The Weight of Destiny by Nyrae Dawn

They’ll find any excuse to look down on people like us...people they don’t think are good enough for them. This is why I typically don’t try. “Fine by me.” I shove to my feet.
    I make it halfway to the door when I hear, “Where do you think you’re going, Mr. Mitchell?”
    Fucking Shane.
    “I didn’t do it, either, so why wait for you to play your power trip and kick me out?”
    “Both of you better make it to the principal’s office, or it will be considered skipping.”
    The door slams behind us the second Shane and I make it into the hallway. I shove him. “What the fuck, man? You just said you did your homework. You should have stayed.”
    “Why? He was a dickhead to you. It’s not like it matters, anyway. Come on, let’s go before they send the rent-a-cop looking for us.”
    For a second I wonder if Virginia has security at her school. I bet she goes to a place where she doesn’t have to worry about stuff like that. Then I think I’m fucking crazy for thinking about her. Again.
    “Are you sure you don’t wanna go back? I can chill and wait for you guys.” Shane’s smarter than me. He might not do a lot with it, but he has more to claim than being good at stealing like me. He’s good at riding his board, too.
    “Fuck you, man. Let’s go across the street and wait for everyone to get out of school.”
    Our school is kind of in the middle of nowhere. We jog through the parking lot and across the street. There’s a path through the woods where people go to skip or smoke.
    It’s quiet when Shane and I get there, as we both sit on one of the logs we use for chairs. My cell jabs into my hip so I pull it out of my pocket, rolling it around in my hand.
    “I’ll text Dre and tell her to let Tanner and Cody know where we are.” Shane already has his phone in his hand. As he starts sending the message, my fingers move along the screen of my cell as well.
    Hey
    Virginia texts back almost immediately. Who is this?
    Ryder. Forget my name already? You just learned it.
    Funny. Why are you texting during school???
    A laugh jumps out of my mouth. Who the hell is this girl? Cuz I’m a rebel.
    “What are you laughing at?” Shane asks.
    “Some chick.” The words taste bitter on my tongue. Shane probably thinks she’s some girl I’m fucking. “A friend, or something,” I add, though that doesn’t sound right, either. When I glance at him again, he’s not even paying attention so I wait for her to return my text.
    Are you sure you’re not a comedian?
    I make you laugh. I imagine her blushing, though knowing her, I’m probably pissing her off instead of making her want me.
    I have to go. I don’t want to get caught.
    This strange fear comes out of hiding inside me, though I don’t know what it’s for. Wait. Wha’cha doing today?
    School is out at three. Then I have FBLA.
    Oh yeah, the future business leader. That should make me put my phone away right now, but instead I text her again. Where do you go to school, future business leader?
    Remington Private in Cliffton.
    Dude. Why doesn’t it surprise me that she lives in Cliffton? It’s like the Beverly Hills of our area. But then I remember how her skin felt beneath my hands and how she went from looking like the loneliest girl in the world to…I don’t know, not so alone the longer I talked to her last night.
    Let me come see you.
    No reply.
    Virginia , I text.
    After another pause, I’m sitting here all jittery. It’s fucking strange. Suddenly, I get a one-word reply.
    Yes.
    When school gets out, Shane and I head back over to his car. Drea, Tanner and Cody are already there waiting for us.
    “Hey, can you drop me off in Cliffton?” I ask as Cody climbs into the backseat.
    Shane looks at me over the car from where he stands at the driver’s side. “Yeah.”
    I see the wheels turning in his head. He knows I’m going to see the girl I was just texting.
    “Cliffton?” He raises an eyebrow.
    “Shut up.”
    Tanner climbs into the back