a dance with cancer

twelve

Asher Mendez

"Are y'all going to the homecoming after-party?" Sawyer asks Knox and I at lunch.

Knox dips a chip in his guacamole. "I think so, but the problem is Layla's parents are kinda uncomfortable with her being there."

Sawyer shakes his head. "Her parents are worried about us being weirdos, but someone in Katelyn's grade pulled out a knife on a teacher?"

"Slaton's pretty insane." Knox says nonchalantly.

"Ditto." I chime in despite my little knowledge about people who go there. "Sawyer, thank your mom for the Chipotle." Alison took time out of her busy schedule to bring us lunch, a thoughtful gesture no one saw coming.

"Yeah." Knox's burrito bowl has been demolished. "I haven't had it in forever, man."

"Of course. I'll pass the message along." Sawyer says, knowing he doesn't give his mom the time of day. Turning to me, he changes the subject back to our homecoming plans. "What about you?"

I nod. "Hopefully there isn't another fight. Do you know the theme?"

Sawyer shrugs. "Blackout or something. That's not hard for you, Mendez. You own a lot of black shit."

The conversation shifts to something completely different. Knox has to hold back his laughter when Sawyer proudly announces his seventy on the latest physics test.

"It's better than last time, I guess," is all he has to say.

In history, I'm minding my business like I always do. History is the one class I don't have with my closest friends, but I don't dislike my classmates. The problem is Cecelia and a few members of her posse are in that class with me and their squabbling makes focusing on my work an uphill battle.

I'm settling into my seat when a girl I recognize from that friend group takes the seat next to me. Since I don't know anyone in this class that well, I can't use the "this seat's taken" excuse on her. I accept my fate and decide not to give her the time of day, but she has other plans.

"Hey, Asher!" She squeals, earning side eyes from everyone around us.

I give her a respectful nod in response so she takes the hint. "What's up?"

"Not much." She twirls a strand of long black hair around her finger. "Cecelia didn't do you justice. You're like, super hot."

"I appreciate it." I say, keeping my tone neutral. Part of me is worried about how the ringleader of the group will react to this sight.

Cecelia walks in with Annabelle Farmer, one of my family friends. Annabelle's sense of humor and easygoing personality make it hard not to like her. However, Annabelle treads a tightrope, doing her best to maintain a decent relationship with Cecelia without getting sucked into drama with her.

When she sees that the seat next to me occupied by one of her slaves, she clutches her chest like she's about to have a heart attack. "What the hell do we have here?"

"Chill, Ceci. It's not that serious." Annabelle makes eye contact with me and smiles. When Cecelia catches her, she shoots her a death glare. In my opinion, Annabelle deserves a Nobel Peace Prize for putting up with a drama magnet like Cecelia.

They sit in the desks behind me and Cecelia makes a snarky comment about how horrible her friends are for quote unquote "stealing her man".

"Asher!" Cecelia yells loud enough for everyone around us to hear. Glaring at the girl next to me, she lowers her voice and snarls, "I see you and Willow are getting close."