High School Years: 2
By Corbin
How life tests the endurance, patience, and sometimes faith of one young woman.
 
Pre-Story Introduction/Ranting/Venting/Observations...
 
Has anyone seen that commercial, (it's in black-and-white btw, for that 
gritty, down to earth appeal I guess), the one where a man and a woman 
are standing in the middle of some large town square and he proclaims his 
love for her. He starts shouting "I love this woman!" while waving his arms. 
Has anyone seen this farce?
 
Well this woman, is like, looking totally embarrassed, ready to crawl under 
a rock because she thinks her boyfriend is loosing his mind...or simply 
embarrassed by his calling to the goddess of love in her name. (Please, put 
me in that commercial so I can sock him in the kisser, just to shut his loud 
idiotic mouth).
 
Anyway, he then proposes to her...giving her this diamond, well that just 
sends this woman over the romantic edge and she embraces him warmly 
(awwww) while saying "I love this man".
 
Isn't that just dandy?
So the man is the one who is portrayed as the self-confident, romantic nut 
(nut case all right) with emotional depth and passion. The woman is the 
shallow one who only comes to life when a fucking rock is shoved under 
her nose. She looks scared, insecure, and that hunk of a diamond 
suddenly brings all the love out in her.
 
Simply pathetic...I see nothing romantic about that commercial at all!
 
In fact, I see it as an advertisement for prostitution. Basically, it's saying 
that if you give a woman a diamond, she will open her heart and legs for 
you instantly, that women are superficial and only understand the 
language of jewelry. They are not trading in cold hard cash but the 
diamond market you see. Very clever, but I'm on to you advertising punks! 
More attempts by men in the advertising field to patronize, insult, and 
demean women while we buy their junk products, or have them given as 
gifts from retarded men who should never have come out of their role of 
hunting-and-gathering to begin with. 
 
*Okay...deep breath....I feel better now...*
 
Where was I? Oh yeah...
 
 
2
 
So back to my gymnastics routine, I really did need to refocus; besides 
Sharon had already disappeared into the locker room. Basically, I was done, 
but dragged out the minutes by stretching because people like Sharon 
annoyed me and I figured if I waited long enough she would be long gone 
from the locker room. I also enjoyed the moment of peace and quite as I 
was in a bit of a funk; you see I was beginning to realize my gymnastics 
days were numbered although my Scholarship to College was based on just 
that. But I knew I would never be able to compete at the level I really 
wanted to, not against the girls I would be going up against. They were so 
small body frame wise and willing to risk their neck at any price...not me, 
sure I would do some of the more difficult routines, hence dangerous, but I 
think my coach sensed my growing apprehension. After all, the bigger you 
are the harder you do fall.
 
I slowly twisted my torso to my left, then right, while keeping my legs 
stretched out in a full split just a little longer while I sat contemplating my 
current and future role in gymnastics (Flexible I am! I am proud to say I 
still am. Full split, anytime of the day baby! Good grief, god only knows 
what perverted fantasies are dancing thru your guy's heads). By now I had 
gotten myself into a nice little funk as I pulled on my track shorts. When I 
strolled into the locker room, I was not at all prepared for what I saw...I 
think I was so stunned I almost went about my regular business.
 
'Well, well, well...' Right in front of my very eyes was the makings of one 
nasty fight and Sharon looked like she just might wind up on the loosing 
end this time. There was Janet and Taylor, two girl's from the Softball team 
who seemed intent on confronting Sharon, and for what seemed like the 
first time I saw a look of 'I'm in deep shit' on Sharon's face, although she 
was putting up a brave front. Well, considering she was standing in her 
pink underwear with nothing but a clutched shirt to cover her chest it was 
a difficult front to maintain at best, but man was she trying, I'll give her 
that! 
 
Now I've got all three looking at me like I'm some alien that just landed in 
the middle of the locker room, giving me that look somewhere between 
annoyed and scared, with that nervous energy kind of stare. As for me, 
well I just wanted get my gym bag and get out of there, I needed to get 
home and study. It's not that I don't care enough to intervene, but really 
now, you sometimes have to let things play out on there own.
 
