Does History Have to Repeat Itself?

Sitting in class once again, the same routine the teenagers went through everyday of their natural-born lives. Sighs of boredom and frustration were the only things keeping them sane through the drones of their psychotic history teacher.

No one could honestly pay attention to the same unmerciful factual stream of useless knowledge day after day.

Eric sat in his seat, listening to the lecture with a smirk, as his imagination danced pictures through his mind. His pencil moved lazily over the paper, depicting the images out for all to see in clear, dark lined, vividness. Paying attention to the notes seemed unnecessary to Eric; he had already read a few chapters ahead during his free period. Looking up idly from his now doodle-filled margins, Eric turned his head sluggishly to look out the window at the cloud-filled sky. As the wind whipped through the trees, his eyes slowly traveled to the reflection of a girl who was sitting a few seats behind him, her head resting softly on her open History book.

The girl seemed bored but there was more to the story than that, he was sure. Her eyes that were such a deep forest green you could get lost in them, were hidden by her dark chocolate hair. A good thing as they were red from recent tears. She was by far one of the most gorgeous, and sweet girls in their class and nonetheless; she was Eric’s best and seemingly only friend. Her name was Hannah. They had always been close as far back as either of them could remember. Eric watched as Hannah lifted her head and followed his lead. Their eyes meet in the reflection and Hannah gave a weak smile and mouthed, “Can I borrow your notes after class ?” He looked down at his paper and gave her a slight look of shame and guilt. She got the message and her head rested back on her book.

They often did this; the communication through the window trick. Eric put his eyes back to his paper and looked at his drawings he had been so proud of, with extreme disappointment. They often took turns taking notes for classes and would copy them after school. Hannah was the one who usually took notes for history, because she had the focus to make it through the class without daydreaming, too much. Today he felt so stupid thinking that she would be up to the task with what had happened, just the night before.

Hannah had just broken up with her boyfriend after having caught him in the equipment closet with the cheerleading captain. Unfortunately what had happened still had not completely hit her yet. Brad was his name, captain of the football team, a likely scenario for any girl to get caught up in. However, knowing that his best friend was the one hurt by this jerk, made Eric’s blood boil. He had never agreed with the relationship but held his tongue, because she had seemed so enthralled with Brad. He did not want to get into a fight with her and for them not to be talking, because he knew eventually Brad would show his true colors and Hannah would need him there.

He hated that he was right.

He could not stand to see her so out of it and upset. “He is such a jerk” he thought to himself.

He wished he could beat him up, but Brad was kind of double his size, which made the latter impossible without some serious kryptonite.

It sounded as a tone from heaven, as the bell rang and the students bolted for the door, running to get to their last period classes. Eric stood back, slowly putting his backpack over his shoulder and waiting up for Hannah.

“Sorry about the whole note thing.” He passed the words through his lips carefully. “Oh, don’t worry about it. I’m sure no one else took notes as usual.” Hannah tried to force a smile across her lips, but failed. “But come on, we’re going to be late for gym if we don’t hurry.” She took his wrist in her hand and walked out the door. He knew that she was dreading this time of day, however if the truth be told, so was he. In their gym class was not only Brad, but also the head cheerleader whom he had cheated with. The end result of this class block could not be good; Eric knew that Brad would be making comments about Hannah and he knew that with the easy accessibility of sporting gear, he’d be trying to attack him.

She finally let the grasp on his wrist go when she approached the girls’ locker room. She turned around to meet Eric’s eyes and laughed for the first time all day. “Why do you look so serious all of a sudden?” Hannah turned her head to the side. “I-uh… I-“ Eric was cut off by the late bell sounding when he realized he must have been wearing an awful expression of anger on his face.

“Looks like we’re late after all.” Hannah sighed. “Well, see you in a few minutes.” She said opening the door to the locker room. Eric continued down the hallway to the boys locker room and flung open the door.

Some say that it was a coincidence, but Eric was sure it was bad luck. The first form that he saw in the room was none other than Brad, talking about his “new girl.” Not exactly the best situation to walk into. Eric felt as if his blood had reached the temperature of the sun, as the jocks talked about the cheerleader and how she excelled at things Hannah would never do. They just kept down grading her and he could barely take it. He finished changing as quickly as he could and got out of there.

The gym smelled like sweat as usual. This was probably the least beneficial thing about having gym at the end of the day. The biggest benefit of course, was that teachers are so tired by then that you could get away with anything, and I mean anything. Eric walked through the gym door hoping and wishing that Brad and Ashley, the cheerleader, would not take advantage of this. He decided that he would head for the bleachers for the whole block that day just to get things off his mind. That’s when he felt someone pull him quite forcefully.

