X-Kid

Chasing Cars

Friday morning as I sat at the kitchen table, I played a game on my phone, waiting for my mom to emerge from her bedroom. She stumbled out sleepily and I sighed, locking my phone and setting it on the table.

“Mom,” I said cautiously. “Could I have some friends over after school?”

“What friends?” She asked. I winced at her comment.

“Luna and then my new friends, Jack, Alex, Rian, and Zack. I figured you’d want to meet them and all that,” I replied.

“I guess that’s fine. I’ll pick you all up after school in my car,” she said.

I sighed again. “Okay, that’s fine.”

My grandpa took me to school again, and I discussed the plan with him so he would be in the loop. Luckily, he was fine with it too. The only flaw in my plan was that my mother would pick us up, but I figured I would take what I could get. I pushed my way through the doors to find my 5 friends sitting against the whitewashed walls, talking cheerily.

“Hey guys,” I greeted. “I got permission to have you all over after school. My mom will have to pick us up, but it should still be fun.”

“Ew,” Luna said, scrunching up her nose. “Your mom scares me.”

I let my backpack slip off my shoulder and fall to the floor with a thud, sitting down next to Jack. “Yeah, me too.”

“Well, we’re up for it. It will be nice to get a glimpse of your life for once,” Zack mentioned with a grin.

“Yeah, because I’m just that interesting,” I joked. “Though, I think you’ll all like it there. Maybe we could even make it our Friday tradition.”

“And then Saturdays, you could help me study for our Biology tests,” Jack said, a hopeful smile on his face.

I giggled at him. “Jack, it’s just a weekly vocabulary quiz, and it’s multiple choice. I don’t think there’s a need to study.”

He pouted. “Yeah, for you because you’re smart. I’m not.”

I sighed. “Okay, I’ll help you. I can’t this Saturday because I have to help babysit my nephews and my niece, but maybe you could stay a little later this afternoon?”

He grinned widely. “Perfect. I’m going to call my mom really quick and tell her the plan.” He hopped off of the ground and went around the corner, taking out his cellphone.

Luna smirked at me. “You like him.”

I rolled my eyes. “Luna, he’s my friend. I’m just trying to help him out. Besides, I don’t think I’m exactly over Drake.”

“Come on, Nora,” she said. “It’s been 2 months.”

“Yeah, and we were together for almost a year. It may have been a shitty relationship, but that doesn’t change the fact that I loved him. I need some time to recuperate before I can date again,” I explained.

“Fine,” she sighed, before she paused. “I’m only bugging you so much because I want you to be happy. You know that, right?”

I nodded. “I appreciate you looking out for me, but I’m okay. I promise.”

Jack returned and plopped down next to me. “She’s cool with it. Though she says next time, we should study at my house so she can meet you.”

I was kinda surprised. Why would his mom want to meet me? “Sure, that’s fine.”

“By the way,” he grinned. “Nice necklace.”

I felt myself blush a little. “Thanks.”

Everyone buzzed excitedly about coming over to my house, but I didn’t really understand why. After all, I prefered school to being at my house all of the time. I tried not to think too much about it, even as my classes progressed quickly throughout the day. It wasn’t until I placed my stuff down in the desk beside Rian’s in French that time seemed to slow a little.