Boys & Bikes

Chapter 3

I read over my conversation from last night with Ashtyn, my best friend from Virginia.

ash- how was ur first day b??

me- i'm already over this school. it sucks.

ash- ahh hon i'm sorry. how come??

me- literally nobody is nice. and i made a fool of myself. and there's a cute boy that i know i'm never gonna get.

ash- everything will work out for the best bb! imy like crazy, we want u back at jmhs!!

me- i'll visit every chance i get i swear. go all out for football szn for me!

ash- will do. hook up w some cute dutch guys for me!

me- hmm we'll see hahha. anyways, gotta go, gotta be up early tomorrow. gn!

ash- gn!

~next morning~

We pull up for my third day at ASH. Yeah, so far I'm not really feeling this school thing. I tell my mom to stay in the car this time. Maybe that'll help my image somewhat, even though my reputation has already dwindled. At this moment, my image is drowning in the sea of "losers", but I'm gonna try and swim my way up to the "not super-known but still liked" group. I just gotta find my people.

I head to my locker, pulling out my Geography Is Fun textbook. I roll my eyes and lean my head in my locker for a bit. I look at myself in the small locker mirror. My brown hair pulled up in a ponytail. My body engulfed in a Cavs sweatshirt. I look around. Wow, no wonder I don't fit in. Why does everyone here dress up for school? I sigh and tuck at my scrunchie, letting my wavy cascade down the sides of my face. I pull some mascara out of my bag and apply some quickly. The bell goes and I run to class, taking my seat next to gorgeous boy. I look at him, expecting him to look back so I can smile but he just taps away on his phone. I sit for a double period of geo, anxious to leave. As soon as that bell goes, I'm up and out.

Well, off to the bathroom! I think to myself.

"Hey- New girl, Lily!" I hear a raspy voice call out. I whip around. It's him, it's Willem. He's smirking at me from across the hall. He motions for me to come closer and I do.

"Hey um, wanna sit with me and my friends?" he asks. "I don't really know who you hang out with yet but if you want you can hang with us". I nod, unable to form a coherent sentence. His eyes. Oh my, they're so blue. He's got a button nose and a wide mouth, kinda like a model. Today he's wearing some black skinny jeans and an orange sweatshirt that says 'Daily Paper' on it. Interesting choice... I guess he is a brarnd boy. He uncomfortable looks away and laughs when he notices I've been staring. I shut my mouth that was hanging open like a dog in a hot car and follow him to the cafeteria. Him and his friends are smoking hot. He introduces me to his boys. There's Ivan who's from Spain, Dylan from LA, Ryan from Boston and Peter from Amsterdam. Yum.

"So uhh, where- where are you from?" I ask Willem, immediately cringing afterwards from the awkwardness.

"Oh I'm Dutch," he replies, nodding silently for a few seconds before turning back to his friends. They start talking about hot girls in the grade and who they'd "smash". Who even uses that term? Instead of listening to their... mentally stimulating conversation, I scan the cafeteria. I notice that a lot of people are looking at me. I become insecure and move my hair so it covers my peripheral vision.

Thankfully, the bell rings. Instinctively, my feet carry me to French class. The teacher announces that we'll be doing group work. Oh no.

"So, uhh, Lilly" he puts his hand on his hip. "You're going to join... Andrea and Abby"

"Okay" I squeak. I walk to the back of the classroom and drag a table over there.

"Hi," one girl smiles. She has long, straight brown hair, olive skin and thick eyebrows. Her nose isn't big but it's definitely not small. It's kind of puffy but it fits her face well. He reminds me of a friendly dog.

"Hi" I smile.

The other girl doesn't say anything. She doesn't even look up from her phone.

"I'm Andrea, this is-" she begins, noticing her friend on her phone, she nudges her.

"I'm Abby" the other one looks up for two seconds, then back down at her phone. Abby has a round face and high cheekbones. She has braces, each bracket wrapped in a pink rubber band. Her freckled face is scrunched up as her brown eyes intently watched her phone. She was dressed in a tie-dye T-shirt that said LHS on it.

"So where are you guys from?" I ask.

Andrea perks up, "Well, my mom's Dutch, dad's American. I was born in Utah but I moved to France when I was 6, and I've lived here since I was 12"

"Cool," I exclaim, I wish I was that culturally enlightened. "Can you speak Dutch?"

"Tuurlijk" she laughs. "That means of course"

I laugh.

"Abby doesn't warm up to strangers that fast. She's from Oklahoma."

Abby purses her lips together, knitting her eyebrows closer together, trying to drown our conversation out.

"So, uhh- what do we have to do for this French thing?" I question. Andrea just shrugs and giggles, "we never do anything". I nod.

"Okay, we ask every new kid this but... don't you think Mr. Valmorin is hot?" she whispers, leaning closer to me. Hearing this, Abby perks up and scans my face for a reaction.

"Um... I dunno, I guess," I awkwardly chuckle. Andrea excitedly taps her feet on the floor.

"Abby, tally that" she instructs. Abby opens her planner and flips to an empty page at the back. There are some tallies back there and she adds another one.

"I'm only adding half a tally. She didn't sound enthusiastic" Abby shrugs, keeping her eyes on the book.

"I mean, I'm just not gonna get any ideas. I'm pretty sure he's gay" I laugh. Andrea's eyes twist into a confused look.

"Okay, sure" she sarcastically says. "I mean, no way. He has kids. He doesn't act, look or sound gay"

"Whatever" I laugh.

Andrea ends up inviting me to lunch, and boy am I relieved. Willem's hot and all, but I gotta not be so awkward around him before anything can happen between us.

I sit next to Andrea at lunch, Abby sits on the other side of the table. Within 3 minutes, the table is full.

"This is my friend Esmé," she announces. "Esmé, Lily... Lily, Esmé".

"Hi," I reach my hand out to shake it but she doesn't seem to get the hint. I yank my hand back into my sweatshirt and pretend it never happened.

"Nice to meet you," she says, a slight accent, kinda similar to the security guard except not as strong. I'm guessing she's Dutch too. She's gorgeous, lucky her. I take in her modelesque appearance. Her blonde, wavy hair is pulled into a perfect bun on top of her head. Her blue eyes are shadowed by her thick eyelashes. She has one of those perfect noses that every girl wants. Her lips are heart shaped and she has a pointy chin.

It's official. I met her two seconds ago and already. I. want. her. face. Lunch goes well, better than the last few days. I enjoy these girls' company. They're all super friendly. Except for Abby who's said but two words to me, but hey, maybe we'll grow on each other.

The school day ends on a good note. I go home and go to bed happy. I'm excited to see what the next few days will bring!