Hannah and he spent the entire period together. Eric refused to leave her side till the end of the block when they had to change. He finished changing first and waited outside the locker room for her. The minute she got out he put his arm around her shoulder and they started walking to their lockers.

“So, plans for Spring Break ?” Eric asked, to bring things as much back to normal as possible. He looked up and made eye contact.

“Nope” She replied, finally with an even tone.

“Maybe we should pull an all week film festival at my house. We could start with the Breakfast Club.” She added to appeal to his love of the 80’s. She had found his weakness. She knew that the only movie he loved more was Edward Scissor Hands. He could tell she was trying to find something to take her mind off the current situation. This whole thing made him feel even guiltier about saying what he had to.

“I can’t. I’m so sorry…” He really was, more than she would ever know. “My parents already arranged for us to go spend spring break with my family in California. I’m, sorry!” He dropped his head he could not look at her eyes right now. He could never stand the pain and despair in them.

“Oh well, I suppose that’s alright.” Hannah played with the ends of her hair. “After all the summer’s coming up. We’ll have plenty of time to do it then.” Yeah… Eric’s eyes shot up as he saw Brad playing basketball in front of them, his usual rat pack of friends, laughing. Eric could have sworn that their gazes meet before he quickly looked away.

“Looks like she already found someone new to leech off of. Too bad she’s forced to downgrade to lower class.” He heard Brad mumble and laugh before walking away. His eyes now shot from the ground to Hannah, who was now completely silent.

“I’m going to use the bathroom, I’ll be back in a minute.” She said getting up, her voice cracking slightly. “Wait ! Hannah !” Before he could do anything, Hannah had run out the door of the gym. He balled his fists tightly, his nails biting into the skin of his palms. Why was he getting so defensive over her lately? Sure, she was his best friend but was this really his place to be standing up for her in her relationships? His anger subsided slightly as he saw Hannah walking back into the gym with one of her friends. Eric was pretty sure that her name was Cindy, however the thought of the other girl escaped him as he saw Hannah laugh. How did she get Hannah to laugh so easily when it was taking him so much effort to do it? He suddenly wished he was the one making her smile. The two parted ways as Hannah headed back towards Eric who now had a blush stretched across his nose and cheeks.

“Eric? Is something the matter?”

“No , of course not.” He said a bit more on the harsh side than he had wished. “Are you alright?”

“Yes, I’m sorry about that. I just got a splinter from these old bleachers is all. They really should replace them.” She was lying through her teeth and it shattered him. “Oh look at that, we only have about twenty minutes left of class. Do you think we should actually try and do something?”

“Nah, we haven’t done anything for awhile now, what would be the point?” Eric laughed. “

Yeah you’re right. No use in ruining a perfect record.” She smiled and leaned back looking up at the ceiling. “So you know what I’m going to be doing over break?”

“No, you never told me. So whatever will you do?”

“I’m going to be missing you.” Hannah turned to him, his blush deepening.

“Make sure you call me at least one every two days.”

“O-of course.” Eric swallowed the nervous lump that was in his throat. “I’m going to miss you too.”

“Glad to hear it.” Her face held a lonely sadness to it that broke his heart to no end. How could someone ever betray someone so kind and beautiful like Hannah? His pondering of this went on through the rest of the block and on the bus ride home, after Hannah had given him a tight hug. She merely whispered, “Have fun” before running off to catch her own bus, the sunlight making her hair shine as she bounded away.

Almost pathetically, he checked his cell phone for any calls or text messages from her, seeing if she had anything else to say, every two minutes until his bus lurched to a halt. Eric slung his backpack over his shoulder and walked off the bus, into the warm, flower scented spring air. His head was tucked down to his chest as his feet lifted in a smooth rhythm on the sidewalk. The breeze shifted through his hair, gently pulling his eyes from the staring match he held with the ground. His house was a few yards away, which meant his spring break was just about to begin.

As hard as he tried to make this so, it was not the comforting, exciting feeling it had been previous years. Picking up his speed a bit, he brought his smile back to his lips as he entered the stepping-stones to a lush green yard. He followed the path up to the glass doorframe and it open, pushing the heavier wood door into the house. His parents were walking back and forth between the kitchen, upstairs and the living room making sure everything was prepared for their long absence from their home. As they did this he contemplated asking his parents if he could pack one major last minute thing, Hannah. Of course he knew the answer but he couldn’t help thinking that he should ask them.

