It is fucking hard for me to understand the dynamic of my girlfriend's clique. I don't understand them. Like, there are only three of them, including my girlfriend. Just because I'm a jock doesn't mean that I'm that stupid. What she tells me is simple:
Garrett Hennigsen is the resident gay and has been crushing on Max for years. He and Cassia met in grade nine and for the past three years, became inseparable friends. He has quite a bit of an ego, it's hard for him to go without attention. And he is head over heels in love with Max Peterson. I don't really like him. He's conceited and narcissistic. I barely hear him ask my girlfriend how she's doing even though she does so much for him. He's not terrible but he ain't a great friend.
Max Peterson is the kindest human on the planet. He is so goddamn nice. He transferred schools in the middle of grade ten and Garrett couldn't stop himself from being friends with him. Of course, that meant Cassia was dragged along for the journey. I personally don't like Max. He's the type to flirt with everyone, including my girlfriend. That's just dumb, not nice. So yeah, he's goddamn nice to everyone but my girlfriend. He's always picking fights with her too. Plus, he isn't dating the one boy who is in love with him. I understand if you don't want to date him but don't just leave him hanging. But they are so close that they might as well be dating. My girlfriend says that they are. That leaves Cassia.
Cassia Volea. She says that she's the loner of the group but that doesn't mean that she's lonely. Cassia is my girlfriend. She's smart, beautiful. I can't believe I didn't notice her sooner. We never really crossed paths, until I failed math class. I wouldn't call it failing because I was in AP math but I was on the verge of failure. Cassia was asked to tutor me. Real meet-cute. She's not perfect either. She's sardonic and funny and broken but I love all of it. Yet she indulges her friends' behaviour. All she has is a narcissist and his charming -his too charming boyfriend. Boyfriend-ish.
I guess that's what I really don't understand. I know who they all are individually but how in the world did they end up drifting together and creating this messed up blob of a clique? I don't know how she tolerates them. I wish she just hung out with me and my friends. But they're her friends and she's my girlfriend. Unfortunately, I have to try. I guess it's like Harry Potter. We have Ron, Harry, and Hermione; a couple and the chosen one. But that would make me Ginny Weasley and I don't think that fits my personality. That's kinda why I hate that analogy.
But somehow, it's the only way I can remember her friends and my opinions about them. I keep running through the analogy. Ron, Harry, and Hermione; a couple and the chosen one.
"Hey, you've been quiet. You okay?" Cassia asks. She reaches out, hovering her hand just over mine which grasped the wheel.
"I don't know. I just feel like I'm intruding on your little get-together. I don't exactly fit in with your friends." I confess. Every second Friday, Cassia and her friends get together to go out. It's the first time I've joined their little outing. Of course, I've met them before. We sometimes eat lunch together at the cafeteria but I don't know them outside of the opinions that Cassia inflicted upon me.
"What do you mean? You hang out with us lots." She smiles, bringing her hand down.
"I use this analogy to describe all of you. You're like Ron, Harry, and Hermione; a couple and the chosen one. It fits perfectly if you think about it." I reply, sharing the small thing I've been pondering the entire drive.
Cassia laughs at me. "So Max is Hermione and Garrett is Ron. And I'm Harry Potter?" She asked, mimicking the British accent. "As if I'm the chosen one."
"You are." I say earnestly. I wouldn't say Cassia is ever fishing for compliments. She's just oblivious to all of her good qualities and too attentive to her bad ones. As if there's anything bad about her. "At least, you're my chosen one. I choose you." I smirk.
"That's Pokémon not Harry Potter." She shakes her head. I take her hand in mine and she sucks in a quick breath. I always love how nervous she can get, it's adorable.
"Cassia, just say I love you and shut up."
