This is a rough draft. It has undergone little editing and no re-writes. Enjoy as this story comes together. 

“However, it could just as easily have been anything else.”

“Right… because everything we know; clothing, construction—”

“Even the words we are speaking. All made up by people at some point in our lineage.”

Wilona and Edmund had found a secluded bench in a small garden of high hedges on the eastern line of school grounds.

“It’s also curious to think that every single person in the world is at least one of the last survivors of a lineage that extends millions of years in the past,” Edmund said.

“Right. Think about all the lines that broke off and died off,” Wilona said.

“Heck, think about the people that were alive just a hundred years ago. There might be fifty of them left.”

“I’m starting to understand your fascination with history. If we only have our scope of time it’s almost inevitable the same crap will happen because none of us would remember.”

The sound of shoes on the mulch path interrupted their train of pensiveness. Between a leafy gap on their left a face appeared. Unfortunately, it was the face of James Pashtun. He broke a grin.

“There you are,” James said, and he made his way to the end of the hedges. Wilona groaned.

James was strapping. This combined with moderate looks, above average familial wealth, and a lack of introspection had created a common occurrence amongst high school boys; self-assurance.

“Hey, there Willy, you owe me a date,” James said.

Wilona put on her best puzzled look.

“That’s odd. I don’t recall incurring a debt of my company. Do you, Edmund?” Wilona said.

“Why, no. In fact, I recall the previous interaction with James being something in the ‘shove off’ neighborhood,” Edmund said.

“You two are a hoot,” James said as he moved toward their bench. Wilona instantly regretted her choice of the middle. She scooched closer to Edmund who did his best to accommodate.

“You have no way of knowing it will go badly,” James said.

“Sure, I do. My brain has a specific section for such reasonings,” Wilona said.

James leaned closer. He smelled of far too much cologne for any human let alone a student.

“Come on. You have to give me a chance,” James said.

Edmund suddenly stood, sending Wilona tipping backward into the arm rest.

“If that’s true, then I’d like to go on a date with you, James,” Edmund declared. Wilona and James stared.

“If she owes you a chance then you owe me a chance, right?” Edmund said, sounding less confident about his argument. James stood as well. Edmund took a half step back.

“I’m gonna go,” James said. He turned to Wilona.

“I’ll convince you some day. I have no doubt in my mind,” James said.

“That’s almost entirely the problem,” Wilona replied. James smiled slightly and sauntered back through the hedges.

Edmund collapsed back on the bench.

“That was terrifying,” Edmund sighed.

“Why? Because you thought there was an outside chance he would actually agree?” Wilona asked.

Edmund looked at her.

“If I thought there was a fire's chance in water he was gay, I’d be all over him.”

“No, you wouldn’t.”

“No, I would not.”

The sound of cars drifted from beyond the walls of the school.

“You know thermite can burn under water.”

“Yeah, shut up.”