New Native Land (The Next Step) (Book II)

Chapter 2 (What's Done Is Done)

           

          I was on my way to school, today was my first day as a college level student and I was nervous. I wish I had Ahm here to talk to but I don't so I'll just do this on my own, I like it that way anyway. Forget him.

          I walked down the oh so familiar street but I noticed something not familiar, Ahm's crew missing from it. I didn't understand what was going on, but I wasn't going to question it. This was my blessing; I wasn't ready to see him or to talk to him. I walked right down the street and to the bus stop where the bus picked me up at the normal time.

          I got on the crew yelled out "Reagan!" I smiled and went to the back. Caz took my hand and said, "She still smells like Texas." I made a funny face at him and laughed. "Brought any hay back?" PB joked and I laughed, "Nah, I don't have any hay." Caz's beck snapped and he looked at me funny, "You changed, if I would've ask that you would've hit me." I chuckled at his reaction, "Try asking me that and see what I do." He nodded, "Okay, did you bring any hay back?" I mugged him and hit him. His mouth dropped open and everyone laughed.

          "You're going to stop hitting me this year Reagan." He warned me me and I smiled at him, "Stop staying stupid stuff and I will." He shot a glare at me. "It just means she likes you Caz." Drew chimed in and Caz beamed, "I knew it, this whole time." I shook my head with a slight smile curving in my lips.

          We got off the bus and headed for the subway, running into Chuck and his crew on the way. "Come on Reag." Drew said to me and I followed behind him when he took my hand. "He ain't worth it." Drew pulled me along as we got on the subway, Chuck's crew followed after us. "Ahm is a tyrant right now." Drew informed me out of the blue, and I looked at him weird, repeating his words, "A tyrant?" Trying to see if I heard him correctly. "Yeah, a tyrant and it's been this way since you left. So, do me a solid and let's not make him madder." Drew told me.

          I shrugged, "I don't really see how that's my problem." Drew sighed, pleading, "Don't be like that. If you gave any damns about that man, do him this one favor and don't talk to Chuck." I rolled my eyes and turned my back towards Chuck and his friends who kept looking at me.

          When we got to school everyone already had their new schedules that were mailed to them, I had to go to the counselor's office to talk about my college classes and whatnot. I walked in the office and I saw PB sitting there looking just as lost as I did.

          "What are you doing here?" I asked him and he smiled, "So you're the other sophomore that's taking college classes." He said and realization came upon me. "Yeah, that's funny." I sat down in the chair next to his. "Hey, you really are smart huh?" He joked, I shrugged, "I guess." PB laughed a bit, "I'm glad I'm not doing it alone. Let's work together alright?" I nodded, "Of course." He exhaled relieved and I laughed at him just a bit.

          When the counselor finally arrived, she explained the process PB and I would be going through and then she made our schedules for us. We had the same morning classes and then we branched off into our individual careers. I was going to be working in college labs at this community college up the street, that was something I didn't expect.

          "You two need to go to the book barn and get your new books and return the old ones." We nodded and then she dismissed us. "Damn, this is actually happening. Can you believe it?" PB asked sounding excited, "I know, it's wild." I didn't sound as enthusiastic. At least I still had Mr. Gaines because he was a college level teacher.

          After school, I met up with the crew. "Oh, yeah, we can go home together again." Caz said while we walked to the subway. "I miss the old times." Caz continued and we all made a face at him. "Feeling sentimental?" I teased him and he smiled, "I know the only reason why you pick on me is because you like me, so I'll allow it." I laughed at him, "You can make any day better Caz." I complimented him and he grinned from ear to ear.

          "How was your new classes?" Draya asked PB and I. "Cool." I answered. "Same, it was the first day and the professors told us to read the first two chapters of this book." PB held up our book. "What language did you guys choose to learn?" Drew asked. "Latin." We both said at the same time. Everyone looked at us like we were crazy. "Latin?" Draya repeated and we both laughed.

          "It's for a reason." I vaguely explained and they nodded, knowing better than to ask what was going on in PB and my brain. "Alright. If you say so." Drew said apprehensively. "I didn't even know the school offered Latin." Caz casually said to no one and I laughed, "They have a lot of languages." He looked impressed.

          We were on the bus and my stop was getting closer, and yet I didn't feel nervous or anything like that. I figured, if Ahm wasn't there in the morning he probably wouldn't be there in the evening. "So, in Texas, do you ride a horse everywhere? I always wanted to ask." Caz interrupted my thoughts, I made a face at him, "No, there's cars in Texas." He nodded "I'm impressed." I mushed his face playfully.

          My stop came and I got off the bus after saying bye. I buttoned up my coat and I began walking towards the car, the regular routine. I turned the corner and low and behold I saw the crew there, being the same as always. Smokey and Ahm chilling, Shad being funny and Scrap... Well he was being Scrap.

          I took a sharp breath, and continued to walk. Scrap was the first one to notice me, of course, his face beamed and he pointed to me which made me raise an eyebrow. "Texas! How was Texas?" He shouted at me and the whole crew looked in my direction. Ahm stood up while Scrap and Shad walked up to me and hugged me. "Yo, did you bring back some hay?" Scrap asked and I glared at him. I flicked his forehead like I usually would when he was being foolish, "Why would I bring back hay?"He chuckled to himself as a warm smile spread across his face, "Same as ever."

          "I could say the same to you." I told him, "Texas, how was class? I heard you start your college classes today right?" Shad asked pulling my attention, "It was cool today I guess." He nodded his head taking in the information, I decided before anyone else could talk to me I should get out. So, I breathed in and then clapped my hands, "Welp, I got a lot to do today, so I'll see you guys later." Scrap pouted, and started whining, "But you just got back. I wanna talk to you some more." I chuckled at him. "Maybe later. It's too cold to sit here and chat." Shad and Scrap laughed, "Not used to the weather yet?" I smiled and shook my head as if I was embarrassed.

          I started walking, and I heard someone clear their throat, I knew who that someone was, but I chose to ignore that and I continued to the car. "How was school?" Cecil asked like always waiting outside the car. "Cool." I said as I got in.

          He came in and started the car up. "Let's get you to the doctors." I nodded.