Promises, Change & Daisy Rings

(7) When the Tides Have Turned

Showing Reese around school was probably the most fun I had ever had in years. It was supposed to be a simple tour-go to our classes and on the way to and from point out different attractions- but everything changed when we spotted Calissa and her not so happy gang. Reese suggested we make the tour into a game: point out all the spots while running away from the devil. And that is exactly what we did. Up and down flights of stairs we went, through the jam packed hallways and to our classrooms. But almost every hallway we went through there was a "Calissa sighting", which prompted a very sudden detour. Although we ended being late for our next three classes, it was thrilling to be doing something so out of the box with Reese. It was like we knew something the rest of the world didn't, and we both shared a common goal, and enemy.

After Calculus, we made our way to the cafeteria to finally eat. Although the food here absolutely sucks, all that running around and touring made Reese and I extremely hungry. Sensing the embarrassment that would come with arriving at lunch the same time the rest of the senior class did,  I made sure Reese and I were not only the first ones to order our meals, but also to grab a seat under the trees and away from Calissa and her group. Taking advantage of the serenity, I made it my secret mission to get to know Reese a little better, starting with his crazy game to get away from a girl he didn't even know.

"So tell me Reese, why did you invent that game to run from Calissa? Don't get me wrong, it was fun, but I'm confused why you did it?" I took a tentative bite into my ham and cheese croissant sandwich.

Reese looked up from his taco (our cafeteria serves eccentric varieties) and smiled faintly. "I knew from the moment I saw that girl that she was bad news. Back in my old school, there were so many girls like her, desperate for the attention and the 'hot guy'. And because according to them I'm hot, there was never a day where I wasn't approached by someone. So I've sort of built a radar that lets me know when a girl like that is approaching me, if that makes any sense." He took another bite of his taco. "And what about you? Most people would question the game before it started, but you went along with it willingly. What did she do to a pretty girl like you?"

Placing my sandwich back on the plate, I took a huge breath and began to retell my unfortunate story. As I lumbered through the past, my mind couldn't stop buzzing, and it took almost all my will power to keep myself from blushing. He called me pretty. No one calls me pretty. Stevie doesn't even call me pretty (then again I told him not to) but still, not even my best friend calls me pretty!  By the end of my tale both of our lunches laid half- eaten, the lunch room was packed with seniors, and a cheery Reese was deathly quiet. His bangs covered his eyes, and as much as I tried to lighten the mood, it seemed to make matters worse. Finally, after what felt like forever, Reese looked up at me, his eyes cold and hard.

"So you went through almost all of your teenage life bullied because Calissa couldn't take the hint that Stevie didn't want her, and that you weren't her enemy? "

"Yeah, pretty much, but it's fine now because Stevie and I made a deal that I would change to prevent anymore of the bullying. So far its working. "

"An, (OMG HE GAVE ME A NICKNAME) If Stevie's your best friend, why didn't he do something about it before? Where is he now?"

I gave Reese a sympathetically grateful look and jerked my thumb to the table of the populars, where (who would've guessed?!) Stevie, Calissa, Holden and the rest of their group sat, laughing obnoxiously at each other.  Reese's eyes followed the direction of my thumb, and glared heavily at the group.

"This is why I hate posses." he muttered.

"Same, but there's nothing we could do about it except remain unimportant in their lives." I solemnly stated. I picked up my sandwich and was about to take another bite when Reese started laughing. And not little light chuckles. No, I mean full out bellows of air! He was laughing so hard nearby tables (which honestly weren't even that close) began to take notice. I peeked over my shoulder and realized that almost the entire cafeteria was looking at what the hell was making those sounds (which was Reese, in case you've forgotten) and my eyes caught the glare/smirk/worried expression of three people I wish would forget about me already. Holden whispered something in Calissa's ear, and slowly she began to rise out of her seat and saunter over to our table. Stevie tried to stop her and failed miserably- everyone knows that when Calissa starts sauntering, she's on a mission. Reese still hadn't sobered up from his ridiculous laughing spasm, so I had no choice but to use my womanly charms to sedate him.

I kicked him in the balls.

With my amazing accuracy he immediately clamped one hand over his mouth and the other firmly over his now bruised privates.

"I'm sorry, I know we've just met and we aren't in the 'best buddies' category yet but the wicked witch of the west is coming thanks to you so I had to do that."

Still clutching his pants, Reese groaned, "I know."

"SO WHY WOULD YOU DO THAT?!?!?"

"Just watch, my new and highly dangerous friend." (yay we're friends!)

With her ridiculous heels clicking away, Calissa finally made it our table. It must of been hard for her to get here in those shoes. The floors were just cleaned, after all.

"Hey handsome," Skank- I mean Calissa- purred (yes, she purred. It was weird).

Reese looked her up and down, smirked, and continued eating his lunch. My anxiety from Calissa's approach made me eat all my food, so I did nothing but stare down at my twiddling thumbs. Calissa must of taken that as a positive sign, so she continued talking.

"You seem like a really cool dude with a very positive future. And they do say successful people should stick together. So why don't you come sit with us? You could bring your helper with you, too, though I doubt you'll be needing it while you're with us."

I put my head down further. Reese pursed his lips. "Nah, I'm good. I'd rather hang with my friend than be bored to death by popular kids' bullshit."

I snapped my head up and looked hard at Reese. Was he nuts?!? After I told him how my popularity and life was killed by this girl, he goes and acts all macho!!?? I looked up at Calissa to see a deep frown on her face. Sensing my stare, she angrily sneered at me, straightened and clicked her way back to her table. Calissa exchanged a few curt words with the rest of her table mates, and sure enough the entire squad did nothing but stare at us.

Finally finished with his lunch, Reese stood up. "Okay, I'm done with this."

"Your lunch?"

He chuckled, "Yes, my lunch. But also with this place. The atmosphere here sucks, and all these people staring is really creepy." Picking up his tray and mine (what a gentleman), Reese threw out our trash and walked back to the table.

"Ready to go?" He extended his hand out to me.

"But we have like ten minutes left..." I mumbled.

Nonetheless, he gently took my hand and forced me out of my seat. Wrapping his arm around my waist, he smirked.

"Another adventure awaits, An."

And with those four words we left the awkwardness of the lunchroom, and continued on our journey of making memories. The rest of the day blurred by with ease, and all the anxiety of the first day of school vanished. My day with Reese the new kid felt like the times I had with Stevie. I didn't feel like a freak, nor did I feel alone and trapped in West Miller's hallways. I finally felt free to be myself!

When the last bell went off, I pushed my way back to my locker. Much to my surprise, Stevie was already there, leaning on the door next to mine. I skipped the rest of the way to my locker, and when I was in reach, I wrapped my arms around my best friend's torso.

"Whoa! Hey Lise, you look happy. I thought you were going to have a hard time today."

I frowned at his last comment, but let it slide. "Stevie, you were 100% right! Today was a game changer! Not only did I have fun, but I finally made a friend!"

Stevie grinned," See? I told you that you could change." He shifted his back pack's position. "Ready to go?"

Slamming my locker shut, I turned to my best friend and with a nod of my head, we walked away from my locker, our rings faintly catching the light . As usual, there were a few whispers and some dirty looks sent our way, but I refused to let it bother me. Walking down the hall, we passed by Reese's locker. He was nowhere to be found. Shrugging, I continued my way out the school.

I never expected the day to go this way, but I can honestly say I'm glad it did. Although Stevie was nowhere in sight during my struggles of change, his deal has given me a new perspective on living the way I should. And with a new friend like Reese, I'm sure that nothing could get in my way. Change is pretty good, after all. Well, maybe.