New Boy (A Javid Story)

Back to School

The first day back at school after winter break was never a good day. But for Racetrack Higgins, it was hell. His best friend wasn't talking to him, his boyfriend had broken up with him, and he had to get up at six in the morning after spending a week sleeping until noon. 

He tried to talk to Albert before school, but he couldn't find him. He later found out from Jojo that he had gone in early and sat with his math teacher instead of talking with his friends. He couldn't get him after first period because the two didn't have the same class. During second period, Albert made Elmer switch seats so he didn't have to sit with Race. Race tried to corner him after class, but the redhead was nowhere to be seen. Third period he had a study hall, which he spent complaining to Jack. 

"I tried to talk to him, but he just keeps avoidin' me." Race groaned, spinning a pencil in his hand. 

"What about last period? Doesn't he sit next to you?" Jack asked. 

"He made Elmer switch seats with him." The blonde ran his fingers through his hair. 

"Yeah, Jojo told me he went in this morning." Jack nodded. 

"He told me that too." Race rolled his eyes. "I told him I'm not mad. He still won't listen to me." 

"Give him time, Racer. He'll talk eventually." Jack patted his shoulder.

"Yeah but now I have nobody to talk to." Race complained. 

"Wow, thanks." Jack crossed his arms.

"You know what I mean." Race glared at him. 

"No, I don't, actually." Jack looked to the front of the room, where the teacher who was supposed to be watching them was really watching Youtube. 

"Well too bad then. I don't feel like explaining." Race pulled a tootsie pop out from his pocket, unwrapping it and putting it in his mouth.

"Can I have one?" Jack asked. 

"Nope." Race shook his head, and went back to spinning the pencil between his fingers. 

During lunch, Albert came in after Race, then sat with some of his friends from baseball. Race considered going over, considering he was friends with the boys too, but Jack convinced him to stay. 

"Try to get him after school." Davey advised. "That way he can't use time as an excuse against you." 

So Race listened to Davey's advice and waited until after school. He got out as quickly as possible, then waited for Albert to come out. After a few minutes, he started to get worried he had missed him, but then he caught a glimpse of Albert's backpack and ran towards him. 

"Al! Albert wait!" He called after him. Race saw him turn around, but then he just kept walking. Race ran faster and eventually caught up with him. He pulled Albert aside and crossed his arms. 

"What the hell, man?" Albert shook his head. 

"Well I'm not on varsity track for nothin'." Race shrugged. "Why have you been avoidin' me?" 

"I think ya know why." Albert rolled his eyes. 

"Albert, I'm not mad. I really just wanna talk." Race insisted. 

"Yeah, well, I don't." Albert tried to walk away, but Race grabbed onto his arm. 

"Too bad. I ain't spending another day tryin' to talk to ya only to be ignored." Race tried. 

"Well you're gonna have to, cause I don't want to talk." Albert stood his ground. 

"Why not?" Race asked. 

"Because I don't need to hear you say that you don't like me back!" Albert snapped. "I could live with it when ya didn't know, but to hear the words come out of your mouth?" He shook his head. "That would be too painful." 

"Albert..." Race started. 

"Save it." The other boy shook his head. "I don't need to hear that you're sorry or somethin'. I really don't care, either." 

"Al, come on, please." Race persisted. 

"Can't we just go back to the way we were? You know, jokin' around and me stealin' your food?" Albert asked. 

"I don't think that's what you want." Race countered. 

"I'd take anything if we could just forget this every happened." Albert insisted. 

"Al, you is my best fri-" 

He cut Race off. "Your best friend, I know. Nothing more." 

"Albert..." The blonde tried again. 

"I said it once and I'll say it again. Save. It. Race." Albert glared. 

"Fine, But, I do want to be friends again." Race bit his lips. 

"We can just forget this ever happened?" Albert asked. 

"Yeah." Race nodded and Albert cracked a small smile. 

"I'll see ya tomorrow, Racer." 

"Bye Al." Race gave a small wave as he walked off towards the parking lot. Then it hit him that he didn't have a ride. Usually Spot picked him up and when he couldn't, Albert did. Race looked back over his shoulder and saw that Albert was still in view. He turned around and jogged back over to the redhead. "Hey, do you mind giving me a ride home? Everyone else already left and I still don't exactly have a car." He rubbed the back of his neck. 

"Of course." Albert nodded and pulled out his keys, walking in the direction of his car. For the first few minutes, the car ride was awkward, but by the end the two were singing along to the car radio like nothing had ever happened. 

That night, Albert was on the phone with Davey. "I talked to Race today." He updated, tossing a baseball up in the air and catching it over and over again. 

"How did it go?" Davey asked from the other side as he let Les paint his nails. His younger brother had gotten into Sarah's makeup and nail polish and decided he wanted to make Davey look pretty. 

"We're talking again, obviously. We agreed to act like nothing ever happened." Albert said. 

"Wait, so you didn't talk at all about how you felt?" Davey checked. 

"Race tried to get me to, but I just couldn't do it." Albert shook his head, even though he knew Davey couldn't see him. 

"Albert, that's not healthy." Davey insisted. 

"Ah, chill, Dave. It's good enough for me." Albert dismissed it. 

"Davey!" Les interrupted. "Next hand." 

"Listen, Albert, I have to go. My brother is going to do my next hand. Just, promise me you'll talk to him eventually." Davey started to end the call. 

"I'll think about it. Later, Dave." 

"Bye, Albert." Davey hung up and put his next hand out for Les to paint. 

"Who was that?" Les asked.

"One of my friends from school." Davey replied. 

"You have friends?" Les laughed. 

"Shut up and paint my other hand." Davey went slightly pink and watched as Les started to work on his left hand.