One Last Prayer

Part 3

When I get to the lunch area it doesn't take long for me to find Tracy. She's sitting with Dieter, her boyfriend of two years. He's a huge beach bum, but is the sweetest guy I know. He has thick black hair with honey brown eyes. That with the combination of his freckles makes him look different than most guys that all look the same. There are two more people at the table that I don't recognize, but I guess making new friends might help me find a way to stay busy and get my mind off the last few months. Tracy spots me and waves me over and I'm thankful that I don't have to invite myself to sit with her, since I would usually be with Jasey and her group that are all gone now. I walk over and take the seat next to her.

"I almost thought you ditched me and found a new friend to rebound with." She says playfully.

"I was talking to the principal." I say still irritated.

"Already causing trouble?" One of the unfamiliar girls says.

"I was asking about starting a club that's faith based." I say opening a bag of nuts to snack on before lunch ends.

She takes her eyes away from her almost finished nachos to stare at me. I don't know what to think of her expression. People being unsure how to respond to my faith is something I had to get used to once I became more open about it. Lately, I've been finding myself wondering how the others live. They get to do whatever they want without thinking before making any decisions and questioning if it's the right thing to do or not. That sounds like a relaxing way of life.

"Tessa, this is Riley." Tracy says.

"Nice to meet you, Riley." The girl says. She has long straight brown hair that's colored light blue at the ends. She's wearing a shirt that shows too much cleavage and colorful beaded bracelets on each wrist. Her tone is friendly when she speaks again.

"And this is Brielle. My sister." Tessa says gesturing to the other girl that I don't recognize.

I look to the other girl and realize how much she looks like Tessa. They must be twins. Both girls seem friendly, but not entirely enthusiastic. I half wave at them since I'm in the middle of chewing and they smile in return. Tessa starts talking but this time she's talking to everyone at the table.

"So Brielle and I thought it would be pretty cool to get a huge group of us together for a bonfire at the beach this weekend. So everyone can just chill."

"We could make smores and sing around the fire." Brielle laughs.

"Or we could just party." Tessa snorts, obviously not caring for her twin sister's joke.

The bell rings and we all get up, everyone starting to make plans for this Friday night. I write my phone number on Tessa's hand and tell her to share it with Brielle since I don't know where my next class is, and I don't want to be late. I used my second elective as a free period, that's meant to catch up on homework or study, but I thought it would be a good idea to use so that if I am overwhelmed with school this year, I'll still find time for myself at home.

I walk into the class that was actually right next to the outdoor lunch area, so I'm the second one in. Tessa walks in right behind me as I sit, and she sits at the table to my right.

"I guess I could've asked what your next class was. Here we are. Together." She says.

"I guess we know now." I say smiling.

"Let me see your schedule." She says quietly as more people walk in.

I pull out my folded schedule and hand it to her. She takes it reading it over and hands it back to me.