The California Adventure

Chapter 4: The Lunchoedown

English and Art class went very slow as if it were to never end. Though they went very slow today, Nate handed in his make-up work for Ms. Clarke and Mr. Rosa, much to their excitement and delight.

Nate never forgot the last thing he said to his friends before leaving them behind. Neither did Dee Dee, who thought to herself:

Why would he reject such a beautiful girl like that? He was given the opportunity of a lifetime, and he rejected it. Why?

Sure, the friendships between Nate and his friends are over for good, but Dee Dee urged Ruby and Nate's friends to not give up yet, as she claims to be suspicious of Nate and Randy, because she knows that (a) Nate still likes Ruby, but for some reason, Nate is pretending he doesn't anymore, and (b) Randy might have something to do with Nate, because Nate's friends witnessed Nate and Randy hugging earlier today.

Lunch arrived and Nate got his food and went to look for a place to sit. And after a long search, Nate finally found a place to sit. And it was with Randy and his gang.

"You gonna sit with us?" Randy asks.

"Yeah," Nate replied.

Nate sat with Randy and his gang and ate lunch and chatted a little bit.

A few tables away from Nate, sat Francis, Dee Dee, Teddy, Chad, and Ruby.

Francis looked around the lunchroom, before turning back to say:

"Man, people are angry at us."

"It's crazy, isn't it? No thanks to Nate, we are now part of the unpopular crowd," Teddy responded while sinking his teeth into his sandwich.

"Does anyone understand the significance of 'I'm sorry' anymore?" Ruby asked.

"Yeah...yeah, good point, Ruby," Francis responded before looking around again and asking: "What happened to the significance?"

Ever since the fight today, everyone turned against Nate's ex-friends through gossip and chit-chatter, and NO ONE was willing to talk to the group and has silently shunned them out from their own respective groups.

Chad opened up and said:

"Don't poke a bear. He might eat you."

Everyone looked at Chad in confusion.

"What does that mean?" Dee Dee asked.

Teddy spoke up quickly.

"I think that's one of his grandma's sayings or something."

"Oh...does...does that mean we played a part in this mess we're in?" Dee Dee asks in regret.

"I'm afraid so," Chad said sadly.

"Then, how did he manage to escape punishment today in Mrs. Godfrey's class today?" Teddy asked.

Silence.

"I don't know...but I am BOUND to know what Nate's problem is, and I will not rest until I do," Dee Dee said with determination in her voice.

"Well, good luck, but do it with EXTREME caution. I don't think that Nate liked on what ya did with him," Chad replied while drinking soda.

"You mean the way I wasn't talking to Nate until he calmed down?" Dee Dee asked.

Chad nodded.

"I was waiting until he..." Dee Dee started before Chad said back:

"Think he was trying to express his emotions to you, but you weren't allowing him to do so. It's like you're intolerant to someone who has a bad cold. It could still upset you."