Road to Rockdale

Chapter 2 - Cool Kids

After getting some sugary goodness in our bloodstream, I park in the student lot and Skye and I walk into the 400 hallway of Pleasantview High. Despite the name, *it* sadly does not have any sort of pleasant view, unless you count some ugly brown pine trees and a conveniently placed Taco Bell across the street. But you know what? I'm actually okay with that. I may not have a boy in my life at the moment, but TB and I have our own special relationship. Yes, I'm in love with a fast food restaurant, and no, it's not weird. You're weird.

We reach our lockers and lean up against them like a couple of cool kids, because we are. 😎

SKYE: So, we're still on for the Spring Break Bonfire Bash at your place, right?

"Hell yeah. Mom's still in New York and I've got the house to myself for another week."

SKYE: Sweet. And Nosy Natalie is going over to Steve's for the night, so we don't need to worry about her gawking over the fence. You know how she is.

"Nah, I love your mom. She's chill."

SKYE: Would a chill person run the "Concerned Citizens of Pleasantview, Florida" Facebook group?

I shrug.

"It could be worse. Her timeline could be nothing but really bad Minion memes."

SKYE: Oh God, that is worse.

"Just one of the many reasons I am not and never will be Facebook friends with my mom."

SKYE: You don't wanna live, laugh, love?

"She has that actual sign hanging in our living room. Unironically."

SKYE: Oh, I'm aware. The woman likes her quote signs.

"She doesn't just like them, she has a rabid obsession. Kinda like my brother and chicken strips."

SKYE: Speaking of Evan, when's the man, the myth, the legend coming to visit again?

I shrug.

"Him and Tyler are crazy busy with work and school. Hopefully soon, I miss him like crazy."

Suddenly a tall and slender, wavy brown-haired surfer boy geek walks up wearing a Pikachu beanie with a Baja Blast in hand: my very best friend and partner-in-crime, Connor.

We've actually known each other since before I moved here, but that's a long story. Basically, my brother and I came down to the panhandle for vacation two years ago, and he fell in love with Connor's brother Tyler (Evan also got the gay gene), and it's a whole over-the-top, massively cringe love story that feels straight out of Wattpad or something. Am I salty that the universe just handed over the perfect boyfriend to my brother and yet I'm still single? Maybe. The point is, Connor's chill. I'm happy to have him by my side.

CONNOR: Sup, cool kids.

"Sup...other cool kid."

CONNOR: Smooth.

SKYE: Oh, you should've seen him this morning. Liam was at Angry Bean and-

"Okay, I know you love to embarrass me, but Connor already knows how much of an awkward mess I am."

CONNOR: It's true. Remember the double date with Jake and Ashlyn? Isaac was so nervous that he somehow spilled his AND Jake's bobas on Jake's lap, then hid in the bathroom until I found him curled up in a ball under the sink crying his eyes out.

Jake was a guy I dated for approximately two minutes. Yeah...he dipped pretty quick.

SKYE: Aw, you never told me about that.