks very much like Jacquie. At 38 years old, she takes care of herself well, and is often mistaken as Jacquie's sister when they go out together. She really gets a kick out of it.

As a defense attorney often times she is very busy and comes home late. She seldom has the time to cook for us. But when she does. Hmmm...

Looking at my dad, Adam Lamarque, at 40 he is still well maintained. With brown hair with a bit of gray and his gray eyes, I'm sure he still has some moves.

"Good morning sweetheart" said mom.

"Morning Eric" said dad.

And that is me. Eric Lamarque. Your average guy. Not too tall, not too short at 5'9. Nondescript brown eyes and black hair. And yes, I don't look anything like my parents. I'm adopted. They never hid it from me. My mom was diagnosed infertile due to an accident. They decided to adopt me and a year after, a miracle occurred and she had my sister.

No dramas here, even with my sister in tow, I was well taken cared off. I'm very grateful to them. That is why I try hard to always get good grades in school. They never ask for it, but for me, it's how it should be.

"Morning guys. I'll just run for a bit. Maybe when I get back the squirt would be done in the bathroom" 

They just smiled at that. A recurring scenario in the Lamarque household.

"Well slowpoke is as slowpoke does. Hahahaha." My dad laughed as I went out.

I breathed in the fresh morning air.

Bathroom scenario withstanding, I feel this is gonna be a great day!

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

Finally dressed for the day.

Okay, pencils? Check!

Pens? Highlighter? Check!

Notes? Check!

Today's the last day of the exams. Gotta make sure to focus.

DON'T DROP THE BALL!!! I say to myself.

Of course after the exams it will be time to celebrate. To cap the day, I have date with my gorgeous girlfriend, Nadene Gardner.

I really don't know what I did to deserve such a great girl. She's beautiful, funny, and just plain great to be with.

We met a couple of months ago at the library. I was in my usual spot just skimming over a book when I saw a slightly muddled girl. I decided to ignore her since I really don't know her. After a bit, I looked up and saw her almost in tears looking at her notes as if it was an alien artifact.

I really don't normally talk to people I don't know, but she was just that pitiful (and yes, just that cute as well).

"(Cough, cough)... Is... there... maybe... anything, I can help you... with?" I kinda brokenly asked.

She looked at me with sparkling blue eyes.

"Would you?" She asked.

And from then on we would meet at the library. I would help her with her homework, we would talk and she would joke around.

And finally one day I got up the courage to ask her out and to my surprise she said yes!

There folks is the epic history.

Can't wait to see her.

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

"Eric, I'm breaking up with you."

I just stood there looking at her.

Stood there in front of the school.

In front of dozens of student.

And I don't know how to respond.

I felt the multiple eyes on me. Emotions ranging from pity, excitement, and some just plain malice.

A stray thought came to me.

Of all the people complaining that their lovers broke up with them through text, phone call, email... Let's exchange situations!

Nadene still looking at me, waiting for a response. When it was clear that at the moment my brain seems to be lagging, she added some more.

"Eric, I'm sorry. It's not you, it's me" She said.

What the hell?!?! Is that straight out of how to dump your boyfriend 101?!?!

"Uhhhmm..." I finally managed. Not so articulate I know, but can you blame me?

Nadene looked at me still waiting for something. I really don't know what.

She exploded suddenly with.

"You know what it's not really me. It's really you! At first I thought how cool would it be to have a nerdy boyfriend to help me with home works and projects, but now it's just getting old. I mean look at you, then look at me. We just don't match. No. Please don't say anything. I'm leaving. Goodbye Eric."

She walked away.

I want to say I maintained a stoic expression. Got a handle on my emotions and didn't let it leak out. In truth I was just in a daze, I couldn't show any emotion on my face even if I wanted to. I just stared at Nadene walking away.

The author's content has been appropriated; report any instances of this story on Amazon.

People started to scatter as the show was over.

Me? I went on autopilot, went to my locker, fixed my things, got to my desk. Pulled out my pencils, mechanically sharpened them. And just stared out the window. Numbly I just received the test booklets and stared at it.

