A Can of Coke

The Beginning part 3

It was the next morning and I was buzzing with excitement and nerves. 

After our confessional, John B. invited me to get breakfast with him and his friends at The Wreck. 

I couldn't wait to meet the Pogues and see John B. again, but I was also so scared that they wouldn't like me and that John B. would change his mind and freak out about last night. 

I quickly jumped in the shower and washed all of last night's excursion off me. I made sure to be mindful of my cuts and scabs.

I then changed into a loose turquoise Hawaiian shirt and dark blue boyfriend jeans. I knew it was going to be hot, but I didn't have the courage to walk around with a black eye AND beat up legs. 

Once I finished changing, I braided my hair into two dutch braids. I then put on some makeup, attempting to cover my bruise, but my concealer wasn't opaque enough. 

"Abuela, I'm going to go to The Wreck to get breakfast," I said as I walked out of my room and into the little kitchen/living room area. 

"There's stuff to eat here, why're you wasting your money?" She genuinely asked while preparing herself a bowl of oatmeal. 

"...a friend invited me." I said quietly, feeling a little shy. 

My Abuela's eyes nearly popped out of her head.

"Mija! You have a friend! That's wonderful! Go! Go! Have fun!" She smiled the same radiant smile my mom had and pushed me out the door. 

"I love you!" I called out to her as she waved goodbye, very visibly excited for me. 

It warmed my heart how much she cared for me. It was so comforting to know that even though for the past couple of years I hadn't had any friends, my family was always there for me. 

Her excitement provided me the courage to confidently walk all the way to the Wreck and greet John B.'s friends. 

Upon entering the establishment, my courage began to waver as my heart began to pound in my ears. 

"You can do this!" I whispered to myself as my eyes scanned for John B. 

My ears perked up as I heard a table of young voices chatting.

"Oh, dude, you should've seen it! It was the gnarliest thing! Like two feet long and--"

"Crickett! Hey!" John B. called, spotting me, interrupting his friend, and gesturing for me to come over and sit. 

Upon seeing him, my lips naturally bursted into a large smile. 

"Hey!" I called back walking up to him and his friends. 

There were two boys and a girl squeezed with John B. in the small booth they were seated in. 

"Pogues, this is Crickett...Crickett, these are the Pogues," he smiled as I sat in the empty chair placed at the end of the booth. 

"Nice to meet you, I'm Pope." The boy with dark hair and wise eyes smiled. He reached his hand across the table and offered a hand shake. I reciprocated and noticed how strong and firm it felt. Looking at him, it felt like with one  glance he could analyze and understand everything about you.   

I could tell he noticed my bruises, but instead of looking confused or concerned, he looked deep in thought. 

"Dude what's wrong with your face?" A set of blue, piercing eyes jabbed at me. 

"JJ!" The girl elbowed him and gave me an apologetic smile. 

"Don't mind him, he's just a buffoon who doesn't know when to shut his trap. I'm Kiara, but everyone calls me Kie." She smiled the sweetest smile and her eyes reminded me of the kindness behind John B.'s. It felt like you could tell her anything and she would back you 100%.