A Year Without Snow

-4-

Monday, 28th November 2016

The first three classes went by in a heartbeat. As soon as I would sit in the metal chair, the bell would ring waking me up from my distant imagination. And it didn't help my concentration the fact that these classes were all the three I hated the most, math, science and chemistry.

As I left the last class of the morning and slowly begun to make my way up to the cafeteria, through the main hall, that was overflowed with teenagers, an arm crept around my shoulder making me jump from the sudden touch. But as I looked at the boy standing next to me my nervous muscles relaxed.

"Easy coconut! It's only me." Dallas announced from beside me. The skinny boy standing at my right was Dallas, he was just a few centimeters taller than me which meant that he was very small, he wore an oversized Tupac's t-shirt and an also oversized pair of red jeans. That outfit could easily describe all of Dallas' wardrobe: oversized clothing.

"So how was your weekend?" I casually asked looking sideways at him and seeing his smile grow excidetly as he heard my question.

"Oh, holy fuck! You have no idea! It was lit!" He began, "We went- Oi freshmen, get out of the way! Everyone, move! Senior royalty passing!" Dallas chanted as everyone around us gave us confused looks. Dallas didn't impose much respect with his small structure and childish looks, but he seemed to be contempt with himself and with the authority that, he thought, being a senior gave him. "As I was saying! We went to the party in the Barrinel, you know, that woods beside Jons' Dinner?"

"Yes, I know where it is," I answered. He looked confused at first but then an expression of understanding washed over his face.

"Ah, right. Sorry. So... as I was saying, it was there, yeah, you know. And it was so cold, you should've seen, at the beginning of the night everyone was trembling and freezing, but when the beer arrived, it looked like summer. Who needs coats when you have alcohol, am I right?"

"So right," I assured him as we entered the cafeteria. "And, no girls this time?"

"Beyonce wasn't there, so you know, nothing Big D, here, could do." He answered and I shook my head as I made our way to our table.

"There's plenty of fish in the sea, Dallas" I added as we approached our usual table where two people were already seated.

"Look who's talking." Dallas simply answered winking at me. He let go of my shoulder and placed himself next to Grace on the table,"Mushroom."

"Dallas, how are you?" Grace drily asked not looking up from her textbook.

"I'm looking at your beautiful face. I couldn't be better." He replied placing his arm around her shoulder.

"Oh, that was weak, dude," Scarlett stated as I positioned myself next to Grace a smile creeping on my lips.

"Hey, I'm still sore from last night. Tomorow I'll come up strong!" He replied while placing his bag on the table and taking out three plastic food containers. He opened them and placed them in the center of the table. Each one contained four sandwiches, Dallas was the first to take one out, followed by me and then Scarlett.

"The vegetarian one is on the left container, mushroom." He informed Grace before taking a bite of his sandwich.

Dallas mom owned the best restaurant in town where she was a cook, so he sometimes offered to bring lunch for everyone.

"Hey, blueberry. Who is the new kid you were talking to yesterday at the party?'' Dallas asked while chewing, his mouth fully opened providing us a good look at his half-chewed sandwich. Scarlett gave him a disgusted look before answering.