ODDS OF LOVE - SEASON THIRTEEN

Episode 80

" A.J. Norris is annoying," Sol grumbled as he waited for the Barrington Academy school bus on the corner of their block with Theodore who was busy texting with not only Alan in the hospital but also Alan's mother who was asking him to play Amazing Grace at Alan's father's funeral and Luci.

Luci was checking her reflection in her open compact and applying bright green lipstick to her full pouty looking mouth as she was running lines for Romeo and Juliet in her mind. She paused the lipstick and cut her dark brown eyes at her boyfriend. " They are not. They're very smart. And nice. Like Alan. "

Sol rolled his eyes. " No , they ain't. Alan may be smart but he don't act like it all the time, gal. Alan ain't arrogant about it. And he helps people. He don't look down on you if you dumb. This Norris kid is rude as all hell. They think they better than other people. "

Like him, Sol thought as he remembered the almost condescending look in the short skinny boy's brown eyes as he met them all Monday at school. Like they were laughing at him. But they hadn't treated anyone else like that. Especially Luci. Nah. Norris looked at Luci another way. Like she was an ice cream cone he wanted to lick on. Nah. No way was this kid anything like poor old Alan who Sol actually was starting to miss. The school seemed different without Barrington's Sweetheart and his pure friendly gentleness.

Luci sighed deeply. " I wish you would give them a chance, Sol. They're new. I know what it's like being the new kid in a place nobody knows you. "

Sol pursed his lips at her. " I don't see you giving Willow Malden a chance. She's new too. "

Luci rolled her eyes as Theodore kept texting and ignoring both of them. " That's because Willow Malden really is arrogant. Always talking about her famous uncle whose really nice and I like him but damn. And about how much nicer New York was. And about her scientist Daddy whose working on a cure for cancer. She thinks she's so great but her own uncle didn't give her Juliet." She laughed. " He gave it to me. By the way we have rehearsal after school today. Don't forget , boo. "

" I won't but I'm serious. If you want me to give them a chance try giving her one, Luce. She's not that bad. She can be nice sometimes. And funny. "

" Are you going to become Franco's bestie too , Sol Klein? He's just as new. Him and those creepy brothers of his. Especially now. With their mom and all."

They both fell into silence. After the accident and Dodie Angeletti's arrest most if not all the middle and high school had turned against the triplets. After all Alan and his brother Jeff had been super popular in school. Everyone loved them both. The kids were pissed that Dodie not only killed their friends' father but also put Alan in a wheelchair. Maybe for his whole life. Like Spencer. Nobody in the school talked to the triplets anymore. Not even Zora Mayfield or Willow. Well except for occasionally taunts of " your mom's going to die in jail " in the hallway or library.

Theodore finally spoke. His voice was tinged with much bitter anger as he said," Fuck Franco and his brothers. They're worse than Willow or the new kid. I wish they would go back to Pennsylvania. "