Caribbean Blue

Chapter 5

The next day I didn’t see Dad in the morning and Junior and I got another ride from Jefferson. We got through our morning classes and I met up with Free and Junior at lunch.  We are now walking outside to our lunch spot, the tree. “What did you think of Mrs. Kelmore’s lecture today in English?” Free asked Junior.  “I didn’t find it very interesting, she kind of went off track of what were mainly learning about don’t you think?” Junior asked. “Yeah definitely” Free agreed. I felt a connection between Junior and Free I think Free as a crush on him. I move out of the middle so Free can walk beside Junior. “So Free I saw Ryder yesterday night” I told her. “What really! What happened? Tell me everything” Free insisted. “Well I was out surfing and we bumped into each other. And he asked if he could teach me some tips on surfing” I went over what happened out on the water. Free clapped in excitement. Junior laughed. We were almost at our tree when Ryder walked by us. “Hey Carrie” he said waving hello. “Hey Ryder” I said quietly. We both smiled. Once he was far out and he wasn’t able to hear us Free went “Oh my gosh did Ryder just say Hi to you in front of them?” she looked over at the people sitting at the  Popular tables. “Yeah” I said smiling. “Oh you go girl” Free said. Junior and I laughed. We sat down beside the tree and I made sure Free was still in the middle so she’s beside Junior. “So what’s the deal with Ryder is he dating Christina?” I asked Free, biting into a sandwich after. “Ryder and Christina that would be funny too see” Free said. I looked at Free confused. “Well they used to date. But Ryder broke up with her because well she’s Christina. Ryder’s totally over Christina but she is definitely not over Ryder” Free continued her answer. “So is that why she is the Queen of Mean and didn’t want me talking to Ryder” I asked. “Yup she still thinks Ryder still has a thing for her” Free said. “Check this out” Junior said. We watched as Christina tries to come on to Ryder and Ryder turning her down. “Oooo” we all said. We all started to laugh. “I know why Ryder turned her down” Free said. “And why is that?” I asked. “Because he likes you!” Free exclaimed. “You don’t know that” I said not believing someone like him could have a crush on someone like me. “But you never know until you ask” Junior said. “Ain’t that right?” I said to Junior motioning towards Free. We had another telepathic moment. “What?” Junior asked. “You know what” we talked in our minds. Thankfully Free didn’t notice. She was focused on what was going on between Christina Sunrise and Ryder Bloomwood. “Christina can get away with so much since her Mom is the principal” Free said. “Like what?” Junior asked. “Making people feel less then who they are, drinking on campus, though she denied drinking with her friends but from a mile away you could smell her beer scented perfume. Stuff like that” Free explained. “That’s not fair everyone should be equally punished” I said. “I know” Free agreed. “Well guys I gotta jet I’m meeting some friends before class. Junior do you want to come? We can walk to History together” Free asked. Junior looked at me. “Yeah sure go ahead I got to stop by the music room anyways before class” I said encouraging him. “Okay let’s go” Junior said to Free. They got up and started to walk  but the two guys from the car came their way. I was still by the tree so I can hear their whole conversation. They came up to Free and Junior blocking their way. The blond guy said “Hey look if it isn’t that new dork from English and his new girlfriend”. The other friend laughed. “She’s not my girlfriend” Junior argued back.  he Tyler Twins started to laugh "Did the dork just say something" “Leave him alone” Free said. “Did you hear that?” the blond guy asked his friend. “No hear what?” the friend said looking around acting like they  weren’t standing in front of them. The blonde guy turned to face Junior.  “Nobody is allowed to correct me. Got it” he ordered. Junior nods. “I said Got it?!” his voice got louder. “Yup yeah I got it” Junior said, voice cracking in the process. “Tell your girlfriend to stop protecting you, now beat it” the blond guy said. He hit Juniors books out of Junior’s hand and they fell on the ground. The two boys walked away proudly to have bullied the next victim. Free kneeled down to help Junior pick up his books. She put her hand on his shoulder to comfort him but he brushed it off. I ran up to them. They stood up when they saw me coming. “Junior, Free are you guys okay, who were those guys?” I asked. “The Tyler Twins. Cosby and James Tyler, the head bullies of the guys. Whereas Christina and her gang are the head bullies of the girls. Except Christina and her gang are popular and the Tyler Twins well aren’t.” Free explained. “Well are you sure you guys are okay?” I asked. “I’m fine” Free said. Junior didn’t say anything. “Junior are you okay?” I wondered.  I’m fine” Junior said but it sounded unconvincing. “Are you sure?” I asked. “Yes” he said. He then started walking away. "What did Cosby mean by 'No one corrects me'" I asked. Free just shrugs.  She then  looked at me and asked if it was okay if she goes. I nodded and she ran to catch up with Junior. I really hope he is okay I thought in my mind. I then walked to the music room. I only had a few minutes to drop off my guitar that I’ve been lugging around.

