Renaissance (boyxboy)

Chapter 4

“Hi, I’m Jessica.” My eyes slowly lifted up from my half eaten cafeteria pizza.  I’d seen this girl before, we shared one class together so far, U.S. History.  Despite that we hadn’t exchanged any words, yet here she was, seemingly randomly.  I looked from side to side, wondering if there was something I had that she wanted, especially since I knew she couldn’t be talking to someone else: I’d purposefully chosen a table on my own. 

“Ok…” What else was I supposed to say to her?  That must have seemed like an invitation because she immediately sat down across from me, smiling and opening the plastic box of her chef’s salad. 

“Sorry um…Can I help you?”

Her eyebrows rose, fork poised mid strike into her food, “You’re Adam Marsh right?  Chief Marsh’s son from Phoenix?”

That was creepy.  News travelled fast apparently.  Besides, how was that an explanation for why she was sitting here with me right now?

“Yeah…?  All right I’m sorry, did I know you when we were little or something?  If so, sorry about that,” I tapped my temple, “bad at recalling childhood memories.”

She laughed.  This was weird.  What had I said?  I really wasn’t joking: I had no idea who this girl was.

“That’s funny, you’re funny.”

My eyebrows furrowed, “I…am?”

“Do you mind if my friends sit over here?”

“Well I-”

“Guys, over here!” She waved over a group of people from our class, two boys and a girl.  Jesus, what was she doing?

“Listen, I appreciate what you’re trying to do here, but-”

“Oh it’s no problem.” She beamed.  No one should have this much energy at school.  I glanced over at the other girl that came up, but her eyes never seemed to completely meet mine.  Amazing that someone like that was friends with a person as lively as Jessica. 

One of the guys stopped and sat next to the quiet girl, maybe they were together, maybe they were both just quiet natured.  The blond guy I recognized almost immediately, having heard his name tossed around during my first class of the day: Mike.  He didn’t seem like a bad guy, just…too zealous.  Him and Jessica would have been perfect for each other, God I hoped they were with each other, then I could try and exclude myself as a fifth wheel.

Mom would be furious if she knew to what lengths I was trying to distance myself.  I mean, yeah I wanted to make friends eventually, but not this frickin’ fast.

“Right, Arizona.”  Mike said as he sat down on the other side of me across from Jessica. Apparently that was gonna be my nickname.  Truth be told, I kind of liked it and smiled.  That was all though.  Jessica however didn’t smile,

“Oh, you two know each other?” It was almost an accusatory tone.  Luckily Mike did most of the talking,

“Yeah we had first period together.  Welsh made him get up front and introduce himself and everything.”

Which I guess was also funny because Jessica was laughing.  Again.  Ok, these other three I might be able to get used to, but she would be a tough one.  She managed to stop her giggling and diplomatically introduced the other two at the table,

“This is Angela, and Ben.”

They both politely waved their fingers at me, also quietly.  Yeah, those two I’d like.  And then…from there it all just went between the four of them, coupling off just like I’d thought.  Ok, seriously, why were they even over here by me?  Maybe they just wanted an empty table.  Oh well, travelling in a pack could have its perks, especially if it meant keeping other curious onlookers at bay.

Angela was into photography, and just from spending ten minutes around her it was easy to see that there was something up between her and Ben.  Maybe they really were dating.  With how small this school was it wouldn’t be hard to find out, and there was a high chance I’d probably be in a class or two with them, either together or separately.

Thoughts for another day though, I was hard pressed on finishing my pizza as fast as I could.  New people or not, I still had to learn this map, and luckily I wasn’t pulled into conversation for too long.  I guess Jessica even wasn’t so bad, just…too eager to get to know me.  She was going on about prom with Angela now, leaving Ben and Mike to talking, and that was when I first saw them.

To be honest, I don’t even know how I missed them.  The first word that shot into my head would have to have been: beautiful.  Five of them, sitting at a table, all looking spaced and completely disinterested in the untouched food on their plates.

If I had to choose a second word to describe them…?

Creepy.