Maya Lives

Ideas for Scene One came from these songs:

- Plastic Love by Mariya Takeuchi

- Sweet by Brockhampton

- Vibin Out by FKJ with (((O)))

The bell rung. School was over for the week.

“The bell does not dismiss you, I do!” Mr. Jamison barked. The majority of his students did not care. They packed their backpacks and fled the room

Licorice Everett took her time though, waiting for Mr. Jamison to finish his fit and listen to the impromptu “punishment assignment” for the all students, but the students who left too early missed.

“I want a 250-word response to a news story of general importance by the beginning of class Monday. We will analyze everyone’s responses,” he seethed.

Licorice nodded. A few of her other classmates stuck around. The leftovers scribbled quickly in their agendas Mr. Jamison’s assignment.

All of them looked up at Mr. Jamison expectantly. He hadn’t said the magic words yet.

He took a breath and went behind his desk to straighten his things.

Mr. Jamison sighed.

“You all are dismissed,” he nodded shortly.

Licorice gathered her belongings and glanced at the clock, it was 3:02 pm. She had eight minutes to get to her bus. 

What was she doing this weekend? She had planned to knock out Mr. Jamison’s assignment first and then get on with other things. Hanging out with Waives was always a must.

Licorice hurried out the classroom only to run into Waives right outside the entryway.

“Hey Rice!” Waives tackled Licorice with a hug.

“Ah, Waives! You startled me. You know you can’t just surprise me like that on Fridays.”

“But it’s Friday!”

“Still Waives, you know I plan and think my weekends out and everything.”

“Yeah, ‘cause you’re crazy.”

“Whatever. Look, let’s walk and talk, I don’t want us missing the bus especially on a Friday.”

“Yeah, of course.”

Both picked up their pace to a speed-walk, navigating through the slow crowd.

“Omg, can I tell you about this cool club I found out about?”

“Sure,” Licorice nodded.

“So it’s called the ‘Niamindes’ group.”

“That sounds like my acne medication.”

“Well, they got rid of my proverbial acne!”

Licorice shook her head and rolled her eyes.

“Oh really?”

“Yes! They totally did. Look you should come to one of their upcoming meetings”

“Okay sure I guess. What time do they meet after school?”

“Oh no, they’re not affiliated with our school.”

Licorice paused and looked at Waives.

“Is this a volunteer group then, or like what?”

Waives shook her head, “You’ll see.”

Licorice wanted to ask her if the Niamindes were a cult, but she knew Waives was too sensitive for that.

“This isn’t like the time you joined the Style Boyz online fangroup is it?

“God, no Rice! I’m not 12 anymore!”

“You act like it sometimes.”

“Just because I have an A in Physics doesn’t mean I can’t act like a kid sometimes.”

Licorice smiled, “That’s exactly what that means.”

“God whatever. You should try having fun sometime.”

Licorice frowned.

“Hey... I have fun.”

“You’re idea of fun is listening to a podcast from The Guardian. And then working on crocheting something for your baby cousins.”

“What, is there something wrong with that? Do you want me to snort coke and chug Robitussin to fill my privileged void like some other people here?”

“No Rice, you know what I mean! Like watch makeup videos with me and watch The Kardashians and random Youtubers.”

“I like doing those things.”

“Not in your free time.”

“I like doing them in my free time with you Waives. It’s not something I enjoy by myself. It’s something we do together and I like it like that.”

Licorice and Waives paused their conversation to step onto their bus home.

Waives giggled getting on the bus, “God, we’re like an old couple.”

“And I like that,” Licorice smiled. Waives beamed back at her and took the window seat while Licorice took the aisle seat.

“It’s your turn for music right?” Waives raised her eyebrows

“Yeah it is. I found this one group ... I think you’ll like them. Here’s a song by them called “Sweet”, here’s the right earbud for you.”

Some days I look at myself and think I’m okay.