Let me describe Sharon's two tormentors a bit, the first and most 
aggressive is Taylor with her short curly reddish, brown hair and stocky 
build, she was close to Sharon's height but about an inch shorter at 5'8"; 
Janet on the other hand was shorter and skinner, about 5'5", wearing her 
light brown hair pulled back in a sloppy pony tail. They both shared the 
same mocking, nasty look in their eyes; they were enjoying every bit of the 
moment, until I walked in that is. They were decked out in their uniforms, 
covered in dirt, sweat and dust, their faces tan from playing outdoors all 
spring as streaks of dirty sweat crisscrossed their faces, only adding to 
their already heated, mean looks. That's when I noticed Sharon's left hand 
was clenched into a first, and let me tell you, if she ever does clench it, 
she's going to use it. But of all the things I noticed, nothing caught me 
more off guard then this vulnerable expression in Sharon's eyes as she 
looked at me, a look of relief I would say because of my sudden 
appearance.
 
I still wasn't sure what to do as I continued to walk to my locker; my mind 
was spinning because this kind of crap I did not need! I mean my little 
plane was not flying below the radar at this moment! My right hand just 
seemed to fumble with that lock when Taylor's big mouth made the 
decision for me.
 
"Hey Corbin, could you give us a few minutes?" Taylor piped up. I glanced 
over and she had this sadistic smile on her face which really annoyed me, 
more then Sharon ever did. Now I'm catching a glimpse of Sharon's head, 
in panic mode now I suppose, as she looking back over her shoulder to 
where I'm standing, waiting...looking for what my reaction will be.
 
"Actually, could you come back in a half hour, this could take awhile." Janet 
kind of chuckled. 
 
"Yeah! A half hour should do it" Taylor looked over at her partner in crime 
and they both laughed. I noticed that Taylor's confidence level was coming 
back now, hedging her bets that I wasn't going to intervene. Sharon didn't 
move she just kept looking at me, frozen in anxious anticipation as if 
waiting for some winning lottery number to be called out. Now I have to 
say, why I did what I did that day I still can't explain, it was like another 
'Corbin' stepped in and took over. I am all too familiar with that side of 
myself now, but why it choose to reveal itself at that particular point in 
time, I will never know...maybe I don't want to know. It was only a couple 
of months into weight lifting, I sometimes wonder if there is a correlation?
 
In any case, I wasn't friends with any of these girls, nor enemies, honestly 
they meant nothing to me, but I was about to choose sides and it would 
forever alter my life. I remember my head looking over at Sharon as my 
right hand calmly pulled my gym bag from the locker, our eyes drifted and 
eventually locked on one another and there it was again, no 
bravado...bullshit...nor arrogance, but a very simple stare from this 
brunette. I almost smiled at Sharon she gave me such a sincere look, how 
sappy is that! <rolling eyes>
 
"Sharon, do you still need that ride home?" The words just came out of my 
mouth, 'Did I just say that?!' 
 
Sharon just nodded 'Yes' franticly. 
 
"Then get with it, I don't have all day."
 
That really set Taylor's and Janet's world on end, they seemed frozen in 
time for a second, simply stunned. I think Sharon was a bit dumbstruck to, 
but shot Janet an eat shit look as she quickly got dressed. It took a minute 
for what just happen to process in Taylor's mind, "Corbin? Are you shitting 
me?!'" she blurted out in shock, "Since when did you buddy with 
princess!?" 
 
"Yeah!" Janet added. 
 
Sharon fumbled with her clothes trying to get dressed without revealing 
any more skin then necessary, but it was slow going. She was slightly 
hindered by her own distraction as she watched and studied what the two 
girls were thinking. I guess as a show of solidarity I took a couple of steps 
forward, putting me side by side with Sharon at this point. You know, as I 
indicated I didn't have a beef with either Janet or Taylor, but I just felt the 
overwhelming air of calm and confidence swoop down on me and it seemed 
to totally freak them out. I also liked the fact that I was taller then any of 
them, and since I started lifting I was undoubtedly the strongest girl in 
school and they all knew that. Now that doesn't add up to a hill of beans 
when it comes to fighting, but I was still waging a psychological war at this 
point and winning :) Just thru posture and eye contact I had them 
believing that I could put up one hell of a nasty fight.
 
