Chicago High

New Kid

Jay Halstead wasn't looking forward to starting at yet another new school. It was hard enough moving out of your family home and losing everything he had once believed was who he was. He didn't like this change; he didn't like changes at all. He has never enjoyed unwarranted attention upon himself, so standing in front of the class every period was pure hell. His saving grace was one girl named Gabriela who was standing behind him in the cafeteria queue. She had made sure he knew exactly what not to eat and in the end, he only ended up with an apple and a pile of fries that seemed semi-decent to munch on. "You're going to want to start bringing something from home." She told him with a big grin on her face. He had to admit she was the first good thing he's had in his life in a while.

She had offered him a seat with her and her blonde friend on the grass, but Jay really just wanted some time alone, maybe find his idiot of a brother, who he wasn't even certain stayed on campus. He walked across the field and found his way behind one of the buildings, it was completely void of human activity so he sat down and started on his lunch, the tray sitting down beside him as he downed his fries easily. There was once a time where he had been quite bubbly and popular at his old school, but that was nearly a year ago now. He couldn't really remember being that guy anymore, not after the year he's had.

"Who is that?" A male voice asked from across the way, Jay looked up and noticed the pair approaching towards him. He recognised the girl, she was in his English class and it appeared that she recognised him too. He didn't say a word though just watched as the couple came closer.

"He's just some new kid. Don't worry about him." Erin told her boyfriend, who was a little annoyed that they weren't alone as usual. Erin didn't want any trouble, she can remember being the new kid herself and it made her want to give him some slack. "You're Jay, right? Jay Howard or something..." She wasn't sure of herself then, but when was she ever.

Jay finished his mouthful and looked up at the girl who was standing over him. "Halstead." He corrected her, wiping his sweaty palms over his jeans, before unscrewing the lid of his soda.

"I'm Erin, and this is Kelly." She introduced, nodding back to her boyfriend, who was standing behind her in a small bound of confusion. He still had no idea who this guy was, or why Erin was being so polite to him. He's known Erin for a while and he knows she doesn't play well with others, especially not strangers.

Jay looked past Erin and gave Kelly a quick acknowledging nod. He didn't feel like chatting, but neither did Kelly by the looks of things. "Do you want me to leave?" He asked Erin directly, wanting her to answer.

"Yes."

"No."

The couple answered at the same time, before exchanging looks between them, Jay took that as his cue to leave regardless of the one no he had received. He stood up and took a bite from his apple, he didn't think he really belonged at this school but knowing his dad he probably wouldn't be staying long anyway.
-
"So what's with you and the new guy?" Leslie Shay asked her best friend. They were sitting on the grass in front of the library, a feast of junk food shared between them.

Gaby shrugged her shoulders and took one of the candy snakes between her teeth. She didn't have much to tell, she was still entirely into Matt, who she knew was a happily taken man. She hardly even knew Jay, apart from sharing biology together, and talking in the cafeteria there was nothing to report.

"Oh come on, I know what you sound like when you're flirting Dawson, you're crushing on the new kid," Shay told her, letting out a big laugh at the way her friend's face changed at that. Maybe Gabriela was a little clueless when it came to boys, but so was she so really she was in no position to judge, but she could still tease her to no end, and that's exactly what she intended to do. "If anything he's a good distraction, I mean Mr Casey isn't exactly looking your way just now, so what could it hurt? I could picture it." She continued talking, and Gabriela was just wondering if she did have a crush, or if Shay was just trying to give her the push she needed to move on.

"Why are we talking about this anyway? I hardly know the guy." She pointed out, but now as she watched him walking across the school grounds, she was starting to think maybe she wanted to get to know him.

-

When the last bell of the day rang, Jay stood outside the school gates on his own, he hadn't actually seen Will all day, but he was hoping he actually went to classes this time around. When his younger brother finally emerged from the building, he gave him one look before walking down the footpath. The brothers were once the best of friends, that was until their mother got sick, and Will had started to investigate his wilder side. Now all they did was fight as Jay tried to keep him in line and keep the family together. "I saw you chatting with some girl, are you going to ask her out?" Will asked from behind him, the pair were finally across the road away from school and anybody that could overhear. Jay turned to face him and shook his head. "Even if I was it wouldn't be any of your business. Good to know you actually stayed in school for once." He said in an icy tone. It was Will's fault they were here, it was his fault they were kicked out of their old school, and Jay wasn't ready to forgive him for that just yet.