Head Rush
Alyssa Harris, Grade 10
When they first met, it was a crash landing. Literally.
She yelped as someone smacked into her from behind, her forehead hitting the hard metal of her locker just moments after she shut it. Her bagged lunch flung to the side, she slumped down to the floor, palm clutched over her head.
A groan similar to her own drew her attention. Blinking hard against her sudden headache, she recognized a few boys as they ran from the hall, laughing. Then, she noticed another fellow student as he sat up from his own position on the floor. It was obvious he had been the source of her fall.
"Hey, what gives?" she growled at the boy, swiping stray hair from her face.
His head shot up, a grimace on his face. "Sorry." He blinked, realization dawning in his eyes. "Shoot, are you okay?"
She scowled and rubbed her forehead again, saying, "Worse case scenario, I'll have a massive bruise."
"Ah man, I'm so sorry. My friends can get a little rough. Here, I'll help you up."
After a moment of hesitation, she took his outstretched hand, and they stood up in unison. She suddenly wobbled, overcome with dizziness from moving too fast. With a sharp intake of breath, he grabbed her by the shoulders, righting her balance as her vision spun.
"Ugh," she groaned, squinting her eyes shut. "Sorry."
"It's not your fault at all." He still kept a grip on her shoulders. "Maybe we should go to the nurse."
Her eyes popped open at that. "No- I mean- I'm fine."
"But your head-"
"I said I'm fine."
She looked to the side in search of her lunch bag, and spotted it a few lockers down. After shrugging away her assailant's hands and fighting off a sudden head rush from the short walk, she turned round to find the boy standing right behind her.
"What?" she asked impatiently.
"Are you going to lunch?"
"Yeah."
He smiled. "So am I. Let's walk together."
Her mouth dropped open as he turned away, apparently expecting her to follow. "How can I be certain you won't push me down the stairs this time?" she thought with a frown pointed at his back.
He suddenly turned, startling her. "Hey, are you coming or not? The bell's about to ring, you know."
She sighed. "Fine."
Begrudgingly walking towards the boy, she paused to stand by his side, and then the duo began their fast pace towards the high school cafeteria, narrowly making it through the door before the bell echoed through the halls.
"Well, bye." she said, intent on making a run for her usual table.
"Wait!" he called, forcing her to turn back, "What's your name?"
"Becca. Becca Wilson."
He smiled a dashing grin. "I'm Alex Martin. I'll see you around, yeah?"
Becca gulped, torn between elation and skepticism. "Y-yeah, sure."