The New KISS High School

Ch 2: Good Morning (Ace)

I looked at the text from Eric as I waited at the red light, feeling a smile twitch my lips.

Eric: Hi can u please get Gene breakfast if u haven't already bc I did but then I forgot and I ate it and now I feel really bad :(

The light changed before I could respond so I tossed aside my phone, driving off to school. I wasn't exactly thrilled to be back in class, but it was my senior year so it probably wasn't going to be terrible. Hopefully.

It was amazing how much Eric had anyone wrapped around his little finger. It wasn't anything malicious, Eric didn't have a malicious bone in his body. It was more that he was the sweetest person in the school and all he had to do was look at you with his big ol' puppy dog eyes and your heart would instantly melt. He had everyone wrapped around his finger without him even realizing it, especially Gene, who basically saw him as his little brother. Well, not everyone. Not Paul. It wasn't that Paul hated him, necessarily. Just that Paul had very comfortably moved into the position of most popular kid in class as soon as he stepped onto campus as a little freshman, and held that spot tightly until Eric stumbled into the school sophomore year, immediately winning everyone's hearts with his infectiously positive nature and his smile, and he hadn't liked giving up that spot. 

I didn't care how popular I was though, so I had no issues with hanging out with Eric. He was one of my favorite people and one of the few reasons I did my best to get to school, just so I could hang out with him. Humming to myself, I grabbed the bag of McDonald's from the passenger seat and slung my backpack over my shoulder, wandering toward the senior lot. My phone began to ring and I answered it with a smile. 

"What's up curly?" "Hey Ace, Gene said he asked you for breakfast, did you--" "I did! I got you something too," I said cheerfully. "Where are you?" "400 wing," Gene said, taking the phone from Eric. "And I'll eat Eric's part, since he ate the breakfast he said he'd get for me." "Aw no curly you can't do that! I got some for him and you and me, you can't have his share," I teased, hanging up before he could complain more. I made it to the 400 wing, handing the McDonald's to Gene and popping open my locker, stuffing in my textbooks. 

"So what'd you get?" Gene asked. "Breakfast sandwiches, what else would I get for breakfast?" I said with a grin. Eric giggled, reaching into the bag and pulling out a McGriddle. "Thanks Ace! Appreciate it." "Yeah, anytime," I said, rising to my feet and taking the bag back, grabbing my fries. "So what's new this year?" "You remember Bruce from the first two years of school?" Gene asked, taking a bite of his sandwich. "Not in the slightest. I don't remember much from the first two years at all," I said with a grin. "Oh. Well, he's back," he said with a shrug. "He seems really nice," Eric said, and I bit back a smile as I saw the faintest pink blush tinge his cheeks. 

"Oh, does he?" I asked, giving him a smug smile, and he frowned, cheeks going a bit pinker. "He does. Shut up." Before I could keep teasing him, my phone rang, and I looked at Peter's contact with a smile. "Hey what's up?" "Hey! You here already?" "Mhm! 400 wing with Gene and Eric. Come join us!" "Oh damn Peter's actually early for school? That's a first," Gene mused, and I gave him a shove. "Hey! Don't talk shit about my friend!" I snapped. "Aw come on you know I'm right. You two barely show up to school," Gene teased. "But anyway, I gotta meet up with Paul so I'll catch you later. Eric, see you in first period," he said, walking off with a wave.

"Bye Gene!" Eric said cheerfully. As soon as he had rounded the corner, I turned to Eric, smirk returning. "So! Bruce, hm?" I teased. His face went pinker and he shrugged, crossing his arms. "What about him?" "I dunno, what about him? You seem to like him." "I've known him for five minutes," he grumbled. "Seems like five minutes was more than enough time for you to get yourself a crush on him," I wheedled. "No!" he snapped, giving me a shove. "It was not!" "Uh huh. Well, you should show him around the school! In case he's forgotten where to go," I said with a smug smile.

Eric was absolutely crimson at this point and stuck his tongue out at me. "Shut up! I'm gonna go find Gene and Paul," he grumbled, walking off. "Bye Eric! Tell Bruce I say hi!" I said, dissolving into laughter. A hand came to rest on my shoulder I jumped, turning to find Peter behind me. "Aw hi you," I said, giving him a smile. "Shh, little softer," he said with a grimace, closing his eyes and leaning against me. "Aww baby's got a hangover?" I teased. He reached up, putting his middle finger on my lips, flipping me off and silencing me in one move.

"I got drunk and thought it was Saturday so I just kept drinking. So yes, I've got a hangover." "Dumbass," I said fondly, ruffling his hair. "I'll take you out to lunch then so we can get you something to eat. Or you can hunt down Gene and take the breakfast I got for him." "Oh come on, you know no one can pry food out of Gene's hands once he gets it. I'd have better luck wrestling a bear," he said with a faint grin. "Mm good point," I mused.

The bell shrieked suddenly and he winced, burying his face in my shoulder. "Owww," he groaned. "Oh shut up and take some Tylenol. Anyway I've got to get to English with Paulie, I'll catch you later!" I said, reluctantly letting him go and walking off to find Paul, hoping that today wouldn't be awful for the first day of senior year.