Just Good Friends

Chapter 58

JULIE's POV

~The Next Day~

I have no choice but to go to school today since my parents were making such a big deal about skipping class. I feel tired and hungry -- I slept horribly last night -- but I'm here like a good little student. I made sure to stash some granola bars in my sweatshirt so I could nibble throughout Spanish class.

Without my knowledge, our Spanish teacher gave out a group assignment... but since I missed class, I have to do a separate assignment by myself while everyone else is in groups. I feel kind of left out, especially with Daniel and Jake and Sam working together beside me, but maybe it's for the best. Every now and then, I glance over at them as they're chatting about the assignment and writing down notes. If I knew I'd have the chance to work closely with Daniel again, I wouldn't have missed the last two days. Oh well...

"...so we gotta describe how to cook the ground beef and add the seasonings, add the sauce, etc..." Sam's voice says from her desk to my right. She and the boys were working on the Spanish assignment like the rest of the class, while I had to do a solo assignment of translating a recipe from English to Spanish. At least Mrs. Raymond let me use the Spanish dictionary to find the words because I definitely am not fluent.

"I'm writing all that now. As long as y'all got your translations, I can take your notes and copy it onto the assignment worksheet," I overhear Daniel's reply. He looks focused beside the two, hunched over writing on his worksheet.

"Thanks, Diggy... it looks like we're almost done," Jake's voice says. "As soon as the worksheet is filled out, then we gotta practice the presentation part. Are you guys free today after school to practice?"

"Practice what?" Sam rebuttals.

"What we're gonna say for the presentation..." Jake responds.

"Just read off the paper."

"How did you even get this far in school?" Jake asks in a teasing tone.

"Shut up..." Sam says.

"Anyway, Diggy, how about you? Do you have 15 minutes after school to go over our presentation real quick?"

"Yeah, sure..." Daniel replies.

"Cool..." Jake exhales.

The rest of the class went like any other...

***

Although the day seemed to be going faster than usual, I still wasn't ecstatic about being here. I sighed as I walked to my seat for Writing 101 and sat down. I took out my notebook and pencil and prepared for another boring class. It doesn't help that I'm sleepy, too. I take out one of my granola bars in my sweatshirt pocket and begin munching away before class starts. People are slowly coming in; a few glance my way with a smirk, but there are not as many snotty looks compared to last week. Outside of the classroom, I spot Daniel and Dana chatting at the doorway before he enters the room with a chuckle.

There they are again... have they really been hanging out? They seem awfully close recently. I still remember that achy feeling in my chest when I spotted them together at the mall. They seem almost like good friends now. Wow, seems like I missed a lot.

Daniel takes a seat at his desk to my left and I quickly greet him.

"Hi, Daniel," I say.

"'Sup?" He nods my way before sitting down. At least he didn't completely ignore me this time. Seconds later, London enters the classroom and sits in her seat in front of him. Once she makes eye contact with me, her face lights up.