Odd One Out

Chapter Five

Jackson came over today. And, as of now, we're in my room playing shooting and fighting games and I'm getting my ass kicked. Riley played with us for a little bit but left after he got his ass kicked.

I laughed then, but now, I am just getting frustrated. "Do you just sit on your ass and play videogames all day?!" I ask and Jackson laughs. "If I do," he starts, "I'll never tell you!"

I laugh and get up, "I'm going to get snacks." Jackson gets up, "I want snacks!" He says, rolling out the word snacks. I roll my eyes and walk downstairs.

Lawrence looks at Jackson then me and raises an eyebrow. "This is Jackson, he's a friend," I explain while grabbing the snacks and starting to walk back to my room.

Jackson follows me as I walk into my room and throw the snacks down. Jackson sits down in front of his controller and starts to eat, but I just sit down and stare at the screen, ready to play.

"Lawrence doesn't like me too much," Jackson says. "What makes you say that?" I ask, looking to the floor.

"He normally speaks so much more to everyone," Jackson speaks, "I've seen how much he talks to everyone at school."

Jackson looks at his phone and gets up, "I have to go, my Mom's looking for me." He walks out of the house and I hear him leave.

I get up and slam my door closed before laying on my bed and passing out.

Lawrence walks in my room and looks at me as I get ready. "Who was he anyway?" I look at him. "A kid that Ansley thought would become my new friend," I say, adding a small laugh to the end of it.

"Let's not think of anything other than exams are these next few days," Riley walks in speaking. "And the beach is next!" Tyler comes in and I smile at their little speech. "Yeah!" Lawrence and I exclaim together then we all laugh.

"Come on before we're late for school," I laugh as I walk out of my room, the three following. I start to walk out the door, before seeing our dad in the living room, passed out with drinks around him.

Lawrence, Riley, and Tyler stop behind me and look. "It's never been this bad," Lawrence whispers and I nod before looking at the clock. "We have to go."

I walk out the door, immediately running into someone and falling down. I look up to see Jason and get up. Jason glances at me before handing a piece of paper to Lawrence and beginning to talk to him. I ignore them and start walking to school, Riley and Tyler on both sides of me.

"What's that about?" Tyler asks and I shrug. We look at Riley and he shrugs. "I have no idea."

Sighing, I continue walking, stopping at Ansley door to get her so she'll walk with us. The door opens and Ansley looks at us, "where's Lawrence?" "Talking to Jason," I say, "come on."

She nods and grabs her bag before walking out and joining us in the walk to school. "We need more conversations in the mornings," Riley says, and we all nod in agreement.

I smile at Ansley before we begin what we'd planned for a while. She smiles back and starts humming a tune. Riley and Tyler looks at her then me. I shrug, acting like I don't know what she's doing.

Slowly, she begins singing after they look away, and I join in. We sing a song Tyler and Riley both hate, Better Off Dead.

Riley covers his ears and starts running to school. Tyler just covers his ears and I smile to Ansley as we continue.

They both sigh in relief when we finish singing the song, but Ansley and I begin singing the song again, making them groan.

I see the school come up as we get to the middle of the song. "I've never been so happy to see school!" Riley and Tyler exclaim at the same time as they run off. Ansley and I start laughing as we walk to the library to get some last minute studying in.

"Just a few exams," I say and Ansley nods. "I think we need to be at school more," Ansley says and I look at her. "Or make better grades," we both laugh and get our books out.