          ***

    I walked into the music room. There was only one person else in the room. “Hey” I said walking towards her. “Hey “May said smiling. “How are you doing?” I asked. “Pretty good” she said. “You play?” she asked looking at my guitar. “Not a master but I play some songs here and there how about you?” I asked looking at her guitar as well. “For a few years now” she said.  I sat my guitar down while humming a song that’s been in my head for days. “Do you sing?” May asked. “Huh, oh not really just around the house sometimes” I said. “Well you would have to sing for me sometime” she said. “And you will have to play guitar for me sometime too” I said.  I haven’t made much friends here yet only Free, Miles and Ryder so it’s nice talking to someone new. I then saw her name tag and it read “May Bloomwood”.  “Bloomwood” I said looking at her name tag that was on her guitar case. She looked up at me she was tuning her guitar. “Yeah Ryder Bloomwood is my brother” she said. I nearly choked there. Everything so far has connected to Ryder besides the aquarium and my dad’s new girlfriend. “He’s very nice” I said complimenting him.   

     ***

 During class I had to stop by Mrs. James office to give her a note from my teacher Mrs.Wheeler. Walking back from her office I passed by Junior’s class. The two bullies were in that class as well. The blond guy James kept punching him in the back.  They were saying something to him in a whisper so I couldn’t hear what was said but I can tell it was bothering Junior. Then right after really loudly Junior said “Cut it out!”  Everyone in the class looked at him. “Mr. Blue is there a problem?” James and Cosby looked at him. “No mam not at all sorry” he gulped.  I got out my phone and texted Junior “Ask to go to the bathroom”. I saw him secretly look at his phone, he seemed confused. “What?” he texted back. “Look outside your classroom” I replied. Junior looked up and saw me standing near the door. Junior raised his hand. “Miss Valentine may I have a hall pass I have to go to the washroom” he asked. She turned away from the chalk board facing the class. “You may” she said. Junior got up and walked to her desk to pick up a hall pass. All eyes on him Junior quickly walked out of the classroom. We didn’t start talking until we weren’t seen by anybody from Junior’s class. Once the coast was clear we started walking side by side. “So what’s this about?” Junior asked. “What’s this about, what was that about?” I said referring back to the Twin’s incident in class. “Huh?” Junior said confused. “What happened in class? I saw all of it well I didn’t hear all of it only the part when you yelled” I said. Junior went quiet and said “It was nothing, I just had a moment that’s all” “That’s all? You can’t be serious there’s defiantly more to the story. What did James and Cosby say to you?” I asked. “Nothing!” Junior said frustrated.  “Junior” I said in my calm voice. Junior looked at me and took a deep breath. “Fine they said that I don’t belong here at this school and they were going to do something about it” Junior said finally answering my question. I was starting to get worried about him. Junior is my younger brother and I should be standing up for him or helping him with these situations. “What are they going to do?” I wondered. “I don’t know” Junior said. There was silence for a moment. The I said “Well if you need any help with anything I’m here you know” I said. “No thanks I’ll be fine well I should get back to class before Miss Valentine thinks I got the runs or something” Junior laughed at the last part. “Okay I should get back too”. Junior started to walk away but turned around and asked “Wait, how come you are out of class?” “I went to give a note to Mrs. James from my teacher” I replied. “Teacher’s Pet” Junior said walking away laughing. I smiled and laughed. “See ya after school don’t forget Cruella is coming over for dinner tonight” I yelled back. “She better not bring her 101 Dalmatians” Junior laughed as we walked back to our classes.