Five Minutes Sooner, Chapter 2: A New Connection at Corner High School

Five Minutes Sooner was originally published as Under the Oak Tree. Same story, new name. Meet The Five Minutes Series.

Date: April 25th, 2002 Place: Corner High School, Warrior, Alabama Corner High School stood as a time-worn sentinel on the outskirts of Jefferson County near Blount and Walker, its brick facade faded by years under the relentless sun. The building, with its sprawling wings of connecting hallways, a labyrinth echoing with the history of additions from the once standing smaller building built nearly 100 years prior.

The Heart of Corner High

On any given day, the air was thick with the scent of floor wax and the faint tang of cafeteria food drifting through the corridors. Bulletin boards, cluttered with flyers and announcements, adorned the walls, fluttering slightly as students rushed by in a blur of black and gold, the school colors. Outside, the grounds boasted an aging football field where faded lines still hinted at past glories, and the adjacent bleachers, chipped and sun-bleached, stood ready to support the weight of new dreams and shared triumphs. Despite its wear, Corner High was a hub of vibrant youth, a place where the mundane met the milestones of teenage life.

Hallway Banter and Unexpected Introductions

In the fluorescent-lit corridor of their high school, the symphony of student chatter enveloped Eric, Lucas, Josh, and Josh’s girlfriend, Nicole. Lockers slammed shut as the bell’s echo faded, marking the brief interlude between classes. Josh, leaning against a bank of lockers, grinned at Eric. “Man, you’ve got to get yourself a serious girlfriend. Look at me and Nicole, happy as can be.” Lucas, ever the contrarian, couldn’t resist a jab. “Yeah, if constant nagging is what makes you happy,” he muttered, casting a sidelong glance at Nicole before sauntering off, his backpack slung carelessly over one shoulder. Nicole, unfazed or perhaps too used to such remarks, turned to Eric. “I thought you and Rebecca were a thing. But all you two seem to do is make out under the bleachers during assembly.” Eric’s face flushed a shade that matched the red fire alarms lining the hall. “Well, that’s… complicated,” he managed, keen to steer the conversation away from his floundering love life. “And look, you can’t tell me last week’s assembly about the booger flicking bandit wasn’t the appropriate time to cut school.” Nicole and Josh nodded in agreement, and the conversation seemingly died, but without missing a beat, Josh leaned in with a new thought.

A New Possibility

Josh, seizing the moment, leaned in, his voice dropping to a conspiratorial whisper. “Listen, my cousin’s best friend is Kaitlyn. She’s tall, blonde, short hair, listens to the same music as you—you know, your type. And she’s awesome. You two would hit it off.” Eric, caught off guard, hesitated. The idea of being set up felt like a leap, especially by Josh, whose taste in companions, as evidenced by Nicole, could be questionable. “I don’t know, man. I see her regularly and she has never given me any vibe. Is something wrong with her?” Eric replied, skepticism lacing his words. “Come on, what have you got to lose? Besides, she’s not just anyone. I think you’ll really like her,” Josh pressed, his enthusiasm bordering on persistence. Nicole, nodding in agreement, added, “She’s really cool, Eric. And she’s not like me—if that’s what you’re worried about,” she said with a teasing smile, acknowledging the earlier barb without malice. With a resigned sigh, Eric nodded. “Alright, alright. Do you have her number?” Josh’s face lit up as he quickly scribbled Kaitlyn’s number on a piece of paper, handing it over with a flourish. “Trust me, man. This could be the start of something great.” As Eric pocketed the number, the bell’s shrill call ushered them back to the reality of class schedules and impending homework. But beneath the routine, a flicker of curiosity stirred within him, the possibility of a new beginning just a phone call away.

Can’t Wait for the Next Chapter?

Read the whole story now. Five Minutes Sooner is still available on Amazon under its original title, Under the Oak Tree, but only for a limited time. Grab the original edition before it’s gone. Get the original edition on Amazon Read Chapter 3: A Bachelor Party Gone Wrong