"Langston, I have grilled cheese. Do you want to switch me?" Day asked as he held up the foil-wrapped sandwich.
Langston wiped his mouth with his fingers as he nodded, looked over his tray, and picked what to trade with his friend. "You don't have to switch me. I know how much you like it." He smiled at his friend.
Julian watched the whole interaction, deciding to eat his food quietly because he didn't like what he heard, but he was happy to know what the boy wanted.
"Where is D at?" "Ion know."
A new boy is sitting there quietly eating. He shook his sunny D juice before opening it, waiting for an answer. He raised his eyebrows, acknowledging the answer because he didn't know where "D" could be. He said as much, "He never misses lunch."
The new boy that was brought to the table some minutes ago is the one who spoke next, having finished his sandwich and not having a drink to go along with it,
"Is that him?" He nodded over their shoulder to the boy, who looked like he was approaching their table. With one glance, Langston said, "Yes, that's him." He grew excited because the boy coming closer was his best friend. The two were in the same grade and most of the same classes, and he knew him longer than any of the others in their group.
He nodded towards the group as he took his rightful place, making the group complete. "Day Day, Dashawn officially." He extended his hand to the new boy he noticed as he neared the table a few seconds earlier: "Julian officially Alexander locally." The two shook hands as Day Day got up to get some food before the good stuff was gone or ran out.
He returned with an extra pile of food, "I ain't know what you eat or don't, so I got you a bunch of everything." He explained that he had placed food onto Julian's plate.
Julian raised his hand, stopping Day Day from placing more on his tray. "Nah, Day, I already have, but thank you." Day Day smiled, liking him already. " Humor me." He placed a few more items in front of him before he turned, faced his food, and began eating.
As the trio ate, a fourth boy joined them. However, he was only noticed by the new addition to the table as he slid into the space near him. Julian saw him without missing a beat, and he passed some hotter food on his tray toward the unknown male, nudging him before bumping fists with him and continuing to eat his food.
A few moments later, he was finished eating and sitting and sipping the rest of his drink. He unshamelessly watched the boy next to him, thinking this must be the "D" dude they had been waiting on earlier. He thought they all looked so cool, and he especially liked how they included him.
A light bell sounded, and just like that, people at other tables began moving and heading to the various doors and out of the lunchroom. He handed his tray to Day, who was collecting everybody's and taking them to the trash. "David, what's yours?" the boy asked as he introduced himself. Julian perked up, offering his hand. Julian, nice to meet you. I just started today." He watched as he nodded.
When Day Day returned, the boys stood up and headed to the nearest door. Julian didn't speak up as they walked, just along with them. Julian followed them, particularly Langston because that's who he knew the most. He joined him in his classroom, sitting next to him and laying his bag on the table in front of him. He pulled his items out of his bag, clicking his pen from his new set of pens before writing his name and the date at the top of the page.
"Hey, Julian." Surprised to hear his name, he glanced in the direction of the call, seeing David pulling the chair from the seat in front of him before sitting down. He waited for him to sit before responding, "Hey, David, long time no see." The two giggled at the obvious joke. This caught Langston's attention, "Julian, this your class?" He leaned forward, looking into his face. He shrugged. David saw the small paper he knew to be issued by the front office, pulling it from the notebook Julian had written in.
David scanned the paper, remembered the classroom number and class name, and then scanned the paper again. He nodded before handing the paper back to the owner, "He is. The rest after are different than ours, at least from mine." David explained as he pointed at the paper in the boy's hand. Julian nodded as he looked over his schedule, trying to memorize the rest of his afternoon classes for now. Langston took the paper, wanting to know if the two had classes together; sighing, he saw they had class at the end of the day, but it was a study hall class in the library.
He slid the paper into the notebook, tapping the boy on his arm, "We have the last class on there together. I'll pick you up from your next class." Langston informed him. As did the rest of the class, the trio quieted down when the teacher entered the room, greeted the class, and began writing on the blackboard.
