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Mitch stepped off the bus that frigid Wednesday morning. He paced cross the courtyard and headed toward his locker like normal. As he entered the building, he noticed as he routinely did everyday: the girls. They were laughing and chatting, smiling and giggling. And, Mitch noticed one girl, the one who stuck out the most to him: Janice. He looked at her golden blond hair, her face sculpted by angels, heard her serene voice. He smiled, and she smiled back. He opened his mouth to speak--
"What's up, dude?" Mark shouted as he flew down the steps, and most literally at that. He landed on Mitch's right shoulder, spinning him around.
"What the hell are you doing?" Mitch shouted. "I was about to make my move!" Janice had returned to talking with her friends. "You don't realize how much effort that takes!"
"Sorry, man." Mark said. He showed no sign of regret, though. "You know what we're doing first period?"
"Screw off," Mitch walked off, toward his first class.
Nathan bolted down the steps now, and landed near Mark. "What's his problem?"
Mitch looked up during PE to see Janice. The graceful moves she made while playing volleyball entranced him. He continued to notice how happy and content she looked. She was so--
The volleyball bounced off his head and he flew to the ground. Momentarily stunned, he reached for his displaced glasses and put them on his face.
"You okay?" Katy yelled from the other side of the court. She couldn't help but laugh. "That was my fault."
"I'm fine, thanks." Mitch stood up, two people on his team laughing so hard they couldn't keep their balance.
Mark rushed over and whispered. "Dude, are you like really into Janice, or what?"
"Is it that obvious?" Mitch glanced at Janice, where she immediately glanced away. A smile bloomed from ear to ear on her face.
Mark just smirked and walked away.
Mitch looked up from his test just so he could look at the back of Janice's head. Mitch would never admit it to his superbly male friends, but he wanted a relationship with a girl. As much as they were into just the physical side of a relationship, he wanted all of the personality side.
Mitch was losing track of time. Janice's head was all he saw. He continued to look, and look. And--
"Eyes on your own paper, Mr. Lauritson!" Mr. Keen snapped.
Mitch jumped and dropped his pencil. "Sorry, won't happen again." he said meekly. He hurried back to his test. Once again, Janice smiled, just knowing she was the object of his affection.
Mitch stepped off the bus at his house. Mark was right behind him, as he lived just further down the road. He was babbling about some wrestling crap, which mattered none to Mitch.
"...and because he lost the last match, Triple H has been crossed out of the Royal Rumble. He's trying to kill the Undertaker now!"
"Correct me if I am wrong, but were they not best of friends last week?" Mitch said skeptically.
"That's not the point."
"Shut up."
"Fair enough."
Mitch dashed to his porch and set down his bag and ran back to Mark's path. He always got the mail before he went inside. "So, who do you think is hot?" Mitch said politely.
"Well, I'm really siding toward Megan this week." Mark said. He did a little vulgar dance, and Mitch looked away. "Did you see what she was wearing yesterday?" He growled like a cat for effect.
"Yeah, I noticed." Mitch opened the mailbox and retrieved his mail. "See ya later."
"Okay." Mark continued down the road and disappeared around a curve.
Mitch walked back to his house, opened the door and tossed the mail in. "Mail call," He dashed back outside and ran across the street to the unsold and unkempt lot. He pushed his way through some brush and into the field. He found himself a niche and laid down there. Crossing his hands behind his head, he fell into a deep meditation.
Mitch thought about everything. This was his spot to do so. He thought about current events, current happenings at school, but most of all, Janice.
Her face kept floating into his thoughts. He couldn't stop it. He didn't want to, either.
Mitch had lost track of time. It had been over an hour and a half since he came to the field. He got up, relaxed and a bit disoriented. It had only felt like a few minutes.
He walked into his house and ran up the stairs. His father was sleeping and his mother was making dinner. The smell of roast beef wafted over through the air.
Mitch booted up his computer, dialed up the internet, and connected to Instant Messenger. He checked his Contact List, and only one person was online: Janice.
Mitch typed "How are ya?" and waited for a response.
"I'm fine. How are you?" came a response in pink.
"Just great." He typed. "What are you up to?"
"Just leaving for the store. Gotta go."
There was a sound, and she was offline. Mitch was disappointed, as he wanted to talk with her more.
It was 10:00 p.m., and Mitch was tired. He retired to his bed and slept. The next morning he woke, showered, dressed, brushed his teeth, and applied all the other amenities. He hopped on the bus and was off to school.
Mitch, as normal, ran across the courtyard to his locker. As he entered the building today, something was missing. Something very significant.
The girls were crying. And, Janice wasn't with them. Mitch was puzzled. But, as soon as he though the worst, he dismissed it. My luck can't possibly be that bad. Mitch noticed that everyone looked depressed or was crying. This gave Mitch the momentum to overcome his shyness for a moment. He climbed a flight of stairs and walked over to the girls. "What's wrong?"
"Didn't you hear?" Mara said, "Janice was killed last night by a drunk driver on her way to the store." She sniffled as she wiped away a tear.
Mitch's mouth dropped. He stepped back and stumbled on the stairs. His face turned red and he covered his mouth. "No..." he mumbled. he dropped his backpack and dashed out of the school, crying.
"Your Mom said I would find you here." Mark said as he stood over Mitch. "I heard the news, I'm really sorry."
Mitch stared up at the sky. "I talked to her a few minutes before she died." he said absently. "Nothing in this universe is constant." He was too depressed for anger at this point.
"I know what you mean." Mark laid down a few feet away and looked up at the sky.
"I don't think anyone does." Mitch said.
Mark was silent.
"You realize that I had a huge
crush on her, but I was never able to tell her." Mitch inwardly
kicked and then brutally beat himself. He was so depressed now, that
he didn't know how if he was going to make it. "Life is too damn
short. Take advantage of things while they're within your reach.
Don't wait." Mitch stood, and walked off