The Way It Could've Been

Chapter 5, Mark...

 It was always easy for me to make friends. I was well known. I still am. A star athlete, and a heartthrob. I've had many girlfriends in the past, but I would instantly break up with them after two weeks or something like that. I don't know if that makes me a hoe, but I don't care. None of them kept me satisfied. And every time I tried; I would come up with the same results: I don't like her. I want something new. I'm in need of something new. Something interesting.

In ELA, me and my friend, Zach, are talking to each other. Laughing our asses off until my face is red. Throwing random shit at each other like crumpled paper balls, pencils, erasers, etc. An eraser lands in my brunette hair, I shake it off and it falls to my palm. I throw it back at Zach while snickering.

When the lunch bell rang, I was about to walk out of the door with Zach to my left until Ms. Watson called me back in.

"Ooooooo, someone's in trouble," Zach says and smirks at me playfully. He brings out the word for a second. I smack his arm and grin as I stay back in class.

Once everyone leaves the class, Ms. Watson begins speaking "Mark, your grades are way below passing. And this isn't the only class you're flunking. Is everything alright? You used to get straight A's."

Ms. Watson looked sympathetic. I sighed and rolled my eyes.

" Yeah, I'm alright. I'll get my grades up. Can I go now?" I ask.

"Not just yet. I've assigned you a tutor. To help you with all those classes. The scheduled session is this Thursday."

"But Thursdays are game days!" I complained.

"Sorry, you wouldn't even be eligible if you don't get those grades up. Which one is more important in your situation?"

"My grades..." I grumbled.

She gave me a neon yellow sticky note on where to meet my tutor. And as soon as she said I could go, I did. I went to lunch upset. I don't want this stupid tutoring. I could get my grades up on my own. (No, I couldn't.)

I sat down at the lunch table with the tray of food I got from the line. Looking pissed. Simon was next to me.

"What's wrong?" Simon tilted his head and took a bite out of his food before turning to me

"What? Nothing, why?" I speak.

"You look pissed. What happened?" Simon's smirk was crooked.

"I got tutoring! Can you believe that? I have to meet up with a tutor on game days!" I complained to Simon. He always listened to me.

"Damn dude, that must suck. Who's your tutor?" Simon asked curiously.

"I don't know. The teacher never told me. She just gave me a sticky note on where to meet the tutor." I spoke.

For the rest of lunch, all of his football friends were at the table with a girl cuddled up against their shoulders. I was simply jealous. I couldn't find love like that, and I didn't know where to look for it. Why am I so bad at love?

Julian...

I pulled in a chair and sat down at the lunch table.

"Hey," Melissa said. She always had a friendly smile. She was my best friend. My vault for problems, secrets, and everything. My go-to person. Her hair is black, wavy, healthy, and long. It reaches almost the end of her back. She had dark brown eyes that seemed black, but once they hit the sun, they were so angelic. Just like mine. People would mistake us for brother and sister. We seemed so alike. One day in middle school we decided to convince everyone we were brother and sister, and everyone was surprised once we said we weren't. We were slightly different. My hair looked black, but in reality, it was dark brown. My hair is both curly and wavy. Reaching down to my ears and covering my eyes a bit.

We dressed differently though. Today she wore some loose ripped jeans and a long-sleeved black shirt. While I wore jeans that were so loose, I could trip over them, and I wore a plain black hoodie.

"Hey." I smiled back. We were sitting next to each other. Adam, Jonah, and Angie. Were all there too. These four were my only friends. The only ones I need. I don't want to have many friends. It's too complicated. With the drama. With everything. Even if I'm a loser, it's honestly pretty chill, besides the bullying of course.

Adam was my second-best friend. He had blonde hair and was in football with Mark. But Adam was different. I could tell when we first met. I had low hopes for him at first, but I realized that he was nice.

We were perfect. Our friendship was perfect.

After lunch had ended, I was walking with Melissa.

"And then she tried to act as the victim. Even after all of the shit she pulled at the party!" Melissa ranted about a party she went to a week ago.

"No fucking way?! You need to take me to a party one day..." I say, chuckling a bit.

"There's one this Saturday... I'll pick you up at seven in the afternoon," Melissa said while looking at me excitedly.

"O-oh, no. I was just joking. I don't want to." I look at her, chuckling nervously.

"Too late, you're going." Melissa shrugs and smirks.

"Oh god." I exhale.