Zella {Wattys2015}

The New Guy

I sit at the table with my family. The first day of school is always the most terrible, I remind myself as I finish eating my low fat plain yogurt.

"Who's picking you up?"

Ugh, my dad is so annoying. I have my drivers license, and he has more than enough money to get me the car I want, but after an...incident last year involving a few nudes, he decided that I'm not responsible enough to drive myself places or to even own a car. My parents took the news of my nudes pretty well, and I know it isn't great to bite the hand that feeds me, but I take every chance I have to remind them that I still need a car.

"Piper. But she wouldn't have to pick me up if I had a jeep, now would she?"

My fathers face falls immediately and my mother shoots him a look. It isn't fair of me to bring up the situation at the breakfast table, I know. I hear them arguing late at night about small things all the time, such as who was supposed to wash the dishes that didn't, or who was supposed to pick up Lee but didn't. My mom agrees with me over the whole car thing, and its just one more thing for them to argue about.

From Piper:
I'm here, hurry up and come outside

My mom turns to him looking pissed right as I get up and give both of them kisses on their cheek.

I'm out of here.

.................................................................

Over the summer I forgot how much I hate school.

I just remembered.

There's a new kid. He's hanging around with Jake, who seems to have given up on the idea of ever getting me back. But I know its only a matter of time before he texts me again, asking if I can hook up with him. The thought of that makes me feel better, makes me feel like he needs me. I like that feeling.

Right now I'm at lunch. As usual, I've got lunch with the girls...and others.

"Earth to Zella," Piper says in a sing songy voice. Jesus I forgot how annoying she can be. I mean that in the most loving way possible though.

"What do yo-"

I'm cut off by something wet with a nasty texture landing on my neck, and a burst of laughter from behind me. I immediately know its come from Jakes table. It seems as if he's forgotten the number one rule of highschool-dont fuck with Zella Sterling. I think it's time for me to jog his memory.

Smirking, I wipe the back of my neck off with a napkin and stand up at the exact same time as Olivia. Without turning around I can sense Piper and Uma standing up as well, and the other people at our table looking at us.

The key to maintaining my status however, is not paying attention to the little people. So I take a second to find my footing, then I tilt my chin up, focusing on a spot on the wall slightly over Jakes head, and keep my eyes there, not looking at anybody else for a second.

I'm doing the Zella walk. Nobody else can figure our exactly how to do it, and that's what makes it so great. It's my speciality.

Olivia, Piper, Uma, and I ambush Jake's table, claiming spots surrounding him. With one flick of our wrists there are vacated seats.

Guys I've known for years hop up immediately, giving Piper, Uma, and Liv seats. But there's one guy, the new guy, who simply smirks at me. It's important I have his seat, as he's sitting the closest to Jake, however it's obvious he won't be getting up. I feel the whole cafeterias eyes on us, everybody quick to gawk at another show of, "What's going on with the populars today". Not wanting to look like a fool, I make a split second decision and simply sit on his lap.

I'm not too sure exactly what I expected him to do, but his reaction still surprises me.

"Hey," He says softly and wraps one of his arms around me casually before offering me a French fry from his tray. Across the table from me Liv raises an eyebrow.

"Hi," I say as I take the fry offered to me and turn to face Jake, who looks more than a little pissed.

"What are you doing over here Zel?"

I scoff, readjusting myself in the guys lap.

"I came over here to tell you to cut the bull, if whatever you just threw at me landed on my shirt I swear to god I would sue you. I mean, honestly act your age for once. Jesus." I take my clothes very very seriously. He's known me since seventh grade, he should know that by now. In fact, I just take my appearance in general seriously.

"As if you aren't being childish? Sitting in Olivers lap like that trying to make me jealous?"

I turn for a second to look at the new kid.

"Oliver huh?"

A nod.

"You don't look like an Oliver."

"You don't look like a Zel."

"The names Zella."

A shrug.

He does everything so casually. I can already tell he's laid back. Like Oliver. Unlike Oliver however, he's actually attractive. Gorgeous skin that's a color a shade darker than tan-or so I think. It's a color I'm too scared to describe, fearing that I can't find the words to bring it justice. Short black hair. Great brown eyes. A welcome change from the icy blue and green eyes I'm use to seeing. Nice hairline...well finding a guy with a hairline in general in this place is a blessing. He has everything Jake doesn't. He is everything Jake isn't.

Oliver is hot.

I don't realize that I'm still looking at him until he speaks.

"Zella is a nice name."

"So is Oliver."

He nods and goes back to eating, reaching around me to get another fry. I'm tempted to ask if he's always this laid back, but, sensing Jakes glare, I resist and turn back to Jake remembering why I'm here.

"We aren't dating anymore-in fact I don't remember us ever dating, Mr. "I don't do commitment"," Ok, that was low. But I'm tired of his shit. I can tell already that he thinks my coming over here is going to end with us getting back together. As usual, he's wrong.

Oliver tenses beneath me, and it occurs to me that during my little tirade I was moving around a lot.
It also occurs to me that maybe he isn't cool with a random girl plopping herself in his lap. With that in mind, I decide to cut the argument with Jake short.

"Look, we don't need to argue about this. Just stop throwing things at me and we'll be cool," With that the girls and I get up and walk back to our table, leaving everybody at Jake's table staring at us.

Including the new guy.