The New Kid

Chapter 23

Satisfied with my eventful weekend thus far, I finally slept well the last two nights.

My alarm goes off on my phone, but I'm already up, stretching. A smile crosses my face when I think about Christian and his yummy lips. Not seeing him all day yesterday felt weird.

Reagan pops his head inside my room, "I'm supposed to tell you breakfast is ready." I peer over at him, "Thanks Reagan, tell Mom I'll be ready to come down in a few."

I get up from the floor and start digging through my closet looking for something cuter than normal. I've got time, so I put on my usual simple mascara and eyeliner, some eyeshadow, a random neutral-toned lip-gloss I found at the bottom of my make-up drawer, and pluck my eyebrows. I give myself a look-over in the mirror. Not too shabby, I think. 

At breakfast, mom gives me a questioning look. "Well hello, Avalon. You're looking extra cute this morning. Special occasion?" I wave her comments away, "No, no just feeling like dressing up a bit. Why not?" Reagan gives me a look-over and gasps, "Mom, Avalon has a crush!" I swat at him, "REAGAN. STOP IT. NOW" He shrieks in delight as my cheeks blush brightly, "Avalon's got a crush, Avalon's got a crush." He chants all through breakfast and I'm glad it's almost time for me to hit the road.

"We're talking tonight, young lady," mom says after taking a sip of her steaming coffee. 

..........................

The school hallways seem even busier than usual this morning. I'm practically wrestling my way through to my locker. I think someone sneezed in my ear. 

I'm almost there when Brock spots me. Jersey 30. I go right by him and hear him say to his buddies, "Mmm, I think I want me some of that one." Like I'm a burger or a slice of pizza.

I am not letting him get away with saying that, and I go back to him and his buddies and look him straight in the eyes, "What did you just say about me?" I question, with a serious tone and matching expression. Brock puffs out his chest a little more, looking very tall indeed, and says, "You heard me. You look good, and I want to try. I always get what I want." He turns toward his buddies as they laugh in unison, so he doesn't see it coming when I slap him across the face, hard, and proceed to get to my locker. 

Brock isn't about to let me get away with that. I've turned to leave, but he grabs my wrist, swinging me back towards him. His flock of buddies erupt in laughter. I'm feeling pretty intimidated; Brock seems a lot stronger than I bargained for. I'm feeling sick to my stomach. A bunch of students are standing around now, watching the scene go down. I'm debating whether to kick him in the groin or punch him in the face and aim for the nose - it's a tough choice. I finally decide. I'm reeling back my arm, locking my fist, because I'm about to take a swing at his nose bridge.

Someone catches my arm mid-air, and it's Monty. 

Monty pulls me away from Brock and towards himself in the middle of the hall. "How about, Brock, you pick on someone your own size." Monty positions his body in front of me and crosses his arms, definitely flexing his biceps to appear even stronger. I peek out from behind Monty, grabbing his sides, to see what Brock's expression looks like. No doubt Brock's buddies are considering interfering on his behalf. Monty is outnumbered by Brock and three other guys. 

"Monty," I whisper loudly behind him, "maybe we should go to class." Monty gives Brock one more mean look, and grabs my arm to tug me away from the likes of Brock. Brock and his buddies start jeering at us for walking away. Finally, almost to my first hour class, Monty lets go of my arm. I tuck my hair behind my ear nervously. "Um, thanks Monty. You kind of saved me back there." He maintains a serious expression. "No problem. Just stay out of Brock's way. I don't want to see him around you like that again or he's gonna pay." 

I take my chances and start a difficult conversation about the other day, knowing the bell will be ringing any second. "Look, I wanted to say I'm sorry." Monty sticks around a moment, and kids are passing us by, still whispering about what had happened. Gossips. 

"Apologize for what?" Monty questions, playing dumb. "Basically for not feeling the same way about you. I had zero idea you were into me like that. I'm not interested in going to the Fall Ball as your date. Though, the kiss was uncalled for. You should have talked to me instead. I hope we can still be friends?"

He doesn't say anything, so I say one more thing. "You should know by now I'm with Christian. We've grown pretty close the last few weeks." Monty shifts a little and un-crosses and re-crosses his arms, looks down. He lightly kicks his foot against one of the lockers, "Yeah, yeah I can see that."

I extend my hand as a sort of apology, "Friends? Please. I don't want this to ruin everything. Not between you and me. Not between you and Christian." 

He hesitates, but then finally meets me halfway and shakes my hand, "Friends. And hey, stay away from Brock maybe?" 

"See you at lunch?" I ask as he walks away. His moody self doesn't answer. I stick my tongue out at him behind his back and the bell rings.