The Outlier II

SIXTEEN

The first Monday of September was the first day of senior year. And here I was, getting ready to see all the people I had graciously avoided all summer. I had been doing a great job of avoiding thoughts about Edward Cullen, but who knows how much easier it would be when I was likely to be enrolled in at least one class period with him. 

Everyone I recognised was lingering outside of Tyler's car. With a slight nerve to my steps, I waved with a quick, "hey, guys." 

Mike had changed his look over the summer. His face was less round and I was sure he was exaggerating his prominent cheekbones with a constant smoulder. His pale blond hair was not bristly anymore, but longer and gelled back into a very meticulous messiness. It wasn't difficult to see where his inspiration came from, but it certainly wasn't a one-size-fits-all. Tyler looked relatively the same, only he started filling out his clothes much better. Jessica had changed her hair, opting out of her large perm for pin-straight locks, I was positive it was Lauren's influence. Angela had changed her hair too, she sported longer layers with a lighter brown highlight. 

Angela gave me an awkward side hug and Jessica joined, smiling welcomingly. 

"We missed you this summer," Angela said.

"I know I'm sorry, between seeing family and jet lag, I was holed up," I answered with false dejection making it seem like I yearned for their company far more than I did. But just as fast as I had their attention, I also lost it.

"Check that out," Lauren said, an expression of amusement colouring her features, "looks like Cullen and Bella made it through the summer." 

Bella was in the passenger seat of Edward's silver Volvo. Alice was seated in the back and, like I often saw her doing at lunch, she seemed to be talking with such vigour and excitement. Bella hardly seemed to be paying attention, only staring out the window with her earbuds in like a sulking teenager. Even as they stepped out of the car, Bella had her arms crossed, leaning against the passenger door without a single sign of enjoyment on her face. 

I laughed looking at Jessica and Lauren, "looks like some of you guys owe me and Angela twenty bucks." 

Jessica playfully rolled her eyes, and I saw a familiar white Fiat park near us. As Ashton stepped out of their car, they strode forward and from the corner of my eye, I noticed Lauren fixing her shirt and straightening out her hair. 

"Who's in debt?" they asked. 

"Before this summer, Jess bet Bella and Edward would break up the on the first day of senior year. Lauren said she didn't think they'd last over the summer," I explained, playfully nudging Angela with my elbow, "me and Angela are just collecting our dues." 

"I bet they won't graduate together," Ashton mused. 

***

Being a senior came with two perks: a better parking spot and more free periods. That was about it. My schedule didn't really start until two hours into my day, so I spent most of that time in the library, getting ahead on Mr. Mason's coursework, who I was so grateful to have again. 

"Hey there," I heard a voice say. I turned around and saw the familiar face of Nicholas Laghari. He had gotten a teeny bit taller and a great deal tanner. 

"Hey, Nick," I smiled. 

"What classes do you have?" he asked. That was one of the things I greatly appreciated about Nick, he had no propensity for small talk, but I guess all that was new came up in conversation when we hung out before or after Mr. Mason's lectures. 

"Environmental Science with Banner, English with Mason— thank god, Calc with Varner, and Spanish with Goff." 

"What period do you have Environmental Science," he asked.