Orientation

Beep. Beep. Beeeeeeep. The sound of shrill brakes and piercing honks from Jason’s restored pickup truck served as April’s alarm clock.

“8:00am already? Oh crap!” April’s slender tanned fingers and nails adorned with carnation pink polish counted four hours until orientation. “Jason’s going to complain about my lack of discipline again.” She flung on a white pleated knee length skirt and a cotton candy pink button down dress shirt.

Beep. Beep. Another round of blasts beckoned April to move faster. Looking in her seashell framed mirror, she brushed her teeth in a hurry. With a splash of water and the palm of her hands, April smoothed down her long brown hair with golden highlights at the tip. “Good enough,” April exhaled.

Vroom. Vroom. Vrooooom. Jason reminded April he waited too long. His engine revved every few seconds like a snooze alarm. She clasped on the silver heart pendant he gave her three months ago for her seventeenth birthday. April grabbed her fleece jacket, duffle bag, backpack and purse.

“No breakfast for me today.” April snatched a cereal bar and bottle of water off the kitchen counter, running to the front door. She tossed her duffle bag and backpack in the back seat of Jason’s truck without making eye contact. April slid into the passenger seat. She adjusted the seat forward before buckling in. “Hey, Jay. Thanks so much for picking me up today. I can’t believe I have to start senior year at a new school,” April uttered through a winded voice.

“Yeah, No problem,” Jason replied in a nonchalant tone. A quick glance and April noted his textbook attire. He sported a polo shirt, distressed jeans and tennis shoes scuffed up from skateboarding. His finger-combed jet black hair complimented his chic grunge vibe. Jason seemed preoccupied with checking his watch and adjusting the rear view mirror to admire April’s outfit or give any sort of greeting.

After Jason’s pre-flight check of all systems, he pulled off. As if reading from a manual, Jason said, “I should get you there by 9.” Jason’s methodical driving meant the trip would take 45 minutes.

“So, how did you sleep?” April queried with hesitation. She wanted to shift the stiff air with safe chit-chat.

“Good, I guess.” Jason’s focus on the road today far surpassed any previous performance. April kept waiting for Jason’s barrage of unwanted advice that harped on her shortcomings and immaturity. “Do you have your ticket and schedule?” is all Jason continued with.

“Um, yeah,” April responded in a relieved tone. She stared at her watch. “It looks like I should still make good time. The orientation doesn’t start until noon. And the bus ride will be a couple hours. So I’ll have a little time to spare.”

“Did you bring anything to read during the ride?” This was the first time Jason looked over at April. His eyebrows rose just a little. This action wasn’t out of interest or to punctuate his question. He predetermined a checkmate.

Shoot! April screamed in her mind. Jason found another flaw. What am I going to do to pass the time? I just knew I was being diligent by packing my bags the night before. If this is any indication of my senior year, I’m screwed!

“April, did you bring something to read for the trip?” Jason’s repeated question broke her soliloquy. “I take it you didn’t even consider how bored you might get,” Jason sighed like a disappointed parent.

“Well, I can spend the time memorizing all the activities planned for the day!” April’s kneejerk reply sounded like the excitement from a Eureka moment. I sound so stupid right now. Ugghhh.

The bus depot was only two blocks away. April’s imminent escape from the clumsy silence eased her desperation. She was out of conversation starters. And anything she said could easily turn into an assault against her naiveté.

Jason parallel parked a few spaces from the statino entrance. They were in the drop off zone as opposed to a spot in the main lot. “Jay, you’re not going to wait with me?”

“If you were ready on time then maybe. But your bus will leave in a few minutes.” He hopped out the truck and gathered April’s belongings. April watched in revulsion as Jason walked around to open her door.

He sort of has a point, she admitted with shame. But this is far from the romantic sendoff she day dreamed about and rehearsed for the past several weeks. She gripped her purse tight and bit her bottom lip as he stepped out the truck and over the yellow curb.

“April, I want to wish you the best of luck. I know things are rough.” Jason bent down to place an almost imperceptible peck on her forehead. April stood on her tippy-toes and tilted her head back to land a light kiss on his lower lip. Her lip gloss didn’t even rub off on him. April expected so much more, even if it was in public and a crowded bus station.

“Goodbye, Jason. Thanks for the ride. I’ll call you when I get to the school. I love you.” April’s somber state led to a final hug devoid of passion. She clung on to his waist and tucked her head under his chin.

Before peeling April away, Jason pressed an envelope into her jacket pocket. “Be safe. And let your parents know when you arrive.” He handed April her bags and trotted to his truck.

April plodded up each step of bus number 202, her heart heavier than all her belongings. Jason drove off before April’s bus did. After digesting her bland parting with Jason, she felt a little excited to have something to do besides memorizing the orientation schedule.

The bus let off a hiss and jerked up as the doors closed. Five minutes after departing the station, April wondered if she should open the envelope now or later. Is this an eeny, meeny, miney, moe or heads or tales situation? Maybe a he loves me; he loves me not decision: no, too nerve wracking, I don’t have a flower and he never said he loved me too today.

A well circulated penny emerged from April’s purse. Heads, I open it now. Tales, I open it in 30 minutes. April held fate in her palm and lifted her hand enough to make the penny bounce in the air and flip to land flat in her now closed fist. She peeled one manicured finger back at a time until Abraham Lincoln stared her down.

She slid a nail under the corner of the envelope to peel the seal apart with the impatience of a student opening decision letters. There was just a single sheet of college lined paper. Jason’s sloppy, bubble letter print met April’s darting eyes.

April,

The past eight months have been great. You’re really a sweet girl. But we are about to go to college in a year. And you’re off to a new school during our most important year. I think you would stay more focused if you did not have to consider me as you make decisions. Let’s still be friends.

Jason

“Did he just break up with me!?!” A bus full of laser beam-eyed passengers turned towards April. Her faced flushed as she ducked down in her seat just enough to avert their glares. She cradled her aching stomach to make the horrible sensation subside. April spent the rest of the ride blinking away hot tears while drifting in and out of cat naps. There was too much to cope with: an ex-boyfriend, her family life, a new school, senior year.

An announcement for April's stop jarred her out of her stupor. Outside her window she spotted the white van with the school’s name and grizzly bear mascot waiting for her. She used the headrests to buttress herself as she dragged her limp body down the aisle and the steps of the bus. April caught a glimpse of her discolored, puffy eyes in the bus driver’s rearview mirror. She bolted for the restroom to splash cold water on her face and reapply her foundation before boarding the school van.

The 30-minute drive to the school became 30 seconds to April. She got her emotions in check just enough to brave orientation and her new classmates. With all her delays, she only had time to sign in, drop her bags off in her room and head to the auditorium.

Hallways festooned with welcome signs and bags waiting to be unloaded did not register to or impress a dazed April. She found her room on the second floor. The door was already open. Voices of young and older, male and female were just audible.

“Hey, I’m Samantha. How was your trip?” April’s roommate was chipper and totally unpacked. She sat surrounded by her family and boyfriend. Samantha embodied the complete opposite of April.

Senior year is going to suck!