KISS: Casablanca High School

Ch 44: Well That's Something (Ace)

My hands were shaking as I drove to school. It had been a long time since I drove to school, drove in general, to be honest, and I was kind of freaking out.

And by kind of freaking out, I mean I was really freaking out. 

"Aw man this would be so much easier if I wasn't alone," I whispered, before shaking my head violently. "No! Not going down that path. When he wants to apologize to me, then I'll take him back." 

His car was parked in its usual spot, gleaming a bright orange at the end of the row, and I could see him sitting alone on his phone. Nope, Ace, you're not going there, you're better than that, come on. 

I grabbed my backpack, heading toward the tables before drawing to a halt in shock. Eric and Bruce and Gene were sitting at a table, no surprise, but Paul was sitting awkwardly at the end of the bench, halfheartedly joining in on the conversation. 

No way. 

They made up??! 

"Hey Ace!" Eric called, waving at me with a brilliant smile. I grinned at him in spite of myself and walked over toward them, ignoring Gene and Paul pointedly. "Hey, you get the art project finished?" he asked. My heart sank and I let out a groan. "Oh, you've gotta be kidding me, that's not due today, is it?" 

Eric looked down at his sketchbook and nodded. "Yeahhh. It's not that bad, you just need to draw your favorite animal." 

"What, yours is a fox?" Bruce asked, peering over Eric's shoulder. Eric's face went pink and he slammed the sketchbook shut. "Maybe! What's yours, anyway?" 

"Easy. Dog." 

Gene and I looked at each other before looking back at Bruce. "Wait, you can't use that as your favorite animal, that's too broad! You gotta be more specific than that," I said. Bruce rolled his eyes, shrugging. "Nah, it's just a dog in general. I mean does Eric have a specific type of fox that's his favorite?" he countered. We all turned to look at Eric, who sank lower in his seat, face burning. "Why're y'all going after me like this geez," he mumbled. Grinning, Bruce shook his head. "Alright fine, I'll go with like a Labrador or something, I don't know. Now shut up, I'm trying to look over the study guide for math." 

Gene peered over his shoulder, starting to argue heated with Bruce over problem 7 as I sat next to Eric, still ignoring Paul, and pulling out my own sketchbook. "Did you do the study guide for art by any chance?" I asked, chewing on the end of my pencil as I stared at the blank page. He laughed, still sketching. "Hah, no. I need like a -12% to keep an A in that class, I'm chilling. And I'm not worried about like gov or English either. Just like...every other class I'm in." 

I nodded, half-heartedly trying to draw a bear. "