Taylor's wheels were spinning in her small mind, contemplating what to do 
next...or not to do...and that's when I detected a change in Taylor's 
expression, it was subtle, something in her eyes...her mouth even, that told 
me she was going to back down. She simply patted her little buddy Janet 
on the back before speaking, "See you around Princess and you too Corbin" 
An annoying smirk curled out of the corner of Taylor's lips as she got that 
little jab in at me as well.
 
Well bitch you want to banter, we can banter all day; "You see me now, 
don't you? And you'll see me every day until the end of the school year." I 
fired right back, again very uncharacteristic for me. So much so, that the 
comment caught Taylor and Janet dead in their tracks as Taylor just 
studied me in dead silence. Yet there I stood, totally unwavering, but 
Taylor was anything but remaining calm, I could tell she wanted to blow her 
cool and so our little stare down continued. Again, it was Taylor that chose 
to back down and I watched her head shake in disgust before prodding 
Janet to walk back down the row of lockers. 
 
"We're just walking away?" I heard Janet mumble in shock to Taylor. I 
couldn't clearly make out what Taylor said in reply...something to the effect 
of "Soon enough..." or some bull reply like that. The corner of my left eye 
caught Sharon looking, actually watching sort of awestruck as her two 
antagonists walked away, and 'just like that it was over' she couldn't 
believe it, hell I couldn't believe it. I suppose I was even a little stunned at 
what just happened. 
 
There was this uncomfortable pause...that awkward silence as Sharon 
simply stood, her skirt half way up her legs. I was stumped, what do you 
say to someone that you don't even know after something like this? While I 
was trying to think of something cool to say, I could still feel her eyes 
staring right at me, I guess waiting for something. But I chickened out and 
turned my back on her so I could take a seat on the bench which still 
separated us as my fingers nervously played with the strap on my gym 
bag. 'Hmm, that was kind of rude' I thought and mustered up enough 
concentration to formulate some dialogue between us; 
 
"I'll wait and walk you out, you know, just in case" There, that wasn't so 
hard, even if my voice was barely above that of a whisper, good grief I'm 
more nervous trying to carry on a conversation with this prima-donna then 
when I was confronting Taylor and Janet, what's up with that? 
 
Well, I guess that was the queue Sharon was waiting for 'cause she 
snapped to and started getting dressed, damn fast too. I heard her locker 
door slam shut, 'Damn that was quick' and I stood up and turned around, 
noticing that Sharon wouldn't look me in the eyes anymore and I felt really 
bad for the girl. 'God knows that would have shaken me up.' 
 
"You okay?" I asked.
 
Sharon didn't move, she didn't look well either, little did I know she was 
shifting into 'drama' mode. Why can't the hell people just stop putting up 
fronts? Argh, but that's Sharon for you as I suddenly watched her knees 
buckle, followed by her whole body slumping backwards and into the 
lockers. If that wasn't bad enough her left hand came up to quickly cover 
her face as she began to lose her composure. Within an instant her entire 
composure broke down and Sharon began choking out the tears and sobs, 
'This girl should win an Oscar for crying out loud!' Is what I'm thinking now 
of this unfolding performance. Well, to be fair, I must admit that the tears 
seemed real enough, but as I indicated, Sharon was well known for taking 
drama to a new level amongst her friends, but at that moment I had no 
idea of that and assumed the whole experience had shaken the girl pretty 
bad. In fact, I even started to assume the worst that Sharon was fainting, 
what with the way her body fell backwards. So now I'm letting go of my 
gym bag as I cross the bench separating us so I could keep her from falling 
or from...heck I don't know. 
 
