extrovert

walmart , 6 pm sharp

the next couple classes were pretty fun , i had english with mila during second period and it pretty much just her calling me gay the whole time . third period was algebra 2 with liane and we talked about ap classes and extracurricular activities . fourth period was social studies with avalon , corey , and sadie . we talked about politics and how our president was a self-absorbed cheeto . and finally , fifth period was lunch .

i walked to my locker after algebra 2 and got my lunch which was in a brown paper bag . when i closed the locker , mila was leaning against the locker next to mine .

"what's for lunch ," she said , reaching for my paper bag before i moved it from her reach - above my head - and smirked . she tried jumping for it but was not successful . she rolled her eyes , kicked my shin and opened her locker so i walked off . she slammed her locker shut and ran after me . "where the hell do you think you're going , dumbass ?"

"lunch ." i smiled and continued walking . once she caught up with me she was gasping for breath . "lookin little bit breathless there , kasper ." she flipped me off and got her breathing back to normal .

"you might want a sweatshirt , dude ," she said , noticing i had on short sleeves. 

"what do you mean ?"

"i meAn it's cold outside and your arms are gonna freeze off ."

"what about that aron kid ? he has on shorts . annddd the cafeteria's inside."

"first , his name's avery . second , he's like immune to the cold if you didn't notice this morning . third , no shit sherlock ." before i turned down the hallway that lead to the cafeteria , mila made sure no one was looking and pulled me into the janitor's closet . 

"kinky ," i said smirking . she glared at me and busted the lock on a hidden door and started walking up a hidden flight of stairs . i followed . when we reached the top , she lifted up a door in the roof and stepped onto the roof .

"im not stupid like you , dumbass ." she walked over to a table on the roof where the rest of the group sat . "you comin or what , " she said , sitting down next between corey and avalon who was , for once , off her phone . i walked over and sat opposite from her next to adonis .

"looks like ya didn't get lost , sir gale ," he said , giving me a dap when i sat down . 

"guess i had the best guide in the world helping me out ," i chuckled sarcastically , gesturing to mila . she flipped me off . "what's this group called ? like do you guys have a squad name or something ?"

"not really , haven't had a good enough experience to name ourselves after ," corey said , munching on a cake pop from adonis' starbucks lunch . "ok i understand starbucks is within walking distance but how'd you get there so fast this is damn fresh ," corey said to adonis . he just shrugged , mouth full with a sandwich

"one thing i will always miss is chick fil a ," i said , taking out a tupperware bowl filled with corned beef hash . 

"i went there once . it was alr ," sadie said . my mouth dropped .

"you're actually kidding me , chick fil a is bomb ," i shouted . 

"be quiet , you're gonna get us caught dumbass ," mila said , jabbing me in the ribs . i just sighed and ate my food .

"are you guys up for walmart later tonight ? we have to give sir gale the proper welcome to leavenworth ," adonis said . i heard a variation from yes and sures from everyone and was suddenly confused . 

"walmart ?? and what time ?" i asked .

"yes , walmart , and at 6:00 pm ," avalon said matter-of-factly .

"uhm i think i need to stud-" i said before i was cut off by every single one of them saying "NO ." all at the same time . "goodness gracious fine i'll be there ." 

"i have sports and won't be able to make it ," liane said .

"yeahhh i have uhm . strict parents ," avery murmured , his excuse game clearly terrible . 

"won't be a difference without you , avery .." adonis muttered under his   breath . avalon and i held in a laugh .

"hmm ?" avery queried .

"nothinggg ," adonis said with a smile , getting up to leave .

"no , like , what'd you say i didn't hear you properly ," avery stuttered .

i stood up and spoke . "adonis said that he hopes you and your folks have a fun night ," and walked away .  

when i got back to my locker , i went on my phone to see tons of notifications from atlanta friends saying they missed me . i missed them too, but i couldn't let my emotions get a hold of me . i put my stuff in my backpack and the hallways were filled with other students packing up to go home . i slung my backpack over my shoulder , closed my locker , put my earbuds in and listened to christmas music to brighten my mood . 

the final bell rang and i walked outside , stretched and started my walk home . i heard someone yell my name and turned around and looked down to see mila waving at me from behind . "are you deaf ??" i rolled my eyes and smiled , happy to be accompanied .

"ssoooo ...." she said , clapping her hands together , bored . "whatcha listening to ?" she took an earbud out of my ear and put it in hers and cringed . "damn ," she said , shoving the earbud back into my ear . "christmas music ? you really are a grandma ." i scoffed . "anyways , turn jingle bells off and talk to me ." i tuned my music up and smiled , she took my phone and went on it in  response . "oOoOoooO , who's chloe ?" she asked .

i sighed , wishing she hadn't brought her up ."my ex . a bad one ."

she handed my phone back and asked , "what'd she do ?"

"not much ," i shrugged , taking my phone back . "just cheated on me with my best friend , and is now dating my other best friend ."

"y'know , gay , you're really good at killing my happiness ."

"well don't get angry at me , get angry at her ," i said angrily , shoving my hands in my pockets and looking straight ahead . it got quiet .

"we've all had our not so great times , right ?" she said . 

"yeah , i guess .."

"oh , come on , gale . what's a good memory from georgia ?" she queried , punching my shoulder .

i smiled and looked at the ground. "christmas . every single christmas i've ever been alive to experience . just the christmas spirit , the decorations , the family and friends , the music especially . why do you think i listen to it ?"

"i just thought you were an old grandma who liked the jazz played im christmas music ."

"nah . "

"let me just say , leavenworth was the correct place to move if you like christmas . it's beautiful here . it snows and all the little shops across town string up lights and you can smell christmas trees from , like , anywhere in town ." i'll admit , i was excited . she pretty much just said everything i've ever wanted in a christmas . i smiled from ear to ear . she pointed to a fork in the road ahead . "that's where you turn off ." i nodded .

"thanks ," i said . she smiled and nodded . "before i forget ," i said and pulled  out an apple left over front my lunch and tossed it to her as i turned . "see you at six ."