A Little Bit Of Everything (EARLIER CALLED YOUNG, WILD AND FREE)

5. //There's a party. //

From "Wild Geese" by Mary Oliver:

"You do not have to be good.
You do not have to walk on your knees
For a hundred miles through the desert, repenting.
You only have to let the soft animal of your body
love what it loves."

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Today was the day, that Tiana would be joining school, and I was bursting with excitement.
It was the perfect day for her to start.
We reached school early, and met Sarah at the doors.

It turns out that Tiana played basketball in her last school too, and she was great. I decided to watch her game and let coach know abut how she played.

So, all three of us jogged towards the court and started shooting hoops. After about fifteen minutes, we stopped for a break and sat down on the court.

Sarah said,''Guys, I need to tell you something, I'm kinda dating Leo. ''

Tiana spit out her water and it landed on my jeans.

''Ewww! Gross Tiana. Keep your spit to yourself. Don't share! Sarah, why are you telling me this as if you're telling me about what you had for dinner yesterday?! I want all the details. How, what, when where?! ''

''Jeez! Calm down guys! Last night, he took me out on a date , and told me that he found me cute. We kissed afterwards, but it isn't official yet...,'' she ended.

Tiana and I made kissing noises in her ear, and she blushed.

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We walked to class, and we were stopped by Alex and his gang. I quickly pecked Alex on his cheek and hugged him.

''Gab! I haven't seen you all weekend'', he whined, and slid his hand around my waist.

''I'm sorry baby, I was really busy, how about, we go out today, anywhere you like , and we can catch up ?''

''Done! '' he said, his face brightening up instantly.

'' I'll see you at lunch then babe, don't miss me too much. '' I said with a wink.

'' I'll try'', he said and kissed me, ready to leave.

I walked towards Sarah who was making googly eyes in Tiana's direction.

I looked to see what was happening. Tiana was talking to a guy from Alex's group, Blake. He was kinda cute, with a long, lanky body, and ruffled brown hair, and green eyes. He had an arm slung around her and was looking straight into her eyes as she spoke to him.

It was evident that he liked her. But how was that possible, they met just today right, or was I missing something there? Tiana walked towards us with Blake and said, ''This is amazing, Blakey and I were best friends in Australia, but he moved here because his father changed jobs. It's awesome that we ran into each other like this! We should hang out sometime.''

Blake grinned and said, ''How about I pick you up tomorrow after school and we go out for some coffee? '' Tiana smiled at him and nodded.

She turned towards us, and we started walking to class again, Sarah and I smirking and teasing Tiana.

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It was lunch, and I was starving, I really hoped that they would have something edible today.
I entered the cafeteria and went to the lunch line . Thankfully, they had pizza.

I picked up a slice and walked towards Alex's table, where we - Sarah , I and now Tiana-usually sat, along with a few other people.
I sat down next to Alex and noticed Sarah sitting with Leo and Tiana sitting with Blake. They looked so cute.

The cafeteria doors banged open, and in came Valerie Moss, the school's drama queen.
She walked towards our table, and sat down on the other side of Alex, giving him a seductive smile.
I needed another slice of pizza , so I signed Sarah to keep an eye on her, and got up.

Valerie gave me a little wave , I walked away, ignoring her.
I was just getting my pizza , when my phone buzzed. It was Sarah.
Her text said, " Come quick, Valerie about to create trouble. "

This wasn't the first time she was doing this, and it certainly wouldn't be the last. I walked towards the table, furiously. This was not the first time that Valerie was trying something on Alex. This was it. This was the last straw.

I walked up to the table and saw Valerie practically on top of Alex and he was trying to push her off in the politest way possible.

She suddenly kissed him right in front of everyone, the whole cafeteria got silent, staring at me, then Valerie, then at Alex.

I walked to Valerie and tapped her shoulder. She looked up and when she realised that it was me , she smirked, got up and was about to leave, but I stopped her.
''What just happened Valerie? Care to explain? ''

''Actually, yes. I just couldn't help it you know... Your boyfriend is so hot, he's irresistible. ''

SLAP!!!

The sound of me hitting her ricocheted all around the cafeteria , I was surprised myself, and just stared at my hand for a moment, then smiled smugly.

That donkey deserved it. She gave me a murderous look. '' You! How dare you touch me. I'll...''

''Look here Val, this was the last straw. One more time I see you messing around with me or Alex again, I will personally hunt you down and rip each of your blonde extensions off your hair. You will be bald and I mean it. Keep away. Or you'll be sorry.'' I walked to my chair and sat down.

Seconds later Alex and his friends started whooping and clapping.

Valerie looked around and said '' You'll pay, you won't get away with this Gabriel Lautner. '' She flipped her hair and strutted away.

Sarah said, ''That was awesome Gab! I want to hit her too! ''

I laughed and said, ''Don't worry, something tells me that she will do this again. You'll get your chance soon. ''

Alex came and swept me off my feet and twirled me around.
I guess he was just so surprised and awed that I actually stood up for him, for us.

I laughed in his arms and hugged him.

''Babe, there's a party at Aaron's place tonight, wanna go ?'' Alex asked me.
''Sure,'' I said.

And that , my friends, turned my world completely upside down.
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