Firework

Do you ever feel like a plastic bag drifting through the wind, wanting to start again?

She walked down the hall silently, books in hand. Around her, people were shaking hands, bumping fists, hugging, and kissing. The sounds of chatter stung at her like annoying bees. She aught the eye of a cute blond boy waving at her. She smiled and waved back before realizing he was waving at Kendra McClain behind her.

She put her head down and continued walking, not noticing the "Caution: Wet Floor" sign beside her. After a few steps, she lost her footing and her right leg slipped straight out from under her. Books flying, she landed hard on her butt before tapping her head on the ground.

Do you ever feel, feel so paper thin, like a house of cards, one blow from caving in?

Kendra gasped and rushed over to help her up.

"Oh my gosh! Are you okay?"

She looked at Kendra, surprised. "Y-yeah." The blond girl looked astonishingly concerned. She almost couldn't believe it. She gave a shy grin. "Floor's s-slippery when w-wet."

"Yeh, they should really do something about that janitor," Kendra said, helping her to her feet. "I mean, who mops a floor right before class change?"

She nodded weakly. "Yeah."

"Do you need any help to your next class?" Kendra asked, grabbing her books.

"I-I t-think I'm g-good," she said, taking her books from the other girl. "Th-thanks."

"No problem." Kendra smiled. "Hey, if you're not doing anything for lunch, you can totally--"

Do you ever feel already buried deep? Six feet under, screams, but no one seems to hear a thing.

She opened her eyes and looked around. Kendra was already down the hall. Her books were strewn out around her. She sat up as the bell rang and people began scattering to their next class. No one seemed to notice that she had fallen, or cared to, anyway. She tucked her hair behind her ear, and began reaching for her fallen books, placing them in a stack.

Do you know that there's still a chance for you, 'cause there's a spark in you.

A tear fell from her eye as she reached for her last book. But it wasn't there. She turned and noticed a pair of white shoes next to her, and looked up to find the blond boy holding out to her the final book. She quickly wiped away the tear.

"Thanks."

"Nasty fall," he said, helping her up.

"S-slippery when wet."

He chuckled. "Yeh. Dangerous."

He grabbed her books and began walking down the hall.

She paused.

"Rachel," he called back, turning around and grinning. "You coming?"

She smiled and walked toward him.

You just got to ignite the light and let it shine. Just own the night like the 4th of July.

"You know my name."

He laughed. "Of course. We've been going to school together for two years now."

He pointed to a door on the left. "Osborne. Geometry. 1st Block, freshman year."

She looked down in a shy smile. "Learn, you will."

"That's right!!" he said, laughing. "She did have a thing for Star Wars. didn't she make us find the circumference and area of the Death Star?"

He nudged her. "And you were the only one to get it right."

She put a hand over her arm and kept walking. "That's me. The nerd."

He shook her head. "No, no. It's better than being an idiot. Like Kendra McClain. That girl actually applied to Cal U. Like 90210? She said, 'If it's good enough for Kelly Taylor, it's good enough for me!'"

They laughed. Rachel felt at ease.

"Here we are," he said, stopping at a door to their right. "Bio, right?"

"How'd you--?"

He smirked. "I have my ways."

He handed her the books.

"Thanks Tyler," she said.

He nodded and gave her a smile. "So, see you at lunch?"

She grabbed the handle and pressed down, still staring at him. "Sure."

Smiling, she turned and opened the door, walking in to the classroom.

Baby, you're a firework! Come on show 'em what you're worth.