“Eric, you’re home! Make sure you go upstairs and pack quickly. Make sure you have everything with you this time! I don’t want a repeat of last year ! “ Eric’s mom, Linda, was always in a chipper mood and spoke in a singsong tone every day when he arrive home. He decided not to even attempt it.

‘Sometimes you’d think that woman believes her life is a musical.’ Eric shook his head dropping his backpack at the foot of the stairs and walking up to his room. He pushed open his door with ease, the usual mess was now tidy and clean, definitely the work of his mother. Sighing, he opened the mirrored closet doors to pull out his suitcase, removing shirts and their hangers as well. As he slid the door closed, the photo booth photos him and Hannah had taken on her 13th birthday came into his line of view. As his eyes scanned down the strip, a smile tugged at his lips. The last picture was of them hugging and laughing, something that made his heart warm with the memory. After a few minutes he tore his eyes from it, walking to his other dressers and collecting the necessary items he would need for the week.

After about an hour of running around the house, everything was ready for the family to take off. Eric’s dad loaded the car with their luggage, as the other two sat in the car. Linda sat clutching the directions for after the plane trip in her hands as Eric fidgeted with his cell phone. He contemplated calling Hannah but settled on texting her the simple message of “driving to the airport now”. The sound of the car door closing in front of him shook him back to reality after hitting the send key on his cell phone.

“Everyone have everything?” His dad asked.

“Yes.” Linda replied.

“Yeah.” Eric said plainly staring at his phone.

“Then California, here we come!” Pulling out of the driveway the car zoomed down the road. Eric was already missing home.

He checked his phone one last time before getting on the plane and saw she had still not answered back. He spent the whole plane ride in a total funk. The minute he could, he put his iPod in his ears and listened to Paramore’s Riot Album, that Hannah had given him and told him he had to love.

“Welcome home, everyone!” The elderly woman greeted the family.

“Thanks for letting us stay here, Mom.” Eric’s dad said walking through the door first.

“Oh Gerald, you should know you’re welcome here anytime.” She smiled. “Oh, Eric! Look how much you’ve grown up!” She leaned down and kissed Eric on the cheek. He resisted the urge to roll his eyes and greeted the woman. “Hi Grandma.” He smiled at her.

As much as he didn’t admit it to his mom and dad, he truly enjoyed staying with his Grandma at her house in California. It was so quiet and had a gorgeous view of their own private beach. More so, he loved just sitting and talking to her when it was getting dark out. Their usual spot was the covered patio where she had a porch swing that swayed back and forth gently in the breeze. He looked forward to talking about his high school year and what his plans were for the summer.

“You all must be tired from the flight, you can go on up to your rooms and I’ll cook some supper up for all of you.” She said shutting the door behind Linda.

Eric followed his Grandma’s suggestion and climbed the three stairs to the upper level of the house. He turned into the usual guest room he stayed in and turned on his phone. Watching the screen lit up, his smile turned flat as he saw he had received no new messages or calls from Hannah. He sighed for what seemed like the umpteenth time as he went to send a new message. Shaking his head he closed the phone and unpacked before heading downstairs to see if dinner was ready.

“Eric, be a dear and help me set the table.” His Grandma called to him as he took the silverware. He did so and sat down at the small circular table and waited for his parents to come downstairs as well. They did a few moments after the thought crossed his mind as hi Grandma put the food on the table. “Well, tell me about how things are going.”

“Things are going great for us.” Linda started off.

“Linda got a job as an accountant and everything’s going quite well for me too.” Eric watched as his dad started serving out the food.

“And Eric’s grades have been fantastic-“

“Mom…’’ He pleaded with her not to start on his “wonderful academic achievement.”

“That’s all fine and well but Eric, how’s your social life been? Do you have a girlfriend yet?” His grandmother asked right to the point. He felt a blush darken his cheeks as he looked down at his newly filled plate. “Uh… not exactly.” He said nervously.

“Oh, I see. Do you at least have your eye on a girl?” Eric wished they were back on the topic of grades all of a sudden. Much to his disappointment, a girl did come to mind, but he shook it out of his head in an instant.

His grandmother took this gesture as a hint to drop the subject. The rest of the dinner was quiet, the conversation ending whenever it was thrown in the direction of Eric. He mostly just kept his head buried in his plate and his mouth full until the dinner was over and he was clearing plates from the table.

“I think it’s time for one of our world famous talks, isn’t it?” a sweet voice came from behind him as he stood over the sink. Smiling at his Grandma, he dried his hands and nodded as she made her way out to the patio through the door, which was beside them in the kitchen.

