Why you?

I-You and I

The classroom was quiet except for the occasional scrape of a pencil and the loud breathing of Junior Palleed who had asthma but his parents refused to buy him an inhaler. The teacher sat in the corner of the room with her glasses at the tip of her nose, reading the notes and papers that lay astray along her desk. We were supposed to be studying for our Midterms that were coming next week but I had no interest in that. I knew all of the information I needed, not trying to brag of course, but I've always been someone who can just stare at the teacher without taking notes. I honestly just 'absorb' the knowledge. 

"Psst." I heard a voice to my left. I turned my head slightly only to see one of my best friends, Ava Julien. We had been friends since the sixth grade so I can say that we know each other pretty well. 

"What?" I whispered, my eyebrow raised. 

"Did you here about Stella and Ryan?" She asked with a smile. She was always one to gossip. I've gone as far as to tell her that she's the 'Gossip Queen' of the school. 

"Which ones?" I laughed but covered it up with a fake cough when I saw Mrs. Thorn giving us a skeptical look. 

She rolled her eyes. "Stella Mayhem and Ryan Mccartney. There's a video going around of them fucking in one of the school stalls."

I pulled a face of disgust. "Are you fucking kidding me? That's disgusting." I paused. "Which one?"

She snickered. "The one in the foyer, you know, the bathroom you think is the cleanest."

I felt dread fall over me. That was my favorite bathroom. It was the cleanest and smelled like flowers. I refused to go to any other bathroom but I guess now I won't go to the bathroom at all. "Great." I groaned.

"I know right? Isn't it so disgusting? Why would you do that at school?" She agreed tuning back to her paper of scribbles that sat on her brown, wooden desk. 

Suddenly, the bell rung and I was rushing to throw all my stuff into my bag to get to lunch. I was dying of hunger. 

"You ready?" I heard Ava ask from the front of the classroom. 

I nodded and stood, throwing  my black bag over my right shoulder and following her out the door. Once I was beside her, she began to talk. 

"Do you know what's for lunch today?" She asked, hopefully. She always asked me because I always knew. I have good relationships with the lunch ladies so they tend to tell me what's for lunch  the next day just so I don't accidentally get in line when it's something I don't like. 

I let out a chuckle. "Beans and rice." 

She did a fist bump in the air and made a song up as she began to dance in excitement. She was a very picky person. 

It wasn't long until we had reached the lunch room. It only took one or two minutes to make it. It would've taken longer if Ava and I didn't push our way through the crowd of smelly kids who probably didn't wash their hands in the bathroom because there was no paper towels. 

"So what do you want to do today after school?" She asked once we entered the cafeteria. It was Friday and we always hung out on Fridays. 

I hummed in thought. "I'm not sure. We could always go down to the ditch after getting ice cream from Silvestor." He was a really kind old man that owned and worked at the ice cream shop in front of this ditch where me and 'the gang' often hang out. 

"Sounds good but I don't think I'm going to buy anything. Trying to save for that car." 

I only nodded. Ava loved cars and especially that blue Mercedes that sat at the corner of Tigers street. It was on sale and up for grabs so she was extremely excited to buy it, not shutting up about it. 

Soon we were met with the round green table that we sat at everyday for the past three years, not counting this one. 

"Hey guys!" Yelled Ava to our group that was already sat there. Joshua Evans, Ella Sons, and the most beautiful person ever, Noah Eliam Shire.

Noah Eliam Shire. He was the most beautiful man I have ever laid my eyes on. Not to mention his personality. He had to be the kindest, sweetest person on the planet; he wouldn't have the guts to hurt a single fly. Although he was taller than me and he towered over me like a mountain, he was deeply in tune with emotions, knowing exactly what to say and when to say it. And don't forget about his voice. How it rolled off his tongue was like angels singing in my ears. Even when he was calling my name extremely loud. Like right now. 

"ELIO!" His voice echoed in my ear. 

"Oh. Uh... yeah?" I feigned innocence. 

"We have been calling your name for at least a minute now. Come sit down." He laughed and a shiver ran down my back at the sounded. I quickly stumbled to take my seat next to him. 

"Haha my bad." I rubbed the back of my neck in embarrassment. 

I looked across the table to see Ava raising her eyebrows up and down at me with an evil smirk. She had known exactly what I was thinking and this just caused a bright red color to swarm my cheeks. 

"Are you ok, buddy? You seem a little off." He asked next to me, a look of concern plastered on his handsome face, his green eyes seeming to look straight into my soul. My heart stung at the word buddy. Did I mention that he was my best friend?

I only laughed it off and nodded. "Yeah, I'm fine. Just tired." 

A smile erupted on his face and he turned back to the table to begin conversation. I was fine with just being his friend. It's better than nothing. 

"So did you hear about Stella and Ryan?" I heard Ava begin again. I rolled my eyes. 

"Is this all you're gonna talk about all day?" I asked with dread. 

"Yes." She gave me a smug look causing me to rest my head on my hand and waiting for her to tell everybody about the newest drama, having already heard it. 

"No. What are you talking about?" Noah looked interested, scooting up a little further in his seat. This made me smile. He was always so childish. 

"They were having sex in the bathroom that's in the foyer and we all know how much El loves that bathroom." She looked at me with her hands in the shape of a heart while the rest of the table laughed. I only grumbled in response. 

"Well, I'm not surprised. If I was Ryan, I wouldn't be able to hold myself back if it was Stella Mayhem asking for a quicky." The words left his mouth in almost slow motion and I could feel my heart suddenly jump into my throat. 

"Anyway!" Ava shouted a little too loudly, standing up and catching the whole tables attention and probably a few tables over. "You want to go get some lunch, El." She smiled. 

"Yeah sure." The words felt almost dead. Why did he have to be straight. 

I began to follow Ava towards the lunch line and when we had finally reached it, she abruptly turned around, concern lacing her features. 

"Are you ok?" She asked softly. 

I knew exactly what she was talking about, she was the only one who knew I had feelings for Noah. "Yeah. Just a little saddening is all. Why do I have to be into him, of all people." I sighed, rubbing the back of my neck. It was a habit. 

"Then let's go find you somebody else." The words caught me off guard. 

"What?" 

"Let's go find you someone else. It won't be easy but it's better than suffering like this." She explained, suddenly getting enthusiastic.

"How though." I was a bit reluctant at the idea but she was right, I couldn't just wallow in self pity because my straight best friend is...well... my straight best friend. 

"A party." And that's when I saw a devilish look in her eyes.