But then Sharon's body remained rested against the row of drab grey 
lockers as her sobbing echoed off the hard surfaces of the room. Now I'm 
frozen, not sure what to do, 'cause she obviously isn't fainting and I'm 
looking over my shoulder, yep still alone. 'Now what?' I wonder. Cautiously 
I began my advance, I wanted to give her a hug...I don't know why, I 
sensed she wanted me to I guess, but at the same time I wasn't sure if she 
might smack me or freak out...or something. 'This is so awkward' I don't 
even know this girl and now I'm trying to figure out how to console her, 'I 
guess I should do something?' The truth is I'm not very good at this sort of 
thing. But before I knew what to do next or what was even happening, 
Sharon's fingers were coming towards me and gripping my leotard, so 
much so that I feared the girl might rip the fabric apart. 'She's rather 
strong' I have to admit, but the surprise came pleasantly. 
 
My eyes are bugging a little as Sharon was now clinging to me! But I didn't 
push her away either, It probably felt good to be consoled like this, not to 
mention it was rather pleasant to be the one doing the consoling. Somehow 
it seemed, that in the middle of that very impersonal locker room, with our 
bodies sweaty, shaking and tired, I found that moment to be one of the 
most intimate I had ever experienced. I would later come to learn that 
Sharon shared the same realization as I did. Maybe it was the way Sharon 
rested her head comfortably on my right shoulder as I stroked her back. I 
could feel Sharon squirm a little in my grasp and wondered if she wanted a 
release from this impromptu embrace, but was a bit surprised to feel her 
press in a little tighter, or maybe my mind was playing 'tricks' on me? 
 
The whole experience sent a tremble thru my body, not just a flutter in the 
heart, but a true nervousness that seemed to radiate throughout my entire 
body and needless to say I was just more then a little stunned because I 
knew when I was getting aroused, and I was NOT hugging a boy either. I 
wasn't even sure at first that anything had changed in our simple embrace, 
but I thought I could detect Sharon's whole body tense suddenly. I don't 
know if her tensing was a reaction to me or was Sharon's mind swirling 
with the same thoughts as mine? With that subtle increase in tension 
between our bodies, I knew...or at least I thought I felt a slight shift take 
place between our chests. 'The added pressure against my body...my 
chest...my breasts...my nipples...it feels so fucking hot!' Well, that's it, I'm 
loosing it...because again you see I'm hugging a girl...not a boy...that was 
messing with my head something awful. 'And it's not my imagination 
either' it really did feel like Sharon's chest was now pressing head-on into 
my own. But with Sharon's seemingly emotional sigh and tightening 
embrace I kept wanting to deny anything more than an endearing moment. 
 
'Are those her nipples?' but I knew the answer to my own question, it was 
just that if I can feel hers...well damn, she MUST be able to feel mine...oh 
god, this is embarrassing. Now I wanted to run and hide again because this 
isn't the first time I've been aware of how my nipples have caused 
embarrassing moments for me. Over the years, I have casually hugged 
friends and relatives, and the occasional breast-rub would come into play 
'But I never gave it a moment's notice'. 
 
I think the thing that frightened me the most was how exquisite the 
pressure felt, and wondered if this brunette...this Cheerleader with her diva 
sneer and attitude was also becoming 'turned-on' in our private moment, 
'As much as I am?' My own dilemma was accelerated when I began to feel 
that damn leotard dig and rub against my crotch as I shifted my legs to try 
and make some minor adjustments.  I found myself also clenching my ass, 
along with different parts of my body, not to mention that damn 
leotard...again...creeping up the crack of my ass. Yet, all I knew of this girl 
was that she had a reputation for being unpredictable and bitchy and at 
this very moment I just wanted to leave and go home, I didn't want 
anymore trouble from anyone and I definitely did NOT want this girl to turn 
her venom on me!
 
'But what the hell? I was just trying to comfort her' I alternatively 
considered. It was no stroke of genius when I realized that this embrace 
was beginning to linger into a dangerous amount of time, that if one of us 
didn't break it off soon, it would become painfully clear that the whole 
moment was going to become very awkward, well beyond what it already 
was.
 
 "Feeling better?" I finally said, somewhat shaky in my tone. It actually 
seemed to startle Sharon slightly but the girl recovered as her right hand 
gently performed a small pat and rub on my back. *Sigh* Finally let's get 
this over with already. 
 
