Love Happens (Stopped)

Fifteen - Chains & Whips

Jennifer:

I thought one of the main reasons why Asha and I got along so well was because we were both kind of outlandish and had no friends at this school, but I was dead wrong. I had a pretty normal day with me going through all my lessons as usual and trying to suppress any memory of Jason I still had left.

Asha told me she didn't want to see me moping about it, so I was forced to keep any of those feelings to myself. Lunch time came as a relief because I would at least be able to eat my feelings away. I saw Asha standing by her locker and jogged up to her. I noted her extremely short leather skirt and crop top which exposed her long legs and gorgeous skin.

Seriously, how are we friends? I look nothing like that. 

"Hi, ready for lunch?" she spoke when I stood in front of her. She was taller than me so I kinda had to tilt my head up when I talked to her.

"Yeah let's go, I'm starving," I said as I led the way to the cafeteria doors. 

"Before we go in, I have to tell you something," she gulped. Is this one of those moments where you thought you were really bonding with someone then you find out they killed their parents when they were ten? The school hallway would be a rather weird place to make such a confession though.

"There's some people I want you to meet. Some of my friends," that wasn't the life-changing confession I was expecting but it was equally shocking. I put my hand to my chest. 

"What, you thought you were my only friend blondie?"

"Well yeah, kinda," I admitted. 

"Well you're not, today you get to meet the rest."

She led us into the cafeteria and I stood with her in line as she bought her food. Afterwards we approached a table near the back of the room. I could feel my palms sweating and my heartbeat grew louder as we stepped closer and closer to the table.

"Hey guys," she said casually, breaking them from what seemed like a very animated conversation. "This is Jennifer," she gestured towards me. They all waved at me and greeted me. All their faces seemed friendly enough, so I smiled.

I sat down next to Asha and took out my lunch from my bag. They continued chatting and I just observed as I ate my sandwich. The idea was that I didn't want to irritate them or anything, I couldn't ruin this.

"So Jennifer..." one of them started, a girl with blue hair. She was very pretty. "Are you here to become our Barbie?" 

"What?" I chuckled. 

"Well there's a running joke that Asha and all her piercings and black leather is our goth chick. I dye my hair a lot so I'm the emo chick. So you must be our Barbie girl,"

"In a Barbie world," a boy sitting next to Asha responded in a sing-song voice. We all laughed. 

"Barbie sounds too soft. Don't you know any bad ass blondes?" I asked.

"Oh, you're the one who slapped Jules. Girrrl, that was bad ass," said the guy to my left, snapping his fingers. It immediately made me remember everything. It made me remember Jason, and I didn't want to do that.

"I don't wanna talk about it," I deadpanned. They went silent for a moment before someone changed the subject. 

As we talked, I learned that the blue-haired girl was Zara and the guys were Derrick and Gus. In this case looks weren't deceiving, they really were nice and welcoming. If you thought Asha was crazy then together as a whole they were on an entirely different level of insanity. Lunch wasn't anywhere near being over but already my jaw hurt from laughing so much. 

The generally loud chatter in the cafeteria quietened all of a sudden. 

The room's attention was focused on what sounded like an argument. I turned my head to where all the bickering emanated from. It came from what I had now learned was referred to as the cool table, that is, Jason's table. But clearly there was trouble in paradise. 

I tried hard to read their lips because from where I was I could barely hear anything. Nicki's face looked like it would've been red if it weren't for all that foundation smeared all over. Kim had bulging veins coming through her neck. And Jason, he looked cool as a cucumber.

But then Nicki said something and all the color drained from his face, before he got up to leave. 

He's been 'banished' from two tables in one week.

The crowd jeered, including the people at my table. Asha nudged me.

"Don't let the door hit your sorry a$$ on the way out," she yelled at him as he stepped through the double-doors leading out of the cafeteria. Everyone laughed. Including me. I felt like he did kinda deserve this.

But part of me felt bad for him. 

* * *

"You have to stop feeling bad about this okay?" whined Asha. 

It was Friday now and I was still sulking about Jason. It was beginning to feel a bit ridiculous. I was no different from a person who worries about servicing a Ferrari they don't own. Nothing had happened between us, he had a girlfriend. Therefore I wasn't supposed to be wasting any time or tears on this. 

Asha, Zara, Derrick, Gus and I sat at our usual table in the cafeteria. It kinda felt fantastic being able to say 'our' table with 'my' friends. At least my social life was taking a step in the right direction. 

"You know what this girl needs, a girls night," said Derrick as he held out his perfectly manicured hands in front of him. He used hand gestures a lot. Certainly more than Mr Kent. 

"Actually that's not a bad idea," chimed Zara.

"If this means partying or anything I'm not sure I'm up for it. Plus my dad would go insane if he knew I was anywhere near alcohol and horny teenage boys"

"Well right now we're in a high school cafeteria and most of these guys are probably thinking about humping something," whispered Asha, evoking laughter in all of us.

"Alright, how about a sleepover?" suggested Zara.

"Yeah, we'll do it at my house."

Everyone smiled at the idea which told me they've probably done something like that before. I started to wonder what Asha's room would even look like.

"Are there chains and whips hanging from the ceiling?" I joked.

"Nooooo! But only because my mom won't let me," she whispered the last part. 

"I'll ask my parents," I said as I chewed on my sandwich.

"Pack a lot of clothes, I have a feeling once you get there you won't wanna leave," Gus smirked. 

I wonder what that's supposed to mean.