The Weird Travels of Aimee Schmidt: The Curse of the Gifted by J.A. Schreckenbach Page A

before Dr. Morris could remind everyone about the homework due on Friday, kids escaped into the hall, chattering loudly while they disappeared into the herd of students stampeding to second period. Easing out of her seat, Aimee looked down and noticed a pair of new athletic shoes a couple inches from her feet. She straightened quickly and came face to face with Dylan. His luscious brown eyes and his delicious lips captured her full attention.
    “Hi,” Aimee stuttered. She glanced over at Chelsea, who was patiently waiting on her. Chels grinned, and then looked at Dylan.
    Chels asked, “Hey, Dylan, how’s it goin’?”
    “It’s good,” Dylan answered without taking his eyes off Aimee.
    “I better get to class. Aimee, I’ll see you after school. Don’t forget me,” said Chelsea as she grabbed her pack and headed down the aisle.
    Dylan started, “So, how you doin’?”
    “Fine…uh, I’m great…how are…”
    Robert Moore interrupted, “Hey Dylan, come on dude, we’ll be late to class if we don’t get movin’.” He pushed by, knocked Aimee's shoulder and shoved her forward. She grabbed onto Dylan to keep from falling over into a desk, straightened up, then whirled around and frostily glared at Robert. He gave her a crazy bitch stare.
    “Go on, I’ll be there in a minute.” Dylan shot Robert a get lost look. Robert shook his head, then glanced back at Dylan once more before disappearing into the hall.
    “Well, geez, what was that about?” Aimee giggled nervously.
    “Nothing. Don’t pay any attention to my friends. They act like animals, you know, no manners. They’re all right though.”
    Aimee started to grab her pack, but he was already reaching for it. “Here, you might need this for next period. What do you have?”
    She flung the pack over her shoulder and they started up the aisle. Dylan felt so close she could feel the warmth from his body. She hesitated suddenly remembering she was skipping the next class, and the rest of her classes for that matter. “I have trig with Mr. Olsen. Where are you heading?” Aimee asked as he followed her out into the crowded hallway. He continued to stroll with her, obviously not in a hurry to get to second period. Students shuffled around them from every direction, knocking them into each other as they pushed past.
    “Sorry,” he said with a soothing smile when he bumped into her a second time to avoid running head first into Mrs. Long, the principal’s secretary. “Uh…physics,” he finally answered.
    Aimee wrinkled her nose. “Yuk. I hated physics. I had Lopez. It was a pain. Actually, he was the pain. The material was easy. I’m so glad I’m through with sciences, especially that class. Anyway, it won’t be long now until the end of school, and we’ll both be through with everything. Well, that is until next fall.”
    “Yeah, I can’t wait. I’m sick of this friggin’ place.”
    “Me, too.” Aimee smiled. It felt nice, like it did last summer, to chat with Dylan.
    “Well, I better get to class. We’re still on for tomorrow night?”
    “Yep,” Aimee replied nonchalantly so he wouldn’t detect her pathetic anticipation.
    “Great. Eight o’clock.”
    Aimee stopped by the girls’ restroom. She asked, “Do you need directions?”
    He stopped, too, and shifted his body closer into hers. Their eyes locked again. Her stomach started to roll, and she could feel that nauseating feeling, not the kind like you want to puke because you’ve eaten too many greasy fries in the cafeteria, but the kind where you can’t breathe because the most gorgeous guy in school is a couple inches from you staring dreamily into your eyes and intently hanging on every word. Finally he said, “Nope. I have your phone number, and Chelsea told me you live down the street from her, so I’m cool. If I get lost, I’ll call.”
    “Just look for my yellow Bug in the driveway.”
    “Okay, but I’ll see you tomorrow in class.” The tardy bell interrupted their