There's something wrong
by John Acierto

     Adam Johnson woke reached over and shut off his alarm clock.  6:45.  Another day of high
school was beginning.  He turned over and went back to sleep.

     Adam Johnson woke up again. 7:01.  Shit, he was late.  Quickly jumping out of bed and
making it in the process, Adam grabbed his clothes and ran to the bathroom.  After taking a four-minute shower, he put on his clothes for school (slacks and a casual dress shirt with long sleeves and
a collar), combed his hair, and put on his contacts.
     After going back to his room (dropping his sleeping clothes in the hamper on the way) and
getting his watch and wallet, he rushed downstairs to put on his shoes and tie.
     Adam's mom and his sister, Angel, were sitting at the kitchen counter, eating breakfast. 
Adam took his seat across from Angel and rapidly ate his prepared breakfast of a roll, scrambled
eggs, and a glass of O.J.
     After eating half of the roll, half of the eggs, and drinking all of the O.J., Adam and Angel
brushed their teeth, grabbed their backpacks, walked to the garage, opened it, boarded Angel's
Honda Civic (Adam in the driver's seat), and drove off to the school.

     Adam parked the car next to his friend's full sized van.  Getting out, Adam and Angel
grabbed their backpacks from the back seat.  Adam also grabbed for his alto saxophone, but it
wasn't in the back where he usually put it before going to school.  Hesitating, Adam just closed the
door and walked towards the school, thinking he probably left it in the school.
     Adam and Angel entered.  Angel went straight to her locker.  Adam took the stairs leading
up to his locker, located in the senior hallway, as was his usual routine.
     Going to his locker, he didn't see his locker partner there.  Very unusual.  He had parked
next to Chris' van, but Chris was nowhere to be found.  Oh well.  Adam unslung his backpack from
his shoulder and started turning the combination to their locker.
     Suddenly, two hands reached around his head and covered his eyes.  A feminine voice asked,
"Guess who!"
     Adam turned around and saw her.  It was Molly, with a smile on her face framed with
blonds, short hair and those baby blue eyes looking at him.  He had just told her last month that he
had feelings for her, but she had a boyfriend already and didn't reciprocate the feelings.  He had
pretty much given up on her, but what was going on?  Something had to be wrong.
     "Molly!  Hi!"
     "Hi?  Is that any way to greet your girlfriend?"
     Girlfriend?  When did this happen?  Adam couldn't believe it, especially since they were
now in liplock.  Adam was stiff at first, but melted into the kiss.  This was what he'd waited years
for and he was going to enjoy this moment.
     Molly broke the kiss and said, "Wow!  I take it you missed me over the weekend?"
     Adam smile.  "Very much."
     Molly smiled back.  "That's so sweet!"  She leaned forward and kissed Adam on the cheek. 
"I gotta go.  See you later!"
     Molly gave Adam a quick peck on the lips and smiled at him as she walked away.  Adam
smiled as he waved bye.  This was so great!  Whatever happened over the weekend must've been
great, because he was now seeing the girl he's had a crush on since sophomore year.  Adam was
happy beyond belief.  But, what did happen over the weekend?  Adam just couldn't remember.
     The first bell rang.  Adam snapped back to what he was doing and quickly opened his
locker, grabbed his first period book, put away his backpack and coat, and ran to his first class
before the second bell rang.  He'd think about this later.

     First period went by quickly.  It was pretty weird since everyone kept asking him how the
basketball game Friday was, as if he was a player.  The jocks did the answering for him. 
Apparently, Adam played great.  How was he even on the basketball team when he was in the band? 
Weird, really weird.
     Adam entered the music room, his second period class.  He spotted Molly talking to her
friends and waved hi.  She gave him a puzzled look and excused herself from her friends to meet
him.
     "Adam!  What are you doing here?"
     "What am I doing here?  You know why!  I have class here."
     Molly looked confused, then smiled.  "I get it!  You're too sweet sometimes, you know that? 
You came here to see me, didn't you?"
     Adam was about to answer negative, but her smile totally caught him off guard.  He loved to
see her smile.  He smiled back.  "Yeah."
     Molly kissed him on the cheek and said, "You better go to Bio A.P. before you're late!"
     "Okay."
     Adam smiled at Molly as he left the music room.
     She smiled back and waved bye.
     Since when did Adam have Bio A.P. second period?  Adam just kept walking to Bio,
thinking about what was going on here.

