A Day in the Life

A DAY IN THE LIFE

6:58 A.M.

“Olivia! Get up! It’s almost seven o’clock.”

Oh God. Make her stop! I pulled my pillow over my head to silence my mother’s bellowing from the hall.

“Olivia! Get out of bed.”

Argh!

‘NOW!” Mom yelled.

“I’M UP!” I screeched back, removing the pillow from my face.

“YOU BETTER BE! DON’T MAKE ME COME IN THERE AND DRAG YOU OUT OF THAT BED!”

“I SAID I’M UP!” I rolled over and put the pillow over my head again.

My bedroom door opened, and there she was, Marj the Mom-ster. Invading my privacy. As usual. The woman did not understand boundaries.

“I knew you weren’t up!” said said shaking her finger at me, like a was a bad dog, or something.

“GET OUT OF HERE!” I screamed, whipping the pillow towards the door.

“Get out of bed right now!” She walked in, and threw open the curtains, evil sunlight flooding my room.

“I’m not going to school. I’m sick.” I pulled the covers over my head.

“You are going to school. End of discussion. Get up and get moving.”

“No. I’m not going. And you can’t make me.”

I hazarded a look at the Mom-ster. She looked pissed. I may have crossed the line.

“If you don’t get up, I’m going to go to your school, find all you friends, and ask them why you won’t go to school. Maybe they can help me figure it out.”

“God! I hate this!” I sat up. “Get out!”

She turned to look at me. “I’m driving you. We’re leaving at 7:55. Be ready.” She walked out of the room, closing the door.

I flipped the covers back, and walked towards the bathroom.

It was the same, every morning. I am not a morning person. Everybody knows that. Especially Marj.

I thought about her threat. She would probably would go to my school Soooo embarrassing! God! I’d have to change schools. She was so cringe!

Ten minutes later I stood in front of my wardrobe trying to figure out what to wear. I Face-Timed my bestie, Sage. She clicked on.

“Morning, girlfriend!” she said, smiling. Sage and I had been friends since kindergarten, so forever.

“Hey!” I said. “What are you wearing today?”

This was something that we did every morning. Once, in grade eight we had worn the same dress,. To make sure that never, ever happened again, we call each other before school—just in case. We had similar tastes and similar clothes, hence the check in. She swivelled the phone towards her full length mirror.

“Wow! You look fab!” I said.

Sage was wearing black jeans, an amazing emerald green sweater, riding boots and a leather jacket. Stunning!

“Your turn!” she said.

I held up my outfit. While not as stunning (or expensive) as Sage’s, I was no slouch. And, best news, we didn’t clash, and we weren’t matchy-matchy. So, win-win.

“Ohh,” said Sage. “I love the blouse. Red is your colour.” She squinted at me. “Sooooo, I guess hat means that you’re going to school today? You know, because you’re getting dressed.”

“Yup.”

“I thought—”

“Marj is on the warpath. She threatened to go to school again. I can’t take the chance that she’ll do it.”

“Oh, sad face!” said Sage. And she did look sad. We were supposed hang out at her house today and watch some Real Housewives of somewhere. It didn’t matter which city, just as long as there was some table flipping. But not any more. “You want me to pick you up?” she asked.

“Noooo. The Mom-ster’s driving me today. She’s going to deliver me to the front door.” I shook my head. “She’ll probably walk me in! God! What does she care? I’m passing all my classes!” I gritted my teeth. “I hate this!”

Sage shrugged. “Parents are weird.” Her family was wealthy and her parents were in Singapore for the next couple of weeks, so it was just Sage and the housekeeper, Anita. And Anita didn’t care if Sage went to school or not. Sage was living my best life.

“Let’s go, Olivia!” Marj thundered through the door.

“God! Did you hear that? Marj is screaming at me! Again! I gotta go. See you at school. You bring the lattes.”

“Deal!”

8:10 A.M.

The fifteen minutes that it took to get to school were awful. All the Mom-ster talked about was why I should go to school, how important it was to get into a good university, how marks were the be-all and the end-all.

