Spiderboy

twenty five

I woke up the next morning in a strangely good mood. I was quick to dress, wearing my own jersey, jeans and tennis shoes, and shovelling my breakfast, saying goodbye to my family and going to school. I decided to stop for a hot chocolate, waiting in a corner Starbucks and rifling through my bag to find my money.
"hi Alexis." Ned Leeds stood beside me and I smiled briefly, unable to answer because of the keys I was awkwardly holding with my teeth, still looking for my wallet.
"okay, well there was meant to be a football game today, we're you planning to go?" he questioned and I took my keys in my hand, dangling them dangerously off my pinky finger to answer him.
"I didn't know there was one, why, were you?" I finally pulled a ten dollar note, handing it to the cashier with an apologetic smile. She pursed her lips and took the money, gesturing for me to move on as she handed me the change.
"oh, I don't know, I was thinking if you did me and Peter could come with you and Roxy."
At the last name he looked to me hopefully and I bit back a smile.
"I don't know. I'm sure Roxy is though, maybe you could go with her?" I suggested and he shrugged quickly.
"oh, well I'm sure Roxy wouldn't want to go with me." he said, and I could tell he was waiting for me to disagree, and tell him that she would love nothing more. An image floated to my mind of my best friend sitting in the bleachers with the Filipino boy, most likely overwhelmed by the Star Wars references he threw out. A laugh bubbled to my lips bit I held it back, shoving my free hand through my hair and glancing over to the machines and hoping my drink was ready.
"I don't think so Ned, I thought you were friends? But-"
"hi! hi sorry, I only just got your text- oh, Lexa." Peter crashed through the people in the little coffee shop and stopped dead at seeing me, turning a little red.
"hey, I didn't know you were
here." he said and I shrugged, glad for an excuse to ignore Neds question.
"well, here I am. Are you getting something?" I asked him, as the lady came with my drink. I held out my hand, almost hitting her with my keys, and she backed off, looking alarmed.
"no, no let's go." he said as I hastily shoved the offending keys back into my bag.
We left the warm coffee shop, and the scent of coffee beans was replaced by crisp cold air, and I wrapped my fingers around my mug in an attempt to keep the warmth in them. I barely payed attention to the boys conversation, letting my mind drift off. My drink had heated my fingers, so they weren't numb, but it was going cold. I sipped the hot liquid absentmindedly, savouring the warm chocolate taste on my tongue, heating me from the inside out. Although I knew the warmth was partially from Peters shoulder, which was pressed against mine as we sat side by side in the subway station. I only snapped back to reality as Peter called my name once we were on the train to the station nearest school.
"what?" I said blankly and he half smiled.
"I didn't know you liked football." he repeated and I blinked, still confused.
"I do?"
"you said you were going to the game." Ned reminded me and I frowned, remembering.
"oh, right. Yeah maybe." I shrugged, taking another drink of my hot chocolate and Peter turned back to Ned, allowing me to drift off again, as the train slowed down again.

"if you're ditching me for Peter I'm gonna be pissed!" Roxy punched my shoulder and I pouted in mock hurt.
"ow! I'm not ditching you Roxy! I just met Ned and Peter at Starbucks, I didn't even mean to." I said and she huffed
"fiiine." she replied, dragging out the word in fake annoyance, and I rolled my eyes at my friends antics. I linked arms with her and we set off down the hall towards thirs period. Roxy was late for school and didn't make in to roll call. Because I had double Spanish straight after, so I hadn't seen her untill she rushed towards me in the hall, grinning wildly, before plowing her fist into my arm.
"Peters talking about you." she told me matter-of-factly. I tilted my head and pursed my lips
"hmm. Good stuff?" I said, trying to hide my curiosity and she smirked at me
"is there any good stuff?" she wondered aloud, and it was Roxy's turn to get punched.
"aright fine! I don't know, he seemed to want to tell you something. He was asking Ned if he should, Ned said yes but he wasn't sure."
I looked at her shrewdly.
"you were eavesdropping?" I asked and Roxy shook her head.
"no! Honestly, I was just walking past and I heard 'I don't know if I could even tell Alexis,' and Ned was like 'Peter you really should!' and that's all. I only heard like seven words." she said and I snorted.
"that was a lot more than seven." I pointed out and she shrugged
"yeah, well. I was never one for maths, was I?"
"didn't have the brains, most likely." I ducked out of the way as Roxy made to punch me again, and stuck my tongue out at her.
"you are but a child." she said snuffly, with a fake accent and I did a little bow.
"ah, but it is not I that has to put up with it."
This time I didn't dodge fast enough.