❦Zach❦
I shouldn't count my steps to distract myself from Daniels rant, and I also shouldn't have looked up either, because when I did in came a new distraction. The distraction known as Jack Avery. So I didn't catch but a few words of Daniel going on and on about how I should've won yesterday and this and that. He never caught wind of me totally ignoring him and breaking my neck to glance at Jack who was walking too fast with his friends in his leather jacket and dark facade as usual. I make exaggerative and sloppy strides to just be behind him. For a moment he seemed just at arms reach, but that was a daydream. I looked at him and even being so close I could never hear his voice over the bustling halls. I could only see his mouth move and think of what melodic sound his voice would be. Maybe it was low and smooth, sweet even, something to complete the rugged yet soft edge to him. Then again what do I know anyways, I don't even know him. Then him and my reverie disappeared down the hall as we turned into a different direction and jogged up the steps. I felt the world resume.
"I don't get it." Daniel stops to breathe finally. "Aren't you going to say anything?" He chuckles with almost a hint of annoyance. I'm sure at this point he knew I wasn't listening.
"What is there to say? I came in second and that's that Danny." I halfheartedly smile and pat his shoulder. You'd think he'd have dropped the topic by now but the supportive friend in him simply couldn't. To an extent though, I didn't mind.
"Eh, I guess so." And I silently pray that that's the end of that. "We have a chem test first period and I'm feeling quite alright about it." He changes the subject as we open my locker that we share.
"Shit, that's today?" I ask hoping he was wrong but I'm pretty sure he's right. If I recall correctly our teacher spoke of a pop quiz coming sooner or later sometime last week. I thought it was a weak threat but I guess it was a guarantee.
"Yeah you didn't study? Dude I asked if you wanted to study together." He says as we both shuffle through our bags retrieving what we need for the day.
"I know , I know. I just haven't had the time." I actually had all the time in the world but I don't know what I'm worried for anyways, I'm good at chemistry. Hell, to everyone on the outside looking in I'm good at everything.
"No worries that's what Google is for." He says waving his phone in the air. I shut my locker shooting him an agreeing look but we both knew we didn't need to nor would we cheat.
— • —
I entered my house to be greeted with the sounds of unfamiliar voices coming from the dining room. Nothing strange here seeing as there's almost never a silent moment in this house anyways with dads meetings, moms book club, the occasional parties, the occasional snooty friends my parents have over, sometimes even arguing, and etc etc. So much for the hope of one day of silence.
"Mom?" I called out and turned the corner to see what the commotion was all about.
"Oh Zach!" She says still slightly giggling over whatever was said by the guests she had over. Her eyes are slightly glazed over and her smile is entirely too big, she's tipsy. She sets her glass down and gracefully makes her way over to me, her floral dress flowing behind her. "This is my son Zach," The overdressed people which includes, two balding men and two ladies I assumed were the wives, waved at me with warm smiles.
"Your mom absolutely raves about you." One of the ladies in a white dress says I nod curtly with a smile. I was used to my moms guests because it must get lonely here all alone sometimes but I'm naturally anxious ninety-nine point nine percent of the time. No matter how many new people I meet it's something I don't think I'll grow out of. Natural human interactions don't come natural to me at all.
