The New Kid

Chapter 3

I opened my eyes groggily on Wednesday morning for the fourth or fifth time. I couldn't believe the school-week wasn't even halfway over yet. I tilted my head to look at the alarm clock. It was 6am, an hour before I had to get up. Why couldn't I be a normal teenager even in the regard of sleeping well? I decided to get up because it was no use tossing and turning. I brushed my teeth and hopped in the shower, allowing the hot water to steam up the bathroom Reagan and I shared. I got out of the shower fifteen minutes later and drew a grumpy face in the fogged up mirror. Once the steam cleared up, I worked on my self-image; I plucked my eyebrows and squeezed my tummy fat. Was it baby fat? Or just a food baby from all the Cheetos I had consumed last night? It was hard to say. 

I attempted to do some sit-ups and crunches for ten minutes, but I couldn't even feel motivated enough to do that. My lazy morning routine was being interrupted by my thoughts of Christian. Was it possible to have a crush on someone this soon? He did have the greenest eyes I had ever seen, and a great smile too. But, what if this was all some sort of mean joke? Befriend the new girl, and then laugh behind her back as she becomes enchanted with her new friends. That wasn't very likely, right? 

The whole gang, and especially Christian seemed to be well-liked, if not popular. Who was Christian Henderson? A nice guy? A sporty guy? A simple guy? A flirt? I didn't know yet. That's what concerned me, I couldn't read anyone too well yet. I decided I would use the next three school-days to observe the boys, especially Christian, very closely. 

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Once I got to school, which took awhile because I realized I had to fill up on gas, then realized that I had forgotten to eat breakfast and stopped at McDonald's, I went straight to my locker. Except, this time, Christian was standing there, apparently waiting for me. "Egg McGriddle?" I managed through a mouthful of food. I offered him it in an outstretched hand. He smiled at my chipmunk cheeks and accepted my food offering. "Thanks," he said, a smile still on his face. He looked radiant today, I wouldn't know how else to describe it. Wow, I sounded infatuated. 

 I quickly focused on opening my locker in hopes that I wouldn't stare at him too long. He was leaning nonchalantly against another kid's locker, and unbeknownst to him, that kid was standing there, looking irritated. I pointed behind him, "Um, Christian, someone's trying to get through." Christian's angelic smile turned into a half-confused frown and he looked over his shoulder at the kid. "Oh, hey I'm sorry," he muttered to said-kid. 

"So, what's up?" I looked at Christian between shuffling some notebooks around. I was still surprised he knew where my locker was already. "So the guys and I have a game on Friday. Would you want to come watch? We'd love your support in the crowd." I smiled oddly at him for some reason. "Football game?" I asked. "Yes," he responded, "starts at 7pm." I shut my locker and slung my backpack strap over my shoulder, "Sure, that sounds fun, but you could have waited to tell me about it in class or at lunch." Christian blushes slightly, I think. "I guess I just didn't want you to come up with too many plans for Friday, I bet you're a busy girl." I scoffed, "I'm not that busy, like ever." Did that sound lame? It did, it sounded lame. 

We started walking toward first hour, dodging kids who were whizzing by as if there weren't other people trying to use the hall. Christian pondered out loud "Well didn't you just move here, though? There must be a lot of movement at your house, unpacking and stuff." I look down as I speak, "I did, but my family's mostly unpacked. We had a ton of books, but my mom's kind of a minimalist when it comes to decorating. We sold quite a few things before moving too." As Christian was listening to me share, he stared straight ahead. I looked up at him and watched him for a few seconds.  I noticed how cute it was when he slicked back his  gelled hair, messing it up, yet perfectly-so. "I see," Christian noted, "That's cool." I was thinking up something to ask him next, before I knew it, I smacked right into a student going the opposite direction as me. 

Our notebooks and loose-leaf pages from my sketchbook went everywhere. Kids were still mulling by and trampled some of my original works. I started to freak out and gather pages up as quickly as I could. Christian helped me pick up my things, like a true gentleman, but not without noticing some of my sketches. "Wow Avalon, these are yours? They're great!" I yanked some of the pages from Christian's hand and frantically said, "Yep! I'll take 'em back now!" The kid I ran into was glaring at me, and I realized it was the same one whose locker we were just blocking, oops.

"I'm so sorry," I said to him. Knowing we were making his day problematic. He must have had too many mishaps this morning, because he mustered with all his might in the busiest hallway of the school, "Can you and your boyfriend just stay out of my way?!" Christian and I were both blushing for sure. The kid gathered his things in a hurry and disappeared so we didn't even have time to contradict him. I remained stunned. Christian cleared his throat and looked at me, scratching the back of his head, "That was a tiny bit awkward." I nodded my head and laughed nervously. I wished I was invisible.

 A bunch of students started chattering amongst themselves and staring at me, including the group of girls that liked to chat with Christian after first period. Way to lay low, new girl, way to lay low, I thought.