I took my seat behind Julie, just like I had every other day for the past several months. The difference today was the empty space next to her. Normally Chris would park his wheelchair next to her, but today she was alone.
"Chris is out today?" I asked.
"Yea, he's sick. He texted me to ask if I would get today's notes for him." she replied.
I have to admit, I've developed a bit of a crush on Julie this semester. She's a bit older than me, but then most everyone here is. I'm eighteen and still a senior in high school. The community college has a dual enrollment program. It allows high school students to take college classes here that fulfill their high school requirements while earning college credits. I've been taking advantage of the program since my freshman year of high school.
Julie mentioned one day that she is twenty-nine years old, so maybe she is more than just a bit older than me. I'm not sure if that is part of what attracted me to her, or if it was the way she looked in leggings. She has short, black hair and an athletic build. She is a woman compared to me. Me, the gawky teenager. Normally, she'd probably never even notice a girl like me, though in a way I forced her to.
Julie and Chris would normally arrive and leave class together. I'd see them take the elevator down to the ground floor as I went to the steps. Five weeks ago I hitched a ride on the elevator with them.
The butterflies tickled my insides that first time I asked if I could ride in the elevator with them. I still feel them every day when I step into the elevator with them, standing face to face, just inches away from Julie.
Today's class seemed to drag on forever. I couldn't wait to walk out with Julie. It would just be her and me. Me and her. Alone.
I had never gotten up the courage to ask her to get something to eat after class. My butterflies would always get the best of me, leaving me without the words to simply just ask. Leaving me aching. What would she say if some kid asked her out? But today, I vowed to beat the butterflies. Today I would find my words. The butterflies would not win.
Finally, the professor ended class and I packed my things into my bag. As usual, I followed Julie as we left the classroom. We walked together down the hallway, discussing how far we were on the big assignment that was due in a couple weeks. Out of force of habit, we walked to the elevator, despite not needing it because of Chris's absence.
