This is a regular column featuring original poetry and fiction by and for teens, provided by Figment.com, an online community writing site for young people.
By Amber R. H.
I come to a stop and my heart literally pounds right out of my chest. Hide. My shy little thoughts scream at me, making my limbs itch to run far far away from Stefen. He's so adorable, with his tousled dark hair and breathtaking blue eyes. Call me a cliche, but that boy can make me melt.
He starts to come closer and on shaky legs I turn and walk away, bumping right into Shania. She's blonde and perky, my best friend for forever. A smile curves onto her face. "Guess who I see."
My cheeks feel like they're on fire. "Shut up!" I grumble, lightly punching her in the arm.
She glares. "You're so mean Anna!"
I don't reply , staring at my beat up sneakers as Stefen passes. Shit. How can he make me feel so good for one second and then terrible the next? Is it because I can't get the courage to talk to him?
Shania, knowing me all too well chuckles. "You should talk to him."
I roll my eyes and start to head the opposite way toward my class. As I walk I say in a low voice so no other ears can hear, "Yeah? And say what? I love you?"
She shakes her head. "You're so complicated Anna. No! You're supposed to say oh I don't know..." She puts a finger to her lip and pretends to think. "Hi, like a normal person."
I tug at the straps on my backpack restlessly. "Sorry, but it's really hard to say something."
Shania crosses her arms. "No it isn't."
"Well then you do it." I point at a random guy sitting on a bench. "You go and talk to him."
She turns bright red. "No!"
"Exactly! If I never talk to Stefen so be it, call me a chicken."
She starts to pout. "It will work out better for you in the end and you know it!"
I don't reply, knowing deep down that she's right, only stopping at the door to my class and waving. "See you later."
She nods. "Alright." --------------------------------------------------------------------- After English I go to Math, which is one of the only classes I have with Shania. She joins up with me in the hallway, her cheeks rosy. I furrow my eyebrows. "Why are you so happy?"
She smiles. "Chad, he's just so fine. Remember? I used to be petrified at the mere sight of him and now we've been dating for two years. I'm the success story you're looking for."
I sigh. "Are we really going to go through this again?"
She nods vigorously. "Yes and again and again and again until you talk to him."
"Alright! I'll try it, and if I do will you stop bugging me?"
She nods and squeezes my arm in encouragement. I take a deep breath and hold my head high. As I walk through the hallway, past fellow students I think about Stefen, feeling even more confident about talking to him with each step. If he gets pissed at me just for saying hi then he's not worth it, so what have I got to lose?
My confidence leaks out of me like water going down the drain when I catch sight of him. My breath locks in my throat and I stand there, locked in fear. Shania gives me a little nudge. "Go on."
Bile rises in my throat. "What am I supposed to say again?" I whisper, watching and filled with doom as he comes closer."Hi."
I feel like I'm going to throw up and my legs are about to give out. He's almost there, just a couple more steps. "Hi!" A high pitched squeak comes out of my mouth. He throws his amazing gaze at me smiles and nods.
"Hi."
I practically melt and am trapped in a dreamworld the whole way to class. The words Shania are telling me, no matter how exuberant they are go in one ear and out the other.