Dude, I love you

Chapter One

Jack Johnson’s POV

Getting up in the morning has become a daily struggle when there is nothing to look forward to and the morning routine has just become a set of motions, void of any emotion at this point.

I get out of bed to go wash my face and head downstairs to have breakfast. My mom made waffles.

It’s been two months since I started freshman year at Westside high school and I loathe every minute of it. I walked through those doors with such high hopes and excitement with my best friend (well not so best friend anymore) Jack Gilinsky.

It all started when we found out we weren’t in the same homeroom. He had easily made friends and girls obviously liked him and well… I didn’t attract very many friends and not that many girls either if any. We hung out and sat together during lunch but he eventually got invited to do stuff with other people while I couldn’t go because there wasn’t enough room in the car or they only needed one more player for whatever sport they were playing at lunch.

At first I was fine with it and brushed it off as no big deal but it happened more and more often until there was no point in meeting him for lunch.

“How’s your waffles honey?” my mom asks and I just groan in response. My bed still calls to me from upstairs.

He was being accepted into the bigger groups of friends and the popular kids and I wasn’t. We still hung out when his parents came to visit my parents or vice versa but at school not so much, and then not at all.

We’ve been friends since the first day of kindergarten and you probably won’t believe this but I had been on the swings by myself when this boy came up to me and pointed out that we had the same shirts on. He introduced himself and I couldn’t believe it, we even had the same name and we’ve been best friends ever since. Even our parent’s became good friends, which wasn’t hard because we even lived in the same neighbourhood. Best friends by fate I think sometimes, until recently.

“Jack?” my mom calls from downstairs,

“Yeah?” I reply as I stick my head out the bathroom doorway with my toothbrush still in my mouth.

Uhg. No reply, of course moms. I spit and rinse my mouth and head downstairs and find her waiting by the back door in her work uniform, pressed pants and white dress shirt, slinging her purse over her shoulder.

“Are you ready? Jeff already left for school” she asks, odd my brother actually left on time for school.

“Yeah I just have to change my clothes and grab my bag.” I say walking towards the stairs.

“Okay, make it quick or we’ll be late.” She says jingling her keys as she walks about checking off a mental list.

Today is going to be like every other day this week this, every other day this month actually. Boring, awkward and lonely.

During homeroom I nodded off and my head fell before I caught it, causing a stir of giggling to my left and a few people behind me, making my cheeks flush red. The teacher didn’t notice thankfully and didn't even bother to turn around to see what people were giggling about.

I sat near the wall where the door was located for an easy exit and entrance with a low chance of embarrassing myself or being talked to for that matter.

When we were dismissed and freshmen flooded the hallway I saw jack and he saw me. His only acknowledgement of me being the slightest nod before he turned away and walked passed me with his friend Justin as I made my way to English.

I usually try to blend into the walls but keep my head up. Even though the people here treat me like a nerd or a wallflower I don’t exactly see myself that way.