The warm air hit his face as a shock as he had been in the air-conditioned house for the entire day. He took his usual position of the left while Grandma had taken the right cushion of the swing.

“So, how’s life been since the last time we talked?” She asked looking off into the distance. Eric slowly started explaining how his year went, how he liked his teachers, the times he went out, and eased into talking about Hannah. As he traced over her situation he saw his Grandma starting to pay closer attention. “I see Hannah is very special to you. You’re always talking about her. But I guess that’s normal. Her father and yours were inseparable also. So you guys spend a lot of time together?”

“Well, yeah, of course. She’s my best friend.” Eric said looking down. “Is that all?” He thought about that for a second. “it seems to me you care very deeply for this young lady. Are you sure you don’t have a crush on her?”

“Of course not! She’s just my best friend, grandma! You have seen us together.”

“Yes I have and …”

“Not only that, but she just got dumped by her boyfriend! I could never like her.”

“Well, dear, I can’t force you to say anything, however, if you really do have feelings for this girl than it might be a good idea to admit it to yourself.

I mean your mom and dad were best friends until one day he decided to face the music. It worked out for them.”

His grandmother had a point. Perhaps he was just hiding it from himself, you know worrying too much. Thinking it over, Eric said that sentence in his mind. “I… Like Hannah…”

Once this ran through his mind, the pit of his stomach fluttered with butterflies. Did he really? In all the years of getting to know her and having fun with her, did he fall for her? Is what he caught of his history teacher’s lesson true? Does history have to repeat itself? Is he really in love with her? Was he really following the same path as his parents had decades ago? And if so, how is he ever going to be able to tell her? Could he make her his and not be attacked by the entire football team. While Brad’s revenge seemed scary it was the being in love with his best friend that was worse. This thought scared him far worse than any horror film could have.

These thoughts never left his mind for the rest of the visit. No matter what he was doing she took over his thoughts. He continually texted her throughout the rest of the trip, but she only responded once saying “hope your having fun!” He missed her regular jokes sent every two minutes, and he feared that this very mundane, polite, courteous single reply was a sign that she had grown out of him. That her thoughts of him were getting weaker and weaker. He dreaded that if their relationship, as best friends was dwindling the hope of anything more would be non-existent.

All he could do on the flight home was hope that his uncertainties were nothing but air and that his plan on how he was going to tell her how he felt would not be foiled. This was extremely important seeing as this plan had taken him the entire spring break to come up with. He had finally decided he would insist they take and spend the day down by the river. That is where he would tell her. There, in that place they had spent so many of their days sharing secrets, is where he would tell the ultimate secret.

The minute he got off the plane he called her cell phone. After many rings she answered. “…Hello?” she answered with a weird tone in her voice. “Hi! I’m back! Are you okay?” he asked aware that something was up. “Actually, could you come over once you get home? The football players wouldn’t leave me alone all break, my parents are gone tonight, and I’m kind of freaked. Will you stay with me tonight?”

“Sure. If you need me to stay I will!”

“Thanks,” she added. He heard some noise in the background. “Please just hurry.” And she hung up.

The minute he got home he told his parents he had promised Hannah that they would spend the rest of break together. He ran upstairs grabbed clothes and ran back down to her house. He would not let those guys hurt her anymore. No matter if they were bigger than him or not.

When he got to her house, he saw no cars in the driveway and the lights only in the living room were on. They were on low. He feared that maybe she was forced into taking Brad back.

He rushed through the door and into the living room. Only candles and the TV screen, which held the menu to the Breakfast club, lit the room.

“What the…” was all he could get out before Hannah enveloped him in a deep breathtaking kiss. The kiss deepened and deepened. By the time they pulled away Eric could not breath and Hannah seemed to be struggling slightly to regain her breath as she explained.

“I thought I was so upset that Brad cheated but the truth is I was crying because I was overjoyed. I’m in love with you, and I’m pretty sure I have been for a while. I didn’t answer your texts because I was struggling with to what extent I had feelings for you. Now I know we’re friends and that maybe the way you want to stay and if that is the case, I’m sorry for kissing you.” She dropped her head ready for an answer she was not going to like.

By now Eric’s breath was stable. He put his hand out and lifted her chin so they made eye contact and with the most serious face he uttered. “Never apologize for kissing me.” She smiled. The first real smile he had seen in days. He smiled back. She simply replied, “Well, unfortunately we have both seen this dang movie so many times we know the lines by heart.”

“Unfortunately.” He said smiling and taking her hand. He could not remember ever being this happy. As he sat watching the movie with Hannah securely in his arms, he prayed this would never end and that this event in history would truly and always repeat itself.