Dead by Daybreak

Isaac

____

The bell rings waking Isaac up from his sixth-period nap, or math nap as he likes to call it. He’s not particularly interested in the subject so it’s not a difficult task to fall asleep. It’s even easier when most of the period is taken up with a less than exciting test. Secretly wiping the drool from his chin as to hopefully not gross out anyone. Scanning the whiteboard, Isaac looked for any new notes worth remembering by Monday. Finally, he double-checked all of his belongings; phone, notebooks, bag, pencil, calculator. Isaac's plans this weekend outshone his focus, but he knew he only had to get through one more forty-five minute class before he could start to celebrate.

“Remember we have a homework assignment due Monday. Have a great weekend!” Mr. Conner, the math teacher, shouted as the kids flooded the halls. Isaac gave him a wave while following the crowd. Flipping his hoodie up and sliding in and out of the crowd. Slipping between the different groups of people and endless amounts of young romance filled the corners like a damp moldy corner. It almost made him sick if he didn't have his eyes on someone already. He would always surprise himself when she was there in front of him on his way to his next class, but of course, she turned down the corner, in the wrong direction.

“Hey man! Why the long face?” The came from the unkempt dark brown hair of Mason, Isaac’s best friend. Mason wrapped his arm around Isaac’s shoulders and proceed to walk with him down the hallway. Isaac nearly jumped out of his skin. “Everything okay?” Mason was lanky and pale tawny-skinned. His baggy jeans and oversized hoodie smelled of stale smoke and grass. Just by looking at him, you'd think he had a hard time sleeping last night but Isaac knew that wasn't the case.

“Yeah, just woke up after the math nap.” Isaac shrugged mason off of his shoulders. “What’s the plan for this weekend? I work Sunday night but I’m free besides that.” The pair situated themselves against a wall. They called it, "The Spot." They were maybe five or six doors down from their next class but of course, sitting in the class meant more eyes and ears that could pay attention to them. This was one of their daily routines, you could probably successfully bet money on them being together at any point in the day.

“Well I told Micah about it but he said he had to babysit Maya tonight. He might be able to come by afterward though, it just depends.” Mason shrugged before doing his best to not seem conspicuous. Popping open a semi-crushed water bottle that Isaac has seen one too many times this year. He knows he changes them out every so often but they're the only brands that Mason's mom buys, but then Mason reuses them for beverages other than water. “Either way it’s going to be crazy.” Isaac nodded and raised his fist up to Mason to receive a fist bump before both headed to class.

Mason raised the bottle up to Isaac, but Isaac was not interested in his concoction this afternoon. He was looking forward to later tonight for releasing his inhibitions. Walking in the classroom, the bell rang announcing the last few students to come inside and the rest to find their seats. Isaac never understood how Mason could sit three seats from the teacher's desk and continue to drink from his makeshift flask. He'd be terrified of getting found out, but that's the cockiness that Isaac used to be jealous of. Now, he just thinks it's arrogance.