Walking on His path

3

The two got down from the bus and threw away their empty paper bags.

"That was a good meal." Ann said with an approving nod. She and Ronnie walked side by side as they followed other Clarksville students on the sidewalk wearing the same red, black and white checkered bottoms, and white long sleeved buttoned shirts with the school logo on the left breast pocket and their red ties. The guys wore black trousers. Some people like Ann wore the red blazer, others wore either the red vest or buttoned Cardigan, while very few like Ronnie, wore the black sweater.

"Whenever I see people with the same outfit as me, I feel uneasy. Do you know what I mean?" Ann asked Ronnie who in turn looked down at her with a raised brow. "Never mind, you're already used to the uniforms."

"We've been going to Clarksville for eleven years and you've been saying the same thing for eleven years. Especially Mondays like these." Ronnie said with a not so subtle eye roll.

Ann smiled nervously. "Really?"

"Yes." Ronnie said blankly. "Really."

"Oh well." Ann trailed off and the two laughed together for no apparent reason.

"Here we go. You two crazy birds have started again this early morning." A voice cut in, snapping them out of their laughing bubble.

Lo and behold leaning on the gate was none other than,

"Cole." Ann said, surprised as to why Cole was standing by the gate instead of being inside with Ace. "Good Morning."

"Morning." Cole said with a nod.

"Morning, Coley." Ronnie gave a big smile only to be ignored by the red head.

"Wow, the breeze feels nice." Cole said walking along with the girls. He even started humming until Ronnie elbowed his ribs. Doubling over, his dark brown orbs widened in shock as he said, "I should've seen that coming."

"From a mile away." Ronnie said. "But seriously though, why are you in a bad mood." She added knowing he was always in a bad mood. "This early in the Morning?"

"Ace is at it again." Cole let out a sigh as he shoved his hands into his front pockets, acting nonchalant. "He started drawing when we got to school and out of nowhere, his fan girls appeared. Their sheer number forced me out of the art studio and now I'm not with my phone nor my doughnut from 'Favorite diner'." Cole angrily puffed out a cloud of air after his sentence, his nonchalant façade gone.

"Calm down, Coley. Go to your happy place." Ronnie said with a mocking smile.

"I hate you." Cole said bluntly, glancing briefly at the quiet Ann who let out silent chuckles.

Ronnie looked at him with a big grin, bumping her shoulder with his. "You can't live without me, Red. Now let's go get our Acey."

"After eleven years you still stick with those disgusting nicknames." Cole said in a blunt tone, but got a smirk in return from Ronnie.

The three entered into the hallway leading to the art studio and it was packed. It was still early for school to start and yet most students were already swarming the halls.

Occasionally some students stole glances at them, their strong presence was hard to ignore. Cole still maintained his reputation as the delinquent although it was subtler than before. Ann the vice president of the student body council, and Ronnie has the unbeatable title of the Five-year-winning champion of the Kick boxing tournament. If they were to walk with the complete set including Ace and Ross, then most of the students in the school would be staring at them.