The Old Acquaintance 21AUG2007

It was the first day of a new school year, Dan strolled to his locker past the cliques and the social groups. Dan used to be obsessed with maintaining social status but this year was different. This year he was part of an "experimental academic fast track" that wouldn't get him a diploma sooner but he would get a more prestigious one. He was proud of his academic achievements, but subconsciously the reason he worked so hard for the grade was he had nothing else to strive for. He expected to be the first student to arrive in the classroom but he was not. Sitting in her seat was a girl that, although he had not talked to in years, he immediately recognized. It was Sophia, and that feeling that he had towards her years ago was still strong. In his mind hundreds of different things to say streamed through his mind, he wanted to sit next to her and talk for hours. learn everything about her, tell her how he felt. He didn't. "She probably doesn't even remember me" Dan thought "I'd just make a fool of myself. Besides, there's work that I need to get done. I need to focus if I want to make it through this year." Dan took a seat in the front right hand corner of the classroom, He got ready for the class and kept to himself. This routine went on for several weeks. Dan was not happy, but he was not sad either. He was simply there. The world and time started to blur, but then one day he sat at his seat and in his desk was a note. Inside it said "Dan, meet me in the hall after class. I want to talk to you. ~ Sophia"