Chapter Text
Walking into the bathroom I double check if everything was in order. My brown hair wavy and straight in different places, my outfit pulled together at last minute, thanks to me oversleeping with my alarm screaming in my ear. ‘Get up, get up time to wake your butt up!’ Minimal makeup to bring attention to my bright golden brown eyes, they were a unique shade of brown, they had gold flecks peppering throughout my iris. One last pass over in the mirror, satisfied that I pulled this off in five minutes, I sigh and grab my backpack. Striding past the opened room of my mother’s makeshift art studio, I notice the covered painting and thought about this weekend. I would be inviting my boyfriend, one of my best friends and possibly another person, but I haven’t decided on inviting her to come. Out of all the people to invite, my boyfriend wanted the schools whore to come. Knowing her, she probably wouldn’t keep her paws to herself, that thought made me second guess my choice. I love my mom, she’d want to make sure I’m enjoying myself and a smile comes to my face.
I’ve always enjoyed going to my mom’s art shows, the love she has for expressing herself and having something that would actually keep us from living off the streets. If she didn’t have an art show to guest appear in or host, she would sell her pieces for quite a bit of money to buyers online who were interested. Although she was bestowed a god given talent, I on the other hand wasn’t so lucky. I have a cute face that could charm anyone without even having to try. But I wasn’t given the art finesse, mother was a little stunned that I wasn’t given that ability. My voice was something I was gifted with, though, most of the choir would just sit there and listen to me sing. I’ve been offered so many times to join in the musical, but I can’t act so I’d always decline.
Pulling myself from my thoughts, continuing to the stairs and heading out the front door to the bus stop. I’m in my second year of high school, mom still hasn’t gotten around to take me to get my license and teach me to drive. My dad would have loved to teach me, but he only sends me postcards from wherever he lives with his new wife. Not even bothering to call me or meet up in person. Last year for my birthday, he sent me a truck, already paid for just waiting for someone to drive it. He does that, buy me things in exchange for forgiveness. Which was intolerable for a deadbeat father who cheated his family for a woman whom he’d known for about 4 months. So, the bus will have to work for now. The walk would be easier if my pants weren’t dragging on the wet sidewalk from the rain last night.
Up ahead at the stop were a few kids who lived in the neighborhood. Three people I know and the rest were like middle schoolers. A blonde girl standing in a very revealing outfit, Kathy, flirting with a red haired man that was my boyfriend. Brandon was the star football player, which caught me by surprise when he asked me out last fall. A girl like me and a guy like him, almost like a dream come true. Kathy does this all the time though, it makes me mad when she does it. She knows but just doesn’t care. Brandon keeps himself collected, and brushes off every advance she makes. The guy standing next to them in a really baggy hoodie with a mop for hair, he was Jared. A new kid that started school here 6 months ago. He kind of fit in to the whole misfit group of ours, he’s always so quiet and to himself. Except when he’s alone with me, he lights up like a Christmas tree and talks about pretty much anything he’s into. Even though I haven’t known him long, he started to grow on me. He was like a little brother. Brandon and him were buddies, opposites, but hey, opposites attract, even in the same sex.
Before I even made it to them, Kathy had to try one last advance. She had put her hand on his ass and gave a flirty tap on one of his cheeks. I fumed at the sight. Walking straight up to Brandon, I spin him around and plant my lips on him. Hard and predatory. After I break from him, I pierce a glare towards the whore who keeps touching what isn’t hers.
“Do you mind keeping your hands to yourself?” I spit towards her.
“I can’t help it he’s so touchable.” She crosses her arms, smiling. Her almost crop top showing off her navel and fake tan orange skin.
“Guys, it’s a nice day after a long needed rain. Can you two cut it out?” Brandon says taking my hand in his.
“Maybe you could tell her to knock it off once in awhile.” I look up at him. “Or maybe that you’re already spoken for?” His only response is to smile and lean in again to catch my lips. “Hey, I’m being serious. Stop trying to weasel your way out.”
“I know. I’ll try.” He takes my lips for one last peck as the bus strolls to the curb.
“Try harder then.” I whisper, keeping both my eyes unblinking into his.
“God, get a room you two.” Kathy scoffs and gets on the bus as the doors opened.
Brandon, Jared and I follow and find suitable seats nearest the door. Jared sitting adjacent to where Brandon and I were. I shiver at the feeling of eyes on me. Shaking it off I turn to my boyfriend, hand in hand.
“Hey, so you can make it this weekend right?” I ask him with a smile. He looked at me as I batted my eyelashes in a cute puppy dog manner.
