Chasing a Broken Butterfly

Chapter 2:

At lunch, I'm finally at ease with my small group of friends. Well, they're mostly Mikey's friends more than mine, but Mikey is my best friend so the other guys don't really seem to mind. And I don't really mind their company either, but then again I'm usually really quiet around them unless spoken to. Thankfully they haven't pressured me into explaining why I'm like that, then again, they're all boys and boys seem to not really be attentive to details.

I'm sitting on top of the bleachers listening to Brent and Joey bicker over something really stupid when Mikey makes his way up and plops himself down next to me.

"How's the first day as a senior going?" He asks.

"It's ok," I reply. "Except there's this new kid in my English class. Have you heard anything about him?" I know he must have. Everyone in this god damn town knows everybody else's business. Not that Mikey is nosey or anything...

"Oh yeah!" He exclaims, "word in the hallway is that he got expelled from the last school he was in. Got in a fight off campus with another dude while seriously intoxicated. Don't know the full story, but his parents are filthy rich," Mikey whistles, "maybe his parents bribed the principal to let him come here". He laughs.

"Oh." Is all I say out loud. But I wonder what his story is...he doesn't seem like such a bad person...

He seemed really nice. Not the kind to have been in such serious trouble. But I guess that's where the saying 'don't judge a book by its cover' comes in.

"Why?" Mikey asks, raising an eyebrow.

I can see a smile creeping on his face and I already know what he's thinking.

"No! That's not why I'm asking! I mean, he's cute, sort of, but no! I was just....curious, I suppose." I explain myself.

"Uh huh... You really expect me to believe that?" Mikey laughs. "I've known you since 4th grade, I know every facial expression you make and ever will make in your lifetime".

I raise my eyebrow at him and playfully punch his shoulder.

"Or maybe that's what I want you to think", I smile up at him challengingly.

He laughs at me and shakes his head.

"If that were true, then either you're the greatest actor to have ever lived or you are the worst. But I think it's the latter".

"Whatever floats your boat," I roll my eyes and smirk.

Cute or not, I know that the new kid will bring some much needed change to this dreary little town. Who knows, maybe I can befriend him before he's fed all these negative perceptions on everyone's status quo.

The lunch bell rings, signaling the end of lunch. So I gather my things to start to head to class.

Mikey grabs me by the elbow and says, "and by the way, we both hit it off right away so I invited him to play some games tonight at my house. Come by and give yourself a proper introduction". He winks at me and walks away.

I stare back in shock and he throws his head back laughing.

I groan because I should've known that Mikey would try to take the opportunity to be given the advantage of befriending someone new. Hell, who doesn't in this town? I swear, people get high off the gossip over who forgot to mow their lawn this past Sunday.

I smile at the idea and muster up all the energy I can to endure the next couple of classes for the day before I enter my art class.