“Mom! Stop! I’m on the honour roll—this year, last year, and in grade nine. My marks are fine!” I reminded her.

But she wouldn’t stop. Blah, blah, blah, attendance, blah, blah, blah, universities look at things like attendance—Not true!—blah, blah, blah, think of how much better your marks would be if you applied yourself.

Applied myself! God if she said that one more time, I was going to throw myself out of this moving car.

We pulled up to the front door of the school. I opened the door to get out, but I didn’t escape fast enough.

She gave me her I’m not fooling around face. “You’re going to class, right? I don’t want any phone calls saying you missed any of your classes. Is that understood?”

“God! I said that I was going to go to class, and I’m going to go to class! Are you satisfied? Do you want to come to class with me? I’m sure my teachers won’t think I’m the biggest loser in the world.”

Marj looked at me, and deadpanned. “Bye Olivia. Have a wonderful day. Mother loves you.”

“Whatever.”

SLAM!

I whirled on my heels, and stomped through the school’s front door before Marj could say anything more.

God, she is the worst! I pounded up the stairs to the second floor, turned right, and headed towards my locker. I’m old enough to make my own decisions, and if I don’t want to go to school, I won’t friggin’ go to school. Argh!

And there, at the end of the hall was Sage. Thank the coffee gods for Sage. She was a life saver.

“Mmmmm, latte,” I said as I walked up to her. “My favourite!” Sage handed me the coffee. “You are the best!” I said, taking a sip.

Usual morning talk. “Your hair looks great!” “Did you get your math homework done?” Did you see Melissa’s fit? So cute!”

Then he appeared.

It was almost like he it was moving in slow motion, the wind blowing his hair. I’m pretty sure I heard angels sing. Evan Durant had turned the corner and was walking down the hall towards us. I held my breath. I looked at Sage. She’d seen him, too. I looked back at Evan. Perfection! He was literally tall, dark, and handsome! My heart leapt in my chest.

“Hey,” he said as he strolled by, smiling.

“Hey,” we both said, almost at the same time.

We watched him walk away from us, and turn into room 224—our first period class.

Sage was still staring after him. “He is sexy AF,” she said, a dreamy look in eyes.

“OMG, I think my heart’s going to explode!” I said.

She turned to look at me. “I think he likes Marie Connors. They were talking yesterday in front of the office.

“She’s in his drama class. They’re partners.” I said, still looking down the hall. “I wish I’d taken drama.”

We gathered up our books and headed to class. Period one, English with Mr. Porter. It was okay—not too much work. But it was sooooo boring. Watching paint dry was more exciting. But it was a prerequisite, so I was taking it.

We walked in an took our seats. Of course, Sage and I sat beside each other. Evan was one desk up and to the left, so we got to stare at his perfect head all class.

NOON

I met up with Sage and Melissa in the cafeteria after I bought lunch. Marj had declared that if I wasn’t going to make my own lunch, she wasn’t going to make it for me. “Fine,” I’d said, “Then I’ll buy my own lunch.” And I did. Thank goodness for my job at the mall!

We sat around, each of us engrossed in our phones, not really talking to each other.

Ding!

Sage: Guess who just walked into the caf!!!!!! 😍

My head shot up, and I looked around. Sigh! Evan. I watched him looking around, keeping my head low so that he wouldn’t catch me watching him. He spotted his bros, and walked over to them.

Olivia: Wish I was a bro!

2:10 P.M.

Last class of the day—chemistry Thank God! Sitting and listening all day was exhausting! And boring. I kinda liked Chem cuz at least we did experiments and stuff. Today we were looking at chemical reactions. If we were lucky, maybe something would blow up. And Evan was in this class. A great way to end the day!

Ms. Ringle explained what we would be doing. We got our goggles and equipment. Sage was not a science girl, and was not in chem class with me, so I was solo. Because Ms. Ringle felt that two brains were better than one, she assigned partners for the singletons.