“Of course, I wouldn’t want to miss Lilly’s art show.” He chuckles and brings our hands up and kisses the back of mine. I look in front of me across the aisle, Kathy was staring at us with envious eyes. I had the urge to stick my tongue out at her, but instead made Brandon plant his lips on mine. When I looked back at her, she huffed a breath of jealousy, flipped her hair and turned to the front. Smirking to myself for what I did.
“So I’m not inviting Kathy to come, and Sam can’t make it. Celeste is reluctant to join, but I promised her she could smoke all she wanted. Mom said anyone else is welcome to come with, and I can’t think of anyone else.” Brandon turned his head to the left to look at the hooded man next to me. I follow his gaze and try not to let out a sigh.
After I didn’t say anything, he looks back to me. “What about Jared?”
“Is he really a part of our small inner circle? I could just ask May or I could ask Misti!” Brandon gave me a pointed look. “Alright, you have a point.” I chew on the inside of my cheek.
“And yes, I would say he is. He sits at our table, I think he should come.” He smiles at me.
“Fine, but if you spend more time with him than me, I’m complaining all I want.” I whisper in his ear.
“Deal.” He squeezes my hand and gives me a quick peck before the bus pulls to the side of the school’s courtyard. The high school is quite huge. Different sections for each subject you have. We all pile off the bus and walk in the door that has the staircase leading to my locker. I head upstairs, but before my foot makes it to the first step, I’m stopped. “Babe, hey, we gonna eat first?”
“You go on ahead. I want to get a jump start on some math homework.” I take two steps at a time, and I see him follow me. “You should get started on it too, babe. Unless you want your dad to see a second C on another report card.”
“Yea yea yea, but can’t you just bring your math book down to the cafeteria and work down there?”
“Can’t focus with all the people there. Too noisy.” I reply.
“You know, I think Sam’s anti-socialness is rubbing off on you.” Brandon teases. “You’re hiding.”
“I’m not hiding, and Sam is not rubbing off on me.” I say to him. He is partially right though. Sam isn’t quite fond of people, her anti-socialness is bad to the point if anyone so much as glances in her direction, she freezes. She could feel like having an anxiety attack in the hall, but that would create more attention from people and that would make it worse. But Brandon, a complete 180 from Sam, loves people. I mean think about it, he’s the star athlete, he has friends of all sorts. He has the kindest smile and warmest of hearts for anyone he meets. A little too perfect for anyone. But he singles me out from the rest, treating me like his queen, ruling by his side as his kingdom parades around him. Which is why half the time I have to pry Kathy off him everyday, turning a crowd of hostiles into a crowd of friends. This, of course, was his gift brought upon him.
Stepping closer to my locker, I didn’t realize that Jared was tagging along until he spoke. “Where are you guys heading to?” He asks in a quiet friendly tone.
“My locker, gonna sit in advisory and get an early start on some homework.” I mumble. Although I believe Jared to be like a stand-in brother, he worries a little too much about me for it to be considered normal. I mean, Sam has an older brother who is at a college out of state, he is protective and worrisome, but not like how Jared is sometimes. This guy has dark gray hair that nearly touches his shoulders. Big brown eyes and built like a linebacker. Underneath all the baggy clothing he decides to wear, you wouldn’t be able to tell how built he was. He’s usually emotionless, unless you catch him off guard, make him smile and laugh, he’s pretty cool. From what I know about him, he is like a year older, held back in the first grade or something. At least that’s what he told Brandon.
I shook away from my thoughts and put in my locker combo, checking my schedule and grabbing the books I need. The hairs on the back of my neck stood up, I felt eyes on me again. I’m sure Brandon and Jared were staring, but it felt, deeper. More concentrated on every motion my body made. I close my locker and turn to them. The feeling dissipated. Brandon grabs my hand and Jared’s on the other side of me. We walk down the hall a few feet and Brandon drops everything to run to a football buddy of his.
“Drew, hey!” He shouts as he walks with him down the hall. Leaving me alone with Jared, I look over to him and he’s staring at me with those big brown eyes.
“So.” I say to him not knowing what to talk about. “What are your plans for Thanksgiving?”
“Nothing really. I don’t have family other than my father, he’s a traveling pharmacist.”
“Like an apothecary?”
“Sort of.” He chuckles and shakes his bangs out of face.
Jared walks me to advisory, giving me a short smile before walking away. He’s a sweet guy. My just seemed like it was going to get better, even knowing that a glorious Friday was going to be filled with boring lectures and lots of homework due for Monday. The only class I actually looked forward to was choir, and meeting up with friends at lunch. Today was going to be a long day.