Hour Glass

Chapter Three: Miss Everything

I have always thought it was funny how everyone separates at lunch. First, at the middle tables taking up all the attention are the popular kids. Next, we have the kids who are really bonded with their groups sitting on the left and right sides of the cafeteria in massive clumps. Then, we get to the kids who not many people talk to. Typically, they sit along the bar tables that connect to the walls or they sit spread out from the rest of the groups outside. The band kids usually invite some of the socially awkward kids to come sit with us because individually we are all pretty damn awkward, but collectively we are a herd of nerds that stick together. Most of my school refers to the next group in their most stereotypical redneck voice as the "country folk"- and they usually sit outside at the picnic tables in pods or go swap dip with other kids. Everything is so cliché, I know trust me; it's like a typical high school movie.
After we go through the list of where everyone sits, there is one more person I haven't mentioned yet. That guy is, Lucas Finley, and he is one hell of a guy. I've been in love with that boy since I was old enough to know what love was. Sadly, he has been dating the typical high school cheerleader, Hannah Reese Love, for over a year at this point. It's so typical, the tall, brown haired, masculine football star and wrestling captain with the big brown eyes in love with the thin blonde head cheerleader. I know it wasn't planned, at least on his end but it is still so infuriating. No, it isn't just because of how I feel towards him; it is because she doesn't respect him whatsoever and uses him to get whatever she wants. She is a snake and everyone who doesn't want to get in her pants knows it. As my Grammi always said a leopard can never change its spots. It sucks but it is sadly true. Despite that whole relationship being nothing but a massive cluster of confusion to the whole school, Lucas is not your average guy.
Lucas Austin Finley has been my best friend since birth. Our parents were friends in high school, then went to the same college so they always stayed close. I learned to walk with him, to speak with him, to run and laugh, then soon after that I learned to love- him. Over the time Lucas and little miss perfect have been together I've distanced myself from him. I've only ever dated three people and I am an eighteen-year-old girl; two of those three relationships I got abused and they were very toxic. The third guy I "dated" was Elliott, it was super awkward because we love each other but simply as friends which we found out within about two weeks and had a very funny mutual separation. I wouldn't call it a break up, since it wasn't dramatic and didn't have any of the sadness or pressure that comes with breaking up with someone. Ah, god look at him. His warm soulful eyes, his new taper haircut, tall, slender but masculine build, his gentle smile and the way his smile curves up into his dimple on his right cheek. He is the most kind, most intelligent, clever guy I know and deserves everything the world has to offer... he should not have to settle for little miss everything. But, if he is happy- that is all I could ever ask for...
"Hey Stace! Is this seat taken?" Lucas smiles as he lightly places his palms on the back of my chair and the chair next to me.
"No! Here- uh, let me move my stuff!" I stammer. God Stacey, pull yourself together. I know he's godly, but you don't need to act like a freaking nut job over him and stutter... I grumble to myself as I lock eyes with Rachel who is smiling ear to ear, attempting to not burst out laughing at my stupidity. All I can do is squint my eyes and stick my tongue out at her childishly with a laugh. I move my things from the chair to my left to let Lucas sit down and without my knowing I begin to grin and my cheeks begin to redden more. "How are you doing t-"
"Oh, aren't you such a doll!" Hannah squawks as she sits down into the seat I had my bag in, throwing her things on top of mine making me scoot to my right a bit. With a furrow of her sharpied brow and a dramatic change in her tone of voice she growled but eerily chirped, "I love that you saved me a seat next to my boyfriend Vanessa!"
"Uh, my names Stacey thank you... and uh, Lucas was going to sit-"
"Vanessa, Stacey, whatever it is practically the same. Come on baby, lets go get lunch!" she chirps in her annoying little voice, grabbing Lucas by the hand and skipping off towards the salad bar.
"Whatever, its practically the same my ass! Its literally a completely different name that doesn't sound ANYTHING like mine- what the hell! God, she makes my skin crawl! I hate her, I rarely truly hate people but oh I hate little miss priss so much!" I shout slamming my fist onto the table, spinning around violently to Rachel and Elliott.
"Why because I think someone is in love..." Elliott says glasping his hands together and batting his eyes.
"Rachel, can he ever not be a douchebag?"
"Elliott, babe?" she says in a soft voice.
"Hm?"
"Shut the hell up." She laughs but still with enough sincerity in her voice to make him close his mouth. "Now, Stacey. First, you need to breathe hun or you're going to pass out, throw up, or school will close because of a murder scene. We are so going to prom together, so you can't get expelled or sentenced to death by the feds yet. But, I will agree with Elliott on the fact that you my friend are totally jealous."
"I am not jealous, especially of that terrible excuse of a 'good person.'"
"Okay, I will pretend like I didn't watch you drool over the boy for five minutes... or even better like I haven't watched you drool over him since we were about eight." She chuckled.
"Look- you know, I can admire an attractive person without it-"
"What, without it meaning anything? Yeah, sure you can, but you can't act as if you're not in love with him and haven't been for years." Elliott chimes in with a wink. "I even knew that when we attempted to "date" back when we were younger. You have always been trying to find something to prove to yourself that you're not in love with him, but you have never done so and will never find that proof."
"Sh- shut it Eli... Rachel!" I raise my eyebrows at her hoping she will take my side.
"I have to agree with him on this one honey. You have to admit to yourself that you do love him."
"I have admitted that to myself. Admitting that I do and always will made it almost unbearable to see how terribly she treats him. It takes everything I have every time I see him not to hug him or tell him 'oh by the way you how we have known each other for eighteen years? Well, ya see I've been madly in love with you since we were eight.' Cause I am sure the whole world would find out with my luck, or even worse I'd lose him forever then hate myself. So, let's not tell him I love him okay?"
"Hey nerds, what are we gossiping about!" Hannah croaks plopping down in the seat meant for Lucas, then leans over and steals a fry from Lucas."
"Nothing concerning you thanks. Some things are better left alone." I growl as I pick my fork back up.
For the remainder of lunch, we must keep getting more chairs because of the growing collection desperate guys who she pays more attention too than her own truly perfect boyfriend. The more people that came to watch the show, the louder her miserably high pitched, terrible voice got. Talking about everyone in the whole school's drama. How Mary is cheating on Joe; and Jessica wanted to go to homecoming with Samuel but is now going with Jesse. Hate to break it to you, you little brat; no one gives a damn about what you say, and if you haven't noticed the only people who give you attention are the terrible guys in our school... get some respect for yourself, and if not for yourself, for Elliott! Because he is leaps and bounds better than you in every single way. Even though she insisted on Lucas not sitting anywhere near me, she flirted with practically the whole school except her boyfriend, big shocker. Lucas has become so quiet and standoffish around little miss everything; I love that I've know him so long because I can see through him, but at the same time I cannot do anything to help him except be there for him.