The Jerk Next Door

Chapter 27: New Friend?

Asher

The sight of Maksean running off with Daniela as lunch starts to make a "restroom run" while Luka and I saved a table became very familiar to me over the past week. Everyday after school, the four of us meet up before I have to take Maksie to Candy's. Today I was going to leave my truck there in the parking lot in favor of riding with the senior to help him gather things for Dani's birthday.

It was nice to have a guy friend that had more to talk about than sports or girls. Luka was laid back and far smarter than I thought. I found out he had a full ride to a big university in the next town over, and that he wanted to become a veterinarian. He knew what he wanted in life, and as far as he was concerned he already had most of it down.

"The girl of my dreams, got her. The college plans, done. The place I volunteer for has already said they'll allow me to intern while in school and as long as I pass, that's my first job. Life's not hard if you know how you want to live it. Just set a goal and don't stop 'til you get it." He told me on our ride.

He was so confident, and cool. It was hard to believe I didn't like this guy, but understandable why I could get jealous of him. He has it all figured out while I still don't even know what I want to do after high school.

"Don't sweat it," he told me. Luka seemed really good at reading people. "Some people like to plan things out and it works, but others just live life as it comes, and that's okay too. You're a Junior, you have time. Life will play out, just don't get caught up in trying to play it and miss everything else." His words were ending just as we pulled into the store he wished to visit.

"Alrighty, I know that my lovely Dani could not resist the power of music. Especially her favorite, K-pop!" He declared. I wasn't sure what that meant, but I nodded and followed him. "Okay so, he's what we're gonna do. There are two brand new albums from two different groups that are going to be put on those shelves in ten minutes. We just have to get in there and get them."

That seemed simple, and yet when we walked into the store only to see crowds of mostly teenage girls around the exact place we needed to be, we knew it was going to be harder than Luka made it out to be.

"What now?" I asked, gesturing towards the massive amount of girls in our way. I watched as the elder tilted his head and taped his chin. His eyes laser focused on the shelves that were now empty but would soon become full of the present they needed.

"Okay, I'll take one shelf and you take the other. This is what the album on that will be on the right shelf. You get in there and get that one no matter what. I'll take the left shelf." He responded, having to raise his voice as the volume of the crowd grew. He gave me one last look of determination before taking off. "The things I'll do for love." He exclaimed dramatically before I could no longer see him in the sea of people.

I let out a huff before heading to my own mission. Just get in the front of the line and grab that album. Easy. I've barreled through many large catchers on my way to home plate and survived; I can do this.

That statement was proven wrong after the third time I had been shoved backwards by the mass number of painted hands. I had only a minute left before the album would be placed on the shelf, and yet I was nowhere near the front of the line. I made another attempt with many "excuse me"s and a few "pardon me"s. I had managed to make it half way when the employees came out with the product.

"Oh, no. I'm too late," I muttered to myself while planting my feet to stand firmly in my spot. My balance was shaken by the many fangirls. "Excuse me!" I shouted but it was drowned out by the screaming females.