Haven (gxg)

Chapter 6: Friday

"Class dismissed." Ms. Troy said quickly and rushed to the door before all of us can.

Right, there will be an event or something at the gymnasium later in the afternoon.

"What's the event?" I asked Diane who is smiling while, probably, texting Mavy.

"To be honest, I don't know." 

I nodded and we both left the room to get Mavy from her Literature class. The hallway became busy so we have to squish ourselves between sweaty and rushing people. 

I groaned as I almost lost my balance from a tall guy who walked right to me and hit my shoulder. 

Diane used her free arm to envelope it around me as I kept on getting pushed. I need to start working out. 

"Thank you," I said as we are finally in front of Mavy's classroom. 

As we wait, Diane's laughter echoes as she types something on her phone. This goes on until Mavy went out of the room and rushed to Diane who lifted Mavy from the ground and spun her around.

"That is so cliche." I rolled my eyes and walked to the cafeteria as they followed behind me.

"You're going to find your girl soon, Lane." Mavy winked and stole a kiss from Diane.  

I faked a disgusted face and sat on one of the available tables.

"Homophobe." I heard Mavy whisper.

Mavy and I talked as Diane bought our food.

"You seem happy." I smiled at my best friend who looked genuinely happy.

"I am always happy." She shrugged.

"But not this happy." 

She gave me a sad look and sighed, leaning at the table. Here we go again.

"Lane, you remember when you admitted you had a crush on me?"

I face flustered from the memory and wore my hoodie up as I start to disappear from the world.

"Please, don't even remind me of that." I cringed. 

It was in grade school when I confessed to Mavy that I have a crush on her. I remember giving her secret letters, but of course, she knew that it was me and my handwriting because she never had friends other than me.

"You tried- You tried to kiss me on the cheek, remember." She started to laugh uncontrollably, hitting the table with her hand like a maniac.

"Bitch." I muttered.

"Your bitch." She winked.

"Are you two fighting?"

Mavy suddenly composed herself and scooted a little to give Diane a space to sit.

"Nope, I was just reminding Lane here the time when-"

"Oh! Would you look at that? I am running late for Music class!"  I glanced at my invisible watch and hurriedly grabbed my bag.

"But that starts in an hour-"

"Bye! Love y'all." I kissed the top of their head and smiled.

It is true, I have a Music class now because Ms. Thompson asked me to enter the class early the moment I stepped a foot inside the school.

"Lane! It's good you came early." The woman all the students adore said. Technically, she's a fresh graduate and most of the instructors here are middle-aged, so...

"Ms. Thompson! Good morning."

I sat at my usual chair which is behind the drums.

"Am I the only one going early to class?" I roamed the room and noticed that there's no other students. I suddenly grew nervous.

"Lane, you've been at the school band the entire years you've stayed in this school, am I right?" Ms. Thompson said as she ruffled some papers in her drawer and picked a brochure.

"Yeah."

She nodded and handed me the brochure she got.

To my surprise, it's an invitation. An event that will happen later in the afternoon, the event at the gymnasium.

"Sorry, I am planning to stay at home." I smiled said and gave her the brochure back.

"Oh, no, look at the back part." She gave back their brochure and I examined where she is pointing at. I read the text and almost got a heart attack at the letter typed.

"That's my name. Why is it there?" I read the names below and noticed that these are the names of the majority that join this class.

"Lane, you and the others are going to have a special performance later!" She squealed and happily anticipated an answer.

"But...I didn't rehearse. I don't know what to follow or how to"

Ms. Thompson patted my shoulder as if telling me to calm down. She sat down at one of the chairs and clasped both her hands.

"The one we studied last week, do you remember that?" 

"Holy- You were preparing us for this??" 

"Yes, that's my intention. Now, are you in or out?"

I thought about it for a minute and nodded enthusiastically. 

Ms. Thompson shook my hand and ushered me outside of the room while smiling so brightly. 

"Music class my ass. There's no one- Oh hey, Ms. Thompson." Mavy shyly said and sunk deeper into Diane's arms that wrapped her shoulders.

"Well hello to you too, Ms. Davis and Ms. Finley." She nodded and went back to the room without their replies.

"Did you get kicked out of the band?" Diane said with concern.

"Ooh, it's much worse than that." I tried to make a sad look and voice but the two girls didn't buy it.

"What is it?" Mavy asked and we all stopped walking.

"I'm playing at the band later!"

"Thank goodness! You're finally playing after a long time!"

They squealed and hugged me tightly between them.

"Ok, enough," I said but my voice became muffled.

"What is it?" Diane asked and hugged me even tighter.

I used all my strength to push them both off of me. 

"Are you going to watch?"

"Heck yeah!" They said in unison and joined me to go home so that they can help me to prepare.