“Brad, you’re with Olivia.”

I swore. Not Brad Jessop! Anyone but Brad Jessop. What a pig! I hate him! He’s part of a group of losers who hang out in front of the cafeteria at lunch. They rate girls who walk by, yelling a number from one to ten. It too demeaning. And he’s always trying to look down my top, and makes all kinds of disgusting remarks.

“We’re partners today, Olivia. Or should I say O-lick-me-a?”

“Shut up,” I said, dismissing him. I hoped he blinded himself or blew off a couple of fingers. “I want you to—”

“You want me, Big O? You just said you want me!” He sneered at me looking at my chest. “You want some of this?” he said, grabbing his crotch. Or where I thought his crotch should be but really couldn’t tell because of his stupid baggy-ass jeans.

So gross.

I set up the experiment, and did it myself while Brad Jessop used his phone, or made sexist remarks. I might have been alone, for all the help he was. I wrote down my findings, and turned to hand my work in to Ms. Ringle. Brad grabbed my arm. “Put my name on it!” he demanded.

I pulled my arm away from him. “No! You did SFA. I’m not giving you credit for my work.”

He grabbed my arm again, squeezing it tighter. “Put my name on it. Or else!”

“GET YOUR HANDS OFF OF ME!” I yelled.

“Bradley! Let go of Olivia!”

He stared at me, his sneer back. “You’re gonna regret that, bitch!” he hissed, dropping my arm. He just walked out of the classroom, Ms. Ringle following him out.

I rubbed my arm, and watched the classroom door shut behind them.

3:20 P.M.

So happy the stupid day was over. I stuffed all my homework in my backpack, and headed towards the exit. Sage was going to be a bit late—math help room—so I decided to walk home.

A car pulled up beside me, and the passenger door swung open. It was Evan Durant.

“Hey, Olivia,” he said.

I stared, open-mouthed, my heart jumping in my chest. Evan-Freaking-Durant was talking to me.

“You okay?”

I nodded yes.

“I think maybe Brad Jessop and his friends might be looking for you. Brad was suspended today, and he’s pissed. Do you want a ride home?”

“Sure,” I said, looking at him, not moving.

“Okay,” he said, looking at me, waiting. He kept looking at me, and I kept looking at him. “Uh,” he said, “You know, if you want a ride home, you’re going to have to get into the car.”

I felt my face redden. Duh. Of course I had to get into the car. I jumped into the passenger seat and shut the door.

“Where do you live?”

I gave him directions. We drove in silence. I couldn’t talk. When we arrived, I leaned into the door to open it.

“So, I’m having a bit of trouble in chemistry. Do you want to be my partner? You know, for class?”

OH MY GOD! YES! YES! YES! A THOUSAND TIMES YES! Screamed the voice in my head.

“Sure,” I said, shrugging.

“Cool,” he said. “I’ll move my seat to beside you tomorrow.” He smiled his perfect smile at me. “Thanks!”

I smiled. “Uh, thanks for the ride home,” I said opening the door.

“Not a big deal. I just live a couple of blocks away, so it’s almost on my way.”

I got out of the car and waved as he drove away. As soon as he was out of sight, I whipped out my phone.

Olivia: 🤩🔥💕 GUESS WHO DROVE ME HOME FROM SCHOOL TODAY!!!!

Olivia (not waiting): Evan Durant!

Sage: OMG!!!!!

Olivia: Yeah, and he wants to be my chem partner!!!!! Kill me now! 🎉

5:30 P.M.

I heard the front door open and close. The Mom-ster. I looked up from the couch where I was doing my homework, watching Netflix.

“Hey,” I said. “I made dinner. Spaghetti.”

Mom smiled. “Thanks, Olivia. That was nice.”

“No probs.”

She walked over to the front hall closet and hung up her coat, and came into the family room where I was sitting, plopping herself on the other end of the couch.

“How was your day?” she asked.

I shrugged. “Fine.”

“Anything exciting happen?” she asked, looking at the television.

“Nah. Just the usual.”