"Thanks for everything" Slowly, cautiously I felt Sharon relax her grip, 
almost with some degree of reluctance her head tilted away from me, as if 
to hide her face...her blushing maybe, but then her eyes closed as she 
appeared to contemplate something...I'm pretty good at reading people...I 
think. But I watched as her lips parted with a sigh, 'What's going on in that 
head of hers?' I was wondering, but all of the sudden she did something 
that I swear it must have been on purpose, that just about caused me to 
swoon. Her fingers...those delicate fingers seemed to take their own sweet 
time as they tickled my ribs, even coming around to tease the ridges of my 
abs, before finally slipping away. 'Did she just feel me up?' Was all I could 
think and it was sending pleasurable shivers up my spine! This girl has 
some nerve, it's like she acts like she can do whatever she pleases, but you 
don't see me stopping her either...or maybe I'm so stunned by what just 
happed that things were still not registering with me.
 
That hug, which I just described, it seemed to draw out forever, when in 
reality it had barely lasted a couple of minutes.
 
"Well, that was interesting!" Sharon looked up and smiled. The first thing 
she ever really said to me, but her expression quickly turned to dismay and 
shock, like she couldn't believe she just said that. Not to mention I couldn't 
believe what I just heard.
 
"I'm sorry, I....." Sharon blinked, but still averted her eyes for a few 
seconds, looking like she wanted to crawl into a hole and die. 
 
Finally, I felt my whole body relax, letting myself smile even and look into 
Sharon's blushing face; "It's ok, really Sharon" Trying to sound reassuring, 
sensing Sharon was sharing the same amount of embarrassment as I was. 
'OK? No I would say this is all far from OK' I told myself and wasn't at all 
sure what to make of what just happened, and worse still, what to think of 
my own pleasurable reaction to the whole thing. When Sharon finally 
looked back up, I had already taken a step back, a softer look and smile 
had come over my face. That's how we stood for a few seconds, staring 
across at one another, simply smiling, it was kind of a relief in some ways. 
(Sorry folks I know it sounds mushy, but it really does make my heart 
flutter when I think about it.) Sharon's deep blue eyes with her beautiful 
smile momentarily had me mesmerized, I wasn't even sure why, but there 
was a slight guilt tugging at my heart, 'maybe it was believing all the 
hateful stories people spread about this girl' I thought. 
 
I let Sharon turn to leave first and then quickly reached behind me and 
dug into my track shorts to pull that damn leotard out of my ass. 
Frantically I pushed some of my blonde hair out of my eyes and cleared all 
the sweat off my forehead, 'Jesus, what the hell are you doing?' My brain 
seemed to be spinning out of control. 
 
We walked out to Sharon's car thru a mostly empty parking lot, neither of 
us speaking a word, both still a little shaken and stunned by what just took 
place with Taylor and Janet, but more so between one another I guess. 
Sharon was more or less dragging her feet as we got closer to her car. 
 
Every once in awhile I would catch Sharon sneaking a glance over, 
studying me, maybe even sizing me up. I was a little taller then her, and 
could hold my own in the looks department, so I guess I was somewhat of 
an anomaly at the moment because I always tried to downplay my looks. 
Sharon, was just the opposite, throwing her looks in front of everyone's 
faces. In any case, I was classified as a non-threat by most girls', I wore 
my hair in no particular manner, it hung long and 'very untidy' as Sharon 
would later comment, not to mention I was a fashion victim; baggy and 
wrinkled was my look and I didn't buy my clothes that way either, it was 
just obvious that I was not one for ironing. 
 
"You sure don't talk much" Sharon said. To which I simply shrugged and 
smiled, that was how I really am, pretty quiet.
 
