X-Kid

What A Catch, Donnie

The next morning, Luna and I sat in our typical morning spot, chatting animatedly about nothing important and waiting for the boys. It wasn’t long before Alex, Rian, and Zack wandered into the building-but they were lacking a certain lanky boy with skunk hair.

“Where’s Jack?” I questioned.

Zack shrugged. “We’re not sure. He called and said he’d be a little bit late today, and I have no idea why.”

“But wait,” Alex grinned excitedly. “We’ve still got good news!”

“Just tell us babe,” Luna sighed.

“We have a show on Friday night at the Recher. I expect you both to be there,’ he replied.

Luna and I jumped up from our places on the floor to give them congratulatory hugs. “That’s so fantastic,” I said. “I can’t wait to see you guys perform in front of an actual audience.”

“Oh come on,” Rian cut in. “You two make a great crowd!”

I laughed. “You know what I meant.”

Amongst all of our excited banter, none of us had realised that Jack had entered. he cleared his throat and we all turned to face him, surprised. “Hey guys. I’ve got some news of my own.”

He stood there rather awkwardly, and our eyes floated to the girl his arm was around. She had long black hair and chocolate brown eyes. She was short, probably only about 5’2, which made Jack tower over her. “Guys...this is Kasey.”

We all managed to shove a wave her way, but silence was all that filled the room. “Is she your girlfriend?” Zack asked.

“As of yesterday at least,” Jack replied with a slight laugh before turning back to her. “Oh, by the way, this is Nora, Luna, Alex, Zack, and Rian. They’re my best friends.”

“I’m proud of you, man. Glad you finally got the girl,” Alex said.

I was dumbfounded, and I couldn’t even speak. I didn’t even dare look at Jack and Kasey, instead focusing my vision on the floor. Why didn’t I feel happy for him? Thankfully, my phone buzzed with a text message from Emmett, asking me to meet him by his locker. “Hey guys,” I cut in. “I gotta get going. It was nice to meet you.”

I took off speed walking down the hallway without another word, wishing nothing more than to just be able to hide in a hole. When I reached Emmett’s locker, I was out of breath, which got me a curious look from him.

“Whoa there. Where’s the fire?” He questioned.

“You are my savior,” I commented, trying to catch my breath. “Now I don’t have to meet my friend Jack’s new chick.”

“Nora, you can’t avoid your friend’s girlfriend forever. That’s kind of an important person to know,” he mentioned.

I sighed. “I know, Emmett. But I’m not good with new people, you know that. I mean, how am I even supposed to be the news reporter I want to be if I can’t talk to strangers?”

“Relax,” he said, placing his hands on my shoulders. “You just need a little bit of practice is all.”

“But-” I began.

“No buts,” he cut in. “I expect you to talk to this girl at lunch and get to know her a little.  I’ll even stop by and help you out. Who knows? Maybe she’ll be awesome.”

I grinned at him. “Why are you so much smarter than me?”

“I’m not smarter. I just have some really good ideas,” he smiled back.

Emmett walked me to my first hour before we parted ways, his words never once leaving my mind. I couldn’t help but feel happy with how much belief he had in me. It made me seem more important than I actually was.

By the time lunch came around, I was dreading the social interaction I would ultimately have to face. Rian and I reached the lunch spot before everyone else surprisingly, which I was a little grateful for.

“So, you and Emmett, huh? How’s that going?” Rian asked.

I blushed. “Pretty good I guess. I mean, we aren’t dating, but I think he might be into me.”

“Nice. Not only that, but I think you helped motivate Jack to ask Kasey out,” he replied.

I cocked my head to the side, giving him a confused look. “What do you mean?”

“I think you made him jealous. I dunno if it was because you had somebody and he didn’t or what, but it seems like you were the reason he asked her,” he explained with a slight shrug.

I shuffled my feet awkwardly. “I’m glad I could help him out I guess.”

“You don’t sound so sure,” he commented.

“SURPRISE MOFO!!!” Luna exclaimed from behind, jumping onto my back. My noodle-like arms couldn’t grab her, and the two of us collapsed to the floor, Kasey and the boys laughing.

“Jesus christ,” I groaned. “Luna, I think you broke my back.”

She giggled, leaping up from the floor and extending a hand out to me. “You’re lucky I didn’t kill you.”

I took her hand and stood up, finding myself face to face with Kasey. “Hey,” I greeted.

She didn’t reply, and instead brushed past me to Jack. “That was a little harsh,” Luna mentioned.

I made a few more attempts to talk to her, but none of them worked. Well, until Emmett showed up, and her gaze never left the boy standing next to me.

“You’re genius plan isn’t working, Emmett,” I said. “I’ve tried to talk to her, but she ignores me.”

Kasey practically skipped over to where Emmett and I were standing. “Nora! Who’s your friend?” Her eyes wandered over my friend, anger burning in my veins.

“This is Emmett,” I replied.

“Nice to meet you, Emmett,” she grinned sweetly, extending a hand to shake.

I felt like punching a wall. She was Jack’s girlfriend, and yet she was flirting with my crush. What was she up to? I grabbed my backpack off of the floor and stormed to my fourth hour, without a saying a word to anyone. No one even seemed to notice I left. When I sat down at my desk, the thoughts I always tried so hard not to think made their presence known, the main reason why I hated my anxiety.

“You can’t have Jack and Emmett. They’re better off without a basket case like you. You’ll never be good enough for either of them,” I said in my head. I attempted to shake it away, and instead took out a notebook and began doodling. Anything was better than listening to my thoughts.