The Boy in Front of Algebra II
By Gia, age 18, Florida
Sweet Designs Featured Writer
To preface this story, I've been terrible at math for what seems to be my entire schooling career. Math has never, nor will it be, a strong point in Gia J.'s life.
So, my junior year I'm put in Algebra II. None of my friends were in this class, and all these smart-ass freshmen sat together talking way too loudly for 9 am. Needless to say, I didn't want to be there at all. Early mornings are never good for math, especially for me. I managed to make friends with the girls sitting around me, which helped make class not as boring. I even became friends with those freshmen ... or at least tried. Let's just say, it looked to me like they were a bit scared of me.
I was coasting in math with a C, which was great for me. Staying awake mostly and doing my homework part of the time was a big improvement. I pat myself on the back. There was a boy who let me copy his homework when I decided I didn't want to do it (which was often) and gave me morning hugs. He even called me "Gia baby", which only a few other people did. He didn't look at me very much, and if he did, well, I never caught him. I don't think he and I actually had real conversations, other than,
"Hey!"
"Gia baby!"
"Can I see your homework?"
He intrigued me, but not like other boys. He was smart, not like I'm not, but in a different way. He was really quiet, or maybe he was like that in school only. One way or another I wanted to talk to this kid, but I didn't think he cared whatsoever if he talked to me.
For a freshman he was cute. My junior year I was getting over one of those monumental heartbreaks. The ones where you sit and cry and EVERYTHING reminds you of him. Yeah, one of those. I had a boyfriend who was new. He threw birthday parties and he truly cared about me. He was amazing and I was lucky. Still, the boy in front of Algebra II intrigued me to no end. My friends told me I was too old for him and that it was stupid to like him, but I didn't like him at the time. I wanted to understand him.
Starting my senior year, the boy in front of Algebra II wasn't in my math class. I was taking, like, pre-cal for kids who don't get math, and, well, he got math. I used the only way to get in touch with a teenager these days, Facebook. I totally caught him off guard when IM'd him, but I had to talk to him. We talked about what I was going to do without him in math class and other things I can't remember.
I didn't have a boyfriend nor did I want one. Senior year was for having fun and freedom; I wasn't going to give that up. We talked a lot, and while I tried to fight it, I had a crush. You never forget certain first kisses with people. I wish I could say it was happily ever after, but in true Gia style, we needed more drama and tears.
The boy in front of Algebra II was older and finally figured out what he wanted. In the middle of the world ending in 2012, he held my hand. The boy in front of Algebra II is named Dennis. Not only is he my boyfriend, he's my best friend. While he may not sit in front of me in math anymore, he has a place in my heart now. Sappy, I know, but hey, it's high school! Every girl probably has a boy like Dennis. My feelings for him are like how I feel about math, confused but willing to understand why these things happen.