After Wonder

Chapter 11/Me and Julian

The next day Julian was back at school. When I walked up to him I didn't realize that Henry, Amos, and Miles were all quietly shuffling behind me. 

"Hi." I said. Julian looked weirded out,

"Hey." He said. "What's up guys." I then turned around and saw them standing right behind me. 

"What are you guys doing?" I asked them.

"Just hanging out with you and Julian." Miles said smirking. Then Henry walked around me and put his arm around Julian,

"It's been a while hasn't it?" Henry asked. Julian nodded.

"Maybe we can start hanging out again, like old times ya know?" Henry kept talking to Julian, who gave me this "Help me" look. Julian looked up at Henry, who was now physically huge. At least compared to me and Julian, who have grown since middle school but not as much as the others. 

"Uhm, sure." Julian said, "But I thought you stopped being friends with me because I was an awful person." Henry slapped Julian on the back, making him jerk forward.

"Well, that's in the past." Amos said. 

"Glad you think so." Julian said, slowly moving Henry's arm and moving to stand next to me. 

"Should we go to class Auggie?" Julian asked, touching my shoulder and winking at me. 

"Uhm. Yeah." I said blushing, but Julian was already walking away. I smiled at the guys then walked away. I was practically running to follow Julian to English,

"Why are you running so fast?" I yelled to him.

"Miss Emily is announcing our next book today!" Julian yelled back then disappeared into the classroom. I followed soon after him, Miss Emily greeted us. 

"Hi boys. You guys look excited." She said,

"I'm excited to know what book we're going to read." Julian said. 

"Well first we have to cover the end of "Perks of Being A Wallflower"." Miss Emily said,

"Speaking of "Perks of Being A Wallflower", I totally didn't see that ending coming." I said, "Me and Julian were reading together and just stared at each other in shock. Poor Charlie, it was really sad actually." 

"Yeah. I was crying while reading out loud." Julian said. 

"I had to take over for him." I said.

"My soul and my nose were hurt recently." Julian said, then heard someone walk into the room. We looked in the direction of Jack, who ignored us and sat down. 

"What did you think of "Perks of Being A Wallflower" Jack?" Miss Emily asked Jack. He answered her after a couple minutes,

"Oh, it was interesting I guess." Me and Julian sat down in the front of the class. After class started, Miss Emily kept talking about "Perks of Being A Wallflower". 

"Before reading this book I had no idea women could be the *busers." A girl in the back said. This ticked off Julian, who turned to look at her. 

"You didn't know that? Don't tell me you're one of those girls who calls themselves a feminist without knowing the true meaning of feminism." He said. The girl stood up,

"How dare you." She said, "You can't say that. If you're a boy you have no say in feminism." 

"I may be a boy, but I know the true meaning of feminism." Julian said. "Cause ma'am it means equality." This girl stood up and walked towards Julian. 

"Julian, Christine, that's enough. Let's move on." Miss Emily said,

"Gladly." Julian said, "It's so nice learning. We can all learn." Julian emphasized learn both times then sat down next to me. If I had eyebrows this would be the time where I raised them. Julian just smiled at me. After class was over we ran to the theater. 

"My, Julian. Did something happen to your nose?" Mr. Junior asked him. 

"Yeah, I broke it." Julian told him. "Don't know if I'll be able to perform *in* the play." Mr. Junior turned to me, 

"I've been seeing you a lot around here young man. Are you into theater?" He asked me. 

"Uhm... not really. Not like Julian, or Summer. They're more talented than I am." I tried saying, but Julian grabbed my shoulders,

"Are you kidding me? You can sing through Mamma Mia, Hamilton, Newsies, Hairspray, and Wicked with no intermissions! That screams talent and professional vocal lessons to me."

"That is very impressive. Have you ever thought of joining Drama?" Mr. Junior asked. 

"Maybe once or twice. But it's not really my thing. I'm really more into science." I said,

"You can't pull that one on Mr. Junior, once he spots passion you're in his cross hairs." Julian said. 

"Why don't you show me what you can do." Mr. Junior said, 

"Wait what?" I asked. 

"Come on, you can sing a bunch of different songs with different styles and characters. You're very talented, this'll give him a chance to see." Julian told.

"Which songs?" I asked.

"Sing Thank Goodness." Julian said,

"Really? I haven't warmed up. Any other ideas?"

"Hmm. How about Santa Fe or Run and Tell That?" Julian asked. 

"Can I sing all three?" I asked. 

"I mean, sure. Can I help?" 

"Of course." I said, pulling Julian to Mr. Junior.  

"Okay. He's ready, and I'm gonna help him. Some of these songs do count at duets."

The last song me and Julian sang was Santa Fe. I don't mean to brag, but I killed that final note. Mr. Junior was so impressed that he came up to me after and gave me exclusive entry into the class. 

"Oh my god. You're a drama member, welcome to the club Auggie." Summer came up after. 

"This will be super fun!" Charlotte came over to.

"It will be amazing." Julian said. "Be ready for grueling practices." 

"Now that I'm in drama we can perform together in talent shows." I said. "And I already have an idea, but we'd need a third man. But I really can't ask that of you, it really isn't a good idea right now." Julian smiled and we walked out of the theater with Summer and Charlotte. We ran right into another familiar face, 

"No way!" I screamed. "I can't believe it!"

"Auggie!" Christopher screamed back, "Oh my god!" I quickly embraced him. We gripped each other and quickly swayed from side to side. 

"Why didn't you tell me you're now attending Trevor Day!?" I asked. 

"Why else? I wanted to surprise you." Chris said. I let go and turned us around, putting my arm around him. 

"Guys this is Christopher. He's been my best friend since I was born." I said. "Chris, this is Julian, Summer, and Charlotte." Chris narrowed his eyes at Julian, who smiled. 

"We're actually really good. No need to be weary." I told him. 

"Oh yeah. We're really friendly." Julian said smirking. I almost choked on my own spit. Chris looked at me with concern. 

"It's fine." I told him, pulling Christopher close whispering our situation into his ear. 

"Oh!" He said, surprised. "Great! Well, nice to meet all of you." I knew high school was gonna be full of trials and tribulations, but this is isn't at all how I imagined it to be. It's sad the end of Freshman year is already a couple months away.