Roses

5

"All students, please report to the gym." The headmasters voice broadcasts over the sound system. Ridley and I hope up from sitting on my bed and dash out of the room. down the hall, out of the building, into the main school, up the stairs and into the gym. There are already a ton of kids sitting in the chairs. We pick two in the second to last row. More kids file in and we just watch the set-up stage and wait for everyone to get here.
"Hello, Students." The headmaster rolls his eyes and Max, whom is sitting behind Ridley and I with his friends, stifles a laugh and the boys grin at each other. The first row of students respond with a loud "Hello Headmaster Benson." The headmaster smiles and begins his speech again.
"I'd like to welcome all of the new students and welcome back the old students. Belmont High is happy to accept all of you for this school year. Do not skip classes okay?" He looks at the back of the room and a few kids snicker.
"Okay." The kids in the front row say again. Ridley rolls her eyes.
"Hey ladies." A boy with dark skin and black hair leans in between Ridley and I.
"Lucas. What do you want?" Ridley rolls her eyes again. They must be getting a work out.
"Just wanted to say hey." He puts his hands up and sits back. I laugh and cover my mouth as fast as possible. The headmaster didn't hear, he is still droning on with his speech.
"- and thank you all for coming. You are dismissed." I hear the headmaster say and we all stand up and exit through the doors.
"Hey!" A voice yells from behind Ridley and I. We stop and turn around to see a dark haired boy with fair skin and freckles jogging up to us.
"What's up Cody?" Ridley smiles. He stops in front of us.
"Not much, are you sitting with us this year Rid?" He puts his hands in his pockets.
"Would you mind if another tagged along?" She gestures to me and Cody looks me over.
"Yeah. She seems pretty cool." He nods to me and I smile back.
"Thanks." I straiten my top.
"Of course." He says and turns back to Ridley.
"We'll be there. Five minutes." She smiles and he turns away and jogs back to his group of friends. We walk to the cafeteria and Ridley leads me to a table in the corner. At the moment it's empty.
"We are going to get dinner and sit here." Ridley says and she takes me to the cafe line. Is empty. We grab a bag of chips, a chicken sandwich, and a water bottle. We walk back to the table and sit down.
"Hey Rids." A blond haired guy who I remember as River smiles at us.
"Hey River." Ridley smiles at him. He runs his hand through his hair as Ridley takes a bite of her sandwich. I eat my sandwich as well. River walks away and leads the other boys into the cafe line. I move my blonde hair from my front to my back. I finish my sandwich and I throw away the wrapper. I take a sip of water as five boys sit down as well as one girl.
"Introduction time?" Ridley raises her eyebrows.
"Of course." Lucas says and smiles. "Rids go first." Ridley groans.
"Okay. Hi. I'm Ridley and I'm an eleventh grade." Ridley smiles and gestures to the girl next to her.
"I'm Liddy and I'm a tenth grader." The blonde to the left of Ridley says.
"Hey, I'm Cody and I'm a tenth grader and I'm Libby's boyfriend." He laughs and hugs Libby, he's the kid who asked if Ridley was sitting with them this year. I roll my eyes at him and laugh.
"Sup I'm Lucas and I'm in tenth grade." He jerks his head up and smiles. He's the kid who leaned in on us at the assembly.
"I'm River and I'm in eleventh grade." River runs his hand through his hair.
"Hey, I'm Ash and I'm in eleventh grade as well." Ash flashes a smile at us and I smile back.
"Heya I'm Max and I'm in twelfth grade!" Max laughs.
"Hey I'm Gray and I'm new here but I'm in eleventh grade." I smile and look at everyone at the table.
"Welcome to the club, Gray!" Max says and winks at me.
"Club?" I ask my eyebrows arching.
"E.L.M." Max says to me and everyone else nods.
"Why E.L.M." I ask and everyone smiles.
"Well the people who started it were Elissa, Logan, and me, Max." Max continues."Elissa graduated two years ago, and Logan graduated last year."
"Okay. Why am I in it?"
"Well, you are roommates with Ridley, as you know she is my sister, and you seem pretty cool. We all decided this." He circles his finger around the table. They all nod and smile.
"Thanks guys!" I smile.
"So, are you in?" Lucas puts his chin in his hands.
"Of course!" I smile at everyone and they clap while everyone else in the room stares at us. Avalyn walks over.
"Ava." Ash grumbles at Avalyn as she comes and stands next to him.
"Hi Ashten." She smiles at him.
"Ava, what do you want?" Ash rolls his eyes.
"I thought I'd come over and check out everyone- oh!" Avalyn looks at me.
"Ava..." Ash warns his sister.
"I see you all have met Graylee." She smirks.
"Yeah we have." Ash glares at her.
"Did Graylee join the club?" Ava keeps her eyes locked on me. I take a chip from my bag and eat it.
"Maybe, Maybe not." Max stares at her and stands up.
"Why can't I join the club!" Avalyn looks at Max and stomps.
"You know what you did Avalyn." Ash stands up.
"What's the big deal!" Ava shakes her head.
"It is a big deal and you know it." Ash walks over to her and so does Max.
"Cmon Ava." Max and Ash take her over to the table with the popular girls and they swoon at the boys while Ava glares.
"Sorry about her." Max says to us as they sit down.
"It's not a big deal." I shrug and continue eating my chips.
"Well, now you know why I was rolling my eyes when she was talking to you!" Ridley laughs.
"She had already met Ava?" Ash's eyes get dark and his face hardens.
"Well, yes." Ridley sighs. "It's okay." I nod and agree to not bother with her. The boys at the table seem to relax. I assume there is some tension between E.L.M and Avalyn.