"But that's okay, it's kind of nice..." She smiled and looked back at me. I 
think it kind of put Sharon at ease that I was not very dominating in 
certain ways, at least not around certain people. Sharon seemed to spend 
allot of time analyzing me, I really didn't give her or anyone much 
information to ever go on, I was outside of her standard realm of friends. 
Also, Sharon told me she didn't feel the need to put up a front and 'airs' 
around me, which made me feel good...or was that an insult? To this day I 
never figured it out.  I simply remained quiet during our short walk to the 
car, I am one of those people that does most of my talking in my head and 
for years teachers used to send me home with notes indicating that I was 
way too shy and needed encouragement to break out of my shell. So my 
parents, like so many other parents in a similar situation, began dumping 
me into sports which I took too instantly, but it didn't bridge the social gaps 
for me. Only the most understanding guys and girls ever took the time to 
get to know me, but I admit, my athletic excellence compensated for the 
inability to connect and make friends, otherwise I would be forced to utilize 
my klutzy social skills. To some degree on a very private...almost secret 
level, I lacked the desire to pursue friendships with other people my own 
age simply finding them too superficial. 'And yet...' It occurred to me that 
'...Sharon seems to embody all that I have tried to always avoid, but maybe 
it's superficial of ME to assume that there is not much at all to this girl 
walking next to me?'
 
Again, Sharon stole a glance around to see if anyone was watching us, but 
the few smattering of students still on the school grounds were of no 
importance. I suspected Sharon was in a bit of turmoil at the moment, you 
see the sad truth was that Sharon knew the consequences of her actions 
over the years. As an outside observer I could also see what treating others 
as social 'outcasts' often meant, it meant that Sharon's circle of reliable 
trustworthy friends had narrowed to a dangerous limited number. Making 
friends with me was not in the scope of Sharon's world, I mean I had 'The 
Looks', Academic and Athletic ranking of respect, but my family was not 
rich and I was, as I indicated before...a fashion wreck, even if I wanted to 
be, my parents couldn't afford to keep up with the trendy styles. It took 
everything they had just to get me into this school. (Why does fashion 
matter? Well it does to some...so I'll just end with that).
 
I had started to withdrawn into my shell, you see Sharon was one of the 
'untouchables' in our school, someone that no guy or girl could approach 
unless you were given some non-verbal, un-written approval. 'Like some 
stupid secret society' I smiled to myself in mock humor, 'I suppose all 
schools have these niches by which social dynamics make or break 
teenagers'. And yet, in only a few short minutes the two of us had been 
thrust together, in a very personal situation. Glancing over to the brunette, 
I let some of my defenses down as I once again considered Sharon; 'She 
doesn't seem so bad, not nasty or bitchy at all and she is very beautiful' I 
admitted. I admit, on a superficial level, there was a thrill out of being 
included in Sharon's exclusive niche of people, 'Shit, cut that out' I quickly 
scolded myself, 'All you've done is chat with the girl for a few seconds this 
afternoon, that doesn't mean anything in the overall scheme of things'.
 
Stopping at her car, Sharon took a deep breath, appearing to try and bring 
herself down to earth after that orbiting experience back in the gym; 
"Thank you, you really didn't have to do any of that...back there" Sharon 
could only bring herself to roll her eyes back towards the gym.
 
I snapped out of my daze and squared my shoulders to face this girl, that 
feeling of formality was back again as if nothing extraordinary had 
happened. "Oh, its okay, I wanted to. You really should be careful you 
know, allot of these girls have real vendettas to carry out." I averted her 
eyes, I didn't want any problems, and Sharon had a reputation for being 
such a gossip monger. 
 
"I don't understand why they would do that!?" Sharon whined and started 
to get emotional as she leaned against her car door. "What did I ever do to 
them? I think they might have really...." Tilting her head down she placed 
her forehead against the roof squeezing her eyelids shut. I rolled my eyes 
a bit at how Sharon was being so dramatic; 'She can't be that blind?' I 
wondered. In any case, I reached over and gently rubbed Sharon's neck 
until the girl seemed the calm down, 'Gheesh, that seems a bit forward just 
to reach over and touch her like that, although she seems okay with it'.
 
"Sharon look, the best way I know to describe it....well...it's what you 
represent. To allot of these girls you're beautiful, rich and have 
everything...AND...you do tend to flaunt it." I smiled slightly, thinking that 
summed it up pretty well. 
 
