My Turn

Chapter 2

        We ran out the doors and made it out to the front parking lot. With the large crowd, the source of attention was blocked from our view. Spotting a ledge, I swiftly brought myself up. Standing up, my eyes immediately tried to search above the crowd. Once more there was a rev and the sound of an engine shutting down. My eyes landed on a 2014 Ducati Panigale 899, the motorcycle was blacked out but had red inner rims. However, my attention was glued to the driver riding the two wheeler. He was an unfamiliar face sporting an all black attire. The black shirt he wore was tight enough to show his strong build matching with fit black jeans and combat boots.

        Somehow with the whole crowd surrounding him, his eyes locked on mine a smirk laid out on his face as he caught me staring at him. "Quite the looker isn't he Jo?" Cara asked, interrupting my trance. 

        "Yeah, not so bad I guess." I replied nonchalantly. Her eyes widened at my words, looking at me incredulously. She scoffed and shook her head before jumping down the ledge. I jumped right after  her heading back to the bench which we left our bags at. The crowd dispersed and soon enough the first bell rang signalling homeroom. 

~~~

        Homeroom when by quickly, our schedules were given out and each student signed in. The next classes held the same routine to sign in. Being the senior class, the first few classes were very laid back and mainly review of past lessons. I was eyeing the clock waiting for the bell to release us to lunch. My stomach growled loudly simultaneously with the lunch bell, saving myself from the embarrassment of my hunger.    

        I found Cara wandering around, already lost in the labyrinth of the hallways. She looked at me desperately and clutched to me like a lost child. I shook my head and chuckled, "Senior year and you still don't know your way around the school."

        "It's not my fault all of the hallways look the same! They should decorate them so others can actually tell the difference," she argued looking around, already decorating them inside of her head with the way her face is scrunched up in concentration. 

        After helping a couple freshmen around the school, we made it through the crowd of students outside to the field in one piece. We headed towards our original spot by the huge tree. Shadowed figures were already under the tree, moving around and talking aimlessly. The sun shown  on the figures showing Christine and Rhea already eating their lunch, probably gossiping around. I situated myself against the tree and brought out my lunch. My lunch didn't even make it fully out of my bag when both girls had tackled me in a hug knocking me down to my side, much like Cara did this morning.

        "MAMMA!" They screamed. "How was summer?" "Did you see that hottie?" "I missed you!" "You got tanner!" "Congratulations!" Were thrown at me.       

        "Summer was OK. I don't know who you are talking about. I missed you too. Yes I did and what?" I managed to say under the two girls. I was able to breathe properly when the weight was lifted off my body. Cara somehow was able to take the girls off me, giving me some breathing room. "Thanks Cara," she nodded and sat back down. 

        "You didn't see it Jo? They already put up the names for possible Valedictorians. And of course your name was the first up there!" Christine told me excitedly.

        "They put up the names already? Why so early?" I asked.

        "Apparently you and a couple others already had the required amount of credits. You definitely need to help me Mamma!" Rhea pleaded me. 

        "Of course I'll help, we can all start at study hall after lunch." They all nodded their heads and started their lunch.

        Rhea stood up, already finished with her lunch, and went to throw away the trash. Cat calls were heard from the group of jocks on the ledge a few yards away from us. Rhea froze in her spot, scared of the sudden attention she had from the jocks. Elizabeth came to the rescue and glared at them. When they saw Elizabeth's death glare they all backed down except for the quarterback. "You think you're all that don't you Fray! Just because your parents are famous doesn't mean we'll bow down to you!" He yelled to Elizabeth, standing up taking a few steps closer as if to intimidate her.

        With the way her face contorted to anger and fists clenched at her side, I stood up and walked to her and the still frozen Rhea. "Go back please Zach. And don't say that to Eli, you know better on how she feels about that." His face softened slightly as I asked him to go back, not wanting to pick a fight with me. He looked at Eli and back at me; walking backwards, he put his hands up in surrender and  walked back to his friends.

        I grabbed both of their hands and led them to the tree. We all sat down in a circle, me sitting between Eli and Rhea. My hand was rubbing Rhea's back to bring her back from her frozen state. "Are you alright Rhea?"

        Her body relaxed as she leaned on me. "Yeah, I'm better. That just brought me some bad memories when-" She gulped and shut her eyes. I continued to comfort her till she calmed down fully. "Thank you Jo." 

        My hands unwrapped Eli's fists. Her eyes darted to my hands but softened when she saw it was just me. "Don't let him get to you Eli."

        She stiffly nodded, "I know, I swear he always tries to find a way to pick a fight with me. I don't know what I saw in him when we dated."

        I smiled sadly, "You guys were cute. I just can't believe he turned out like that. I mean, you actually wore a dress while dating him." 

        "That was when we met up with my parents, even they were surprised I wore a dress." She laughed at the memory. "The past is the past, he lied and we're done."

        "That's good to hear, I'd hate for you to still be affected by him from his past doings." I told her. 

        "Past, I'm not bothered by anymore. But what just happened right now, I just want to punch his face." She informed me. "No one messes with any of you guys, not my sisters."

        "Thank you for helping me out there Eli," Rhea's eyes teared up a bit and tackled Eli with a hug. She hugged back and soon everyone, including myself, indulged her in a group hug. 

        "Alright, everyone off before I take that back," Eli joked lightly. Everyone sat back down and laughed. Smiles were situated on everyone's faces and I was happy with the scene in front of me. A blur of black caught my eye as it entered the school but wasn't able to fully decipher what it was. The bell rang and we all headed towards study hall.