Ocean Eyes . Jonathan Brandis

Eight

After gym, we headed to lunch. They were serving pizza since it was the first day of school. As Sam, Connie, and I were standing in the lunch line, a group of girls skip in front of us.

"What the actual heck?" Sam stops herself from cursing since there was a lunch monitor only a few feet away. Although their back was to us, they'd still hear her.

Sam was pissed but Connie and I tried not pay any attention. The girls looked back at us and laughed. I roll my eyes but stay calm. I couldn't say the same for Sam.

I notice Laura glaring at me. I sigh before grabbing a tray.

"Thanks," Sam says taking the last piece of cake from a girl in front of her that had skipped us. Dang Sam.

"Excuse me?" The girl looks at her like she's crazy.

"Melissa, just let it go. It'll make you fat," Laura says grinning at Sam.

After they pay and leave, Sam goes off. "I can't believe you did that," I laugh as we make our way over to an empty table. "I wanted cake," she shrugs.

As we ate lunch, Sarah rushed in and joined us with her packed lunch. She ate really healthy and we always joked with her about it.

"What took you so long?" I ask her since she was 10 minutes late to lunch.

"Nothing," she brushed my question off. I could tell something was wrong.

"Sarah, this is Connie," Sam introduces them.

It was silent for a moment and Connie looks over at me.

I give her a look that explained Sarah's quietness and Connie nodded, understanding.

"So after school are we meeting at Phillie's?" I ask everyone. Phillie's is a local diner that we'd hang out at after school last year.

"I have swim practice," Sarah speaks first.

"It's my little brother's birthday," Sam adds. "Oh right," I say disappointed but remembering.

"You?" I look at Connie hopeful. "I have Piano lessons on Monday's and Thursday's, sorry," she smiles sympathetically.

"It's okay, we can just hang out this weekend," I shrug.

"Definitely," Sam assures me and the others nod.
...

After lunch, I head to 4th block, which was an extra period. I had art. As I struggled to navigate my way to the fine arts hall, I accidentally bump into someone. I look up from the ground and see Jonathan holding a football in one hand and staring down at me. His smile fades into a surprised expression.

"Grace," he says almost speechless. "Here," he reaches to help me up. "I'm really sorry," he says before taking my hand.

After he pulls me up, our eyes lock for a short moment.

"Hey Jon, we'll catch you later," a group of guys say, knocking both of us back to reality.

They leave after Jon tosses them the football.

He looks from them to me and his forced smile changes to a smaller, more sincere, one.

"I.." he begins. "It's fine, we should get to class. The bell's about to ring," I interrupt him then gather my things. He helps me, although it was only a few pens and a notebook.