"What!? Do YOU think I'm really like that?!" Sharon leaned back and shot 
me a hurtful look. I quickly retracted my arm and glanced away for a 
second at such a direct question, 'Oops, maybe the wrong choice of words, 
as usual' Taking a deep breath, but decided to just be honest and looked 
straight into Sharon's glistening eyes. 
 
"All I know is just what I see." I looked away again and shrugged my 
shoulders innocently, I didn't know what else to say and avoided looking 
Sharon in the eyes for a few seconds. Sharon was studying me again as I 
nervously clutched my gym bag, the anxiety in my posture was pretty self 
evident I guess.
 
"Well..." Sharon said with a sly knowing smile, "...I guess, just maybe I am a 
little like that." Her head lowered again as if contemplating everything that 
lead up to what happened. 
 
"A little?" I gave her a questioning look. 
 
"Okay, maybe allot." Sharon smirked with what was the first lighthearted 
exchange we had ever had. Suddenly I watched her head come back up 
with a look of concern - "Do you realize the hassles your in for, you know, 
once those two bitches spread around the school that you claimed to be my 
friend!" Sharon almost had a smile on her face as she dug in her purse for 
her keys. 
 
"All I did is help you out" I tried to down play the whole episode, a little 
weary of Sharon's sincerity with the use of the word 'friendship'. 
 
"Yeah...I guess that's all it was" Sharon hesitated and I could tell she was 
disappointed, I actually caught that look of hers at the last possible second 
as Sharon lifted her purse and rooted around for her keys. I stood there for 
a long moment and then peered up very cautiously; 
"I don't know Sharon, do you want to be friends...with me?" I swallowed 
hard and watched Sharon pause at the question, finally looking back up at 
me, like that was exactly what she wanted me to say. And now she was 
beaming her big smile, "You're adorable" Sharon gushed, making fun of my 
shyness and the fact I could now barely look her in the eyes. 'Gheesh I feel 
like some awkward little kid, not some Senior in High School' as I stand 
kicking the loose gravel with my shoes. Not saying another word, Sharon 
rifled thru her purse some more and pulled out a pen and scrap piece of 
paper to scribble down some information. 
 
"Here!" Sharon urgently said, pressing the crumpled up piece of paper into 
my hand, "Call me tonight!" 
I opened my fingers and took the paper as I slowly pushed off from her car, 
just a little stunned at what was happening. It was then I realized that our 
fingers were still interlocked as our arms extended to cover the growing 
gap between us until finally the distance did break our gentle grip. 
Nervously I turned away, but froze suddenly only to then spin around; "I 
feel so stupid, I never even properly introduced myself, I'm Corbin." my 
face blushed red...again...as I leaned in with my right hand to shake hers.
 
"Yeah, let's get all the proper introduction stuff out of the way." Sharon 
laughed and we shook hands, "I'm Sharon."
 
I stepped back, "Well, I've seen you around school and of course I know 
you from the cheering team, that's a really hard squad to get on." I 
sheepishly made small talk and kicked at some loose rocks on the 
pavement some more.
 
"Oh god tell me about it, what a mess it is too. But you know, we really 
work hard at it, have you ever tried out for the team, you seem really 
athletic! How come I don't see you around more?" Sharon suddenly caught 
herself, she was doing it again, dominating the conversation as she always 
did and I just looked like a deer in headlights. "Sorry" Sharon smiled 
awkwardly, "I tend to talk allot."
 
I just smiled at the way Sharon could make fun of herself, "What question 
do you want me to answer first?" 
 
Sharon rolled her eyes and giggled, "Oh, uhm...well...I don't recall you ever 
trying for the team?" 
 
"No biggie, just not interested I guess" I shrugged, I had never really 
thought about it before. "But look, I'll give you a call, I have to run home or 
my parents are going to freak out" I started walking backwards.
 
"Okay...yeah...please do...and thanks again" Sharon pulled on the handle to 
her car door and just stood watching me walk away, waiving spastically.
 
"God I hope I'm not making a big mistake" I mumbled to myself.