I walked out of school and across the court yard towards the bleachers and sat down. Reaching into my pocket, I pulled my pack of cigarettes out and opened it, placing one between my lips. I fumbled for my lighter, finding it and flicking it. I placed the flame at the end of the stick and then inhaled.
As I exhaled, I felt someone sit down beside me and I knew who it was. "Are you following me?" I asked. I turned and looked at Bree. "No." she said.
I turned away from her as I inhaled and exhaled again. "Yeah, you are." I said. "Smoking is bad for you." she said. "So is being alive." I said.
"Ricky...I want to help you." she said. I looked at her. "Help me? I don't need help." I said, flicking the ashes off the end of my cigarette.
"Yeah, you do." she said. I laughed. "You wanna help me? Leave me the fuck alone then." I said, getting up and grabbing my bag and walking off.
I felt bad for snapping at her but she was really starting to piss me off. This is why I hated this fucking town.
I walked down the sidewalk towards Starbuck's. Arriving, I put my cigarette out as I entered Starbuck's. No one was in there, thank God.
"Hey Ricky." Cheryl, one of the baristas said.
"Hey."
Her and Leah, the other barista, started making my order. I came there so often that they didn't need to ask me what I wanted anymore. I watched them and then pulled my wallet out and paid.
"Everything okay?" Leah asked.
"No."
"Wanna talk about it?"
"Sure. I'll be over there." I said, going over to the booth.
The two of them joined me a minute later. I opened my box of food and offered them some. They passed up so I began eating.
"What's wrong?"
"School."
"What happened?"
"Stupid fucking jocks. I hate this fucking place." I said, sipping my frappuchino.
"I remember high school." Leah said.
"Just be glad you don't have to go through it anymore." I said.
"You'll get through it, this is your last year." Cheryl said.
"I still have four more months though." I said.
"You can make it." Leah said, offering a sweet smile.
"What else is bothering you?" Cheryl asked.
"A girl."
"Oh, is she cute?" Leah ashed.
"Sure, yeah." I said.
"Do you not like her?"
"No. I hate girls. Except you two." I said.
"Maybe that's what you need..a girlfriend." Cheryl said.
"No thanks." I said, finishing my food.
I got up and threw my trash away and then sat back down and started drinking my frappuchino again.
"I think you do." Leah said.
"Me too."
"I don't."
"Well...why do you not like her?"
"She keeps bugging me...so I told her to fuck off."
"Oh, Ricky...she's just trying to be your friend." Leah said.
I looked at them. Well..shit...maybe they're right. Now, I felt like a real asshole for being mean to her.
"You should go apologize." Cheryl said.
"I don't know where she lives."
"School is still in...if you leave now, you can catch her when she's leaving."
I looked at the time. She was right. "Alright. Thanks for the talk." I said, getting up and giving them both hugs.
"No problem. Learn to be a littler nicer, Ricky." Leah said.
I nodded and then left Starbuck's. School was going to be out in five minutes, I could make it back there in time.
As soon as I got there, everyone was leaving. I scanned the crowd, looking for Bree. I spotted her then.
"Bree!" I said, running over. She gave me one look and then walked off.
I followed her. "Hey, Bree, wait." I said.
"What do you want?" she asked, stopping.
I got a good look at her now. She was visiably upset and had been crying, probably because of what I had said earlier. I sighed. "I'm sorry."
"As you should be." she said.
She started walking again and I followed.
"Now whose following who." she said.
"I want to be your friend." I said.
She stopped again. "What?"
"That's what you want, right? To be my friend?"
"Yes, Ricky...that's what I want...I thought you'd understand..seeing as neither of us is really popular amongst our peers." she said.
"Well..I want to be your friend." I said.
She smiled a little, which made me smile. "Really?" she asked.
I nodded. "Yes, really."
She smiled once more. At least I made her smile.
"Should I walk you home?" I asked.
"Sure, yeah." she said.
"Lead the way." I said.
She started walking and I followed beside her.
Well...at least that's taken care of now.