Next thing I knew.

"Okay guys, times up. And that's it for the exams." The proctor said.

I looked down and I saw my name on the test booklet. Just my name, nothing else. No answers! Shit!

What the hell!?!?

"Wait! Sir, let me just..."

"Again, Mr. Lamarque, times up." The proctor apathetically said.

With no choice left I stood up and walked out of the room.

Oh my god! What did I do? I completely zoned out.

I reached my locker and as I was opening it, something hit me from behind, almost stumbling when I caught myself.

I looked up.

Oh, great. Edmund Furstenberg. A bigger asshole you can't find.

I really don't know what he has against me, but ever since we were kids that guy has been after me. I try to ignore him as much as possible, but these days, it's getting more difficult as his clique is joining in on his fun.

"Heard you got dumped royally." Edmund sneered.

"I'm not really in the mood Edi." I responded. I know he hated being called that. He insisted to be called his full name.

Edmund shoved me back.

"Don't call me that!" He spat.

"Serves you right getting dumped, you really thought a girl like that would stay with you? Keep on dreaming, twerp!"

With a final shove he left with his cronies laughing along the way.

I turned back to my locker.

"You alright?"

I looked back.

"Yeah..." I answered.

Lyla Karhoff. A transfer student, she just transferred a while ago. I was tasked to show her around the first day, and we hit it off. I was surprised to say the least. She was very easy to talk to and despite her beautiful face we can easily discuss any subject be it science or literature. Really can't judge a book by it's cover. Speaking of looks, she is one of the top beauties in this school. Red hair reaching past her shoulders, soulful green eyes, slim athletic build (yeah I notice her a lot, I'm not dead. I just know she's out of my league).

She usually hangs out with a lot of people. Always smiling, always charming, always easy going. But sometimes when I look at her, that smile doesn't really reach her eyes. Or maybe it's just me.

"What's with you and that guy?" Lyla asked.

"Honestly, I really don't know. He's been like that ever since we were kids."

"I heard, about Nadene... Are you going to be alright?"

There was a trace of pity and empathy in her eyes. But at the moment I can't really appreciate it. My emotions are too raw. For now I just want to be alone. I just nodded.

"If you ever need someone to talk to..."

"I know. Thanks." I interrupted her before she can finish.

She pat my arm and went on her way.

I fixed my things inside my locker.

I tried to cheer myself up.

When life gets you down, there's no way but up anymore. Wish I can believe that.

I sighed.

At least things can't get any worse, I thought to myself.

And then it did.

"Hey Lamarque!" A rough voice called.

I slowly turned around and was met by a big guy... A very big angry guy, glowering at me.

Holding flowers in his hand.

Flowers!

I looked up. And up. And up.

This is not good.

Chance Morano. Our school's local tough guy. Built like a tank. Doesn't talk much but with a glare like that he doesn't need to.

But flowers???

That's new. Either this guy is proposing to me or that's gonna be my funeral wreath (poetic much?)

Either way I'm screwed.

I waited and thought back, trying to remember if I did something that would make me a target for this guy. I'm drawing a blank.

I just stood there. Suddenly I was shoved back against my locker with the flowers, with a glare he mumbled something under his breath.

Damn, is that his batman voice?!?!

I just stared at him, waiting. He mumbled again.

Something about jack shit?!?!

With a final glare he stormed away.

I was left there staring at his massive back holding a bouquet. Gulping. I hear a few people murmuring within themselves.

"How unlucky can you get, first getting dumped in the morning and the getting a death notice from Morano in the afternoon. Ouch!"

"Wouldn't want to be him."

"What's with the flowers?"

"Probably Morano's new MO, flowers for the funeral."

"Poor guy... Better stay away from him, bad luck can be catchy."

"I pity the fool!"

"Shut up Fred."

I can only turn around and ignore those murmurs.

With the way things are going, I better get home, who knows what might happen next.

I got my things and rushed home.