     Lunch time after fourth period.  Adam walked into the lunch room, joined a lunch line,
bought a lunch, and walked over to sit next to Chris, as was his usual routine.  As he sat down, he
noticed Chris giving him a strange look.
     "What's wrong?"
     "Uhhh, you're sitting down, with me."
     "Yeah, so?  I always do.  You know that."
     "Why?"
     "Why?  You're my fri. . ."
     A guy shouted from across the lunchroom, "Adam!  What're you doin' sittin' with that
guy!?"
     Adam turned to Chris, who was hanging his head, then looked back at Antonio (one of the
most popular jocks in school) and shouted back, "Uh, nothing!"  Adam stood up, walked over to the
table of jocks, and sat down.
     Antonio said, "Man, why'd you go sit there?  Don't like us no more?"
     Tony, another jock, said, "He probably just wanted to give that guy a piece  o his mind,
right Johnson?"
     Adam looked up and stuttered, "Umm, not really."
     Antonio asked, "What'd he do to you then, man?"
     "Nothing," Adam answered.  He was really confused now.
     Tony said, "Aw, forget it.  Let's eat!"
     Everyone resumed eating except for Adam, who stayed silent the rest of the lunch period.

     The bell rang for 7th period.  Finally, the end of the day.  Except for 2nd period and
lunchtime, the day was pretty normal.  He thanked God for Molly, though, and he was now on his
way back to the music room for jazz band.
     As he entered, everyone gave him strange looks, but it seemed like this was normal to them. 
He looked around and saw Mr. Mercer, the band director.  Adam walked over to him.
     "Mr. Mercer!  Those new jazz charts in yet?"
     Mr. Mercer looked as though this was a routine chore, and spoke as such.  "Molly's not here
now.  She'll be back when jazz starts.  You can come back then."
     "What?  I'm here to play, Mr. Mercer.  You know, first alto sax part?"
     Mr. Mercer looked puzzled, then laughed.  "Of all the excuses for seeing Molly, that's the
best I've heard!  She'll love that one!"
     As Mr. Mercer continued laughing, Adam was really starting to get worried.  He turned
around and saw Molly come into the room.  "Molly!"  Adam went to meet her.
     Molly saw him and said, "Adam!"  They met halfway and Molly gave Adam a hug, which
he readily accepted.  They broke the hug.
     "Can I talk to you?"
     "Sure!  Mr. Mercer?"  She turned to the band director.
     Mr. Mercer replied, "Go ahead, take your time."  He looked at Adam and chuckled.  "First
alto. . ."  He shook his head.
     Adam looked around and lead Molly over to an instrument room.
     Molly asked, "What was that about?"
     "Nothing."
     They entered the instrument room.  Adam turned on the light and shut the door behind
Molly.  He took a moment to look at Molly.  Then he did what he always wanted to do, he kissed
her.  She kissed back, wrapping her arms around his neck, and he put his arms around her waist.
     After a couple seconds, Adam broke the kiss.  Molly smiled and asked, "What was that for?"
     "I don't know.  I guess I wanted to check something."
     Molly smiled and gave him another kiss, and they smooched again.
     After a while, Molly broke the kiss and asked, "Didn't you want to talk to me?"
     Adam turned serious and stepped back.  "Did something weird happen to me over the
weekend?"
     Molly looked puzzled.  "No, I don't think so.  Is something wrong?"
     "Yes. . . no. . . I. . . I think something's wrong with me."
     Concern started to show on Molly's face.
     Adam continued.  "Molly, I don't think I'm myself.  I'm not sure who I am.  Who am I?"
     Molly really looked concerned now.  "What do you mean?"
     "Tell me about myself."
     Molly thought a second, then started.  "You're the captain of the basketball team second
year in a row.  We've been seeing each other for a year, and it's been the happiest year of my life."
     Adam thought for a second.  "I don't play the saxophone, or write, or take Aikido, or hang
out with Chris Jacobs, or watch Anime, read comics, watch Samurai Movies, and consider myself a
loser?"
     Molly answered, "No."  She walked up to Adam and took his hands.  "I don't know what's
wrong, but I'm here for you, Adam.  I always will be."  Molly smiled reassuringly.
     Adam smiled back, but hung his head.  "I know you won't believe me, but this isn't me. 
Remember this morning, second period?"
     Molly nodded.
     "I'm not a basketball player, I hate high school athletics.  I don't care for jocks, I love
writing, jazz, and martial arts.  I love watching Anime, samurai movies, and my best friend is Chris
Jacobs.  I love reading comics.  And I consider myself a total loser."
     Molly shook her head slowly.
     Adam continued. "We aren't seeing each other, Molly.  You have a boyfriend.  This is a
dream come true, going out with you, holding you, kissing you.  It's what I've always wanted to do,
but it can't be real.  It can't.  We could never go out together."
     Molly said, "I don't understand."
     Adam put his right hand on Molly's left cheek.  "I'll always remember this dream, and you,
but I have to go.  I have to be myself, not someone who could easily have you.  I have to wake up,
because this isn't real."  He leaned forward and kissed Molly one last time.  "Bye.  I'll see you
later."
     Adam left the instrument room, leaving Molly, and his dream.

     Adam jerked awake and looked at his clock.  6.45.  Another school day was beginning.  He
turned off his alarm and laid in his bed for a second, remembering the great dream he just had.  He
then turned over and went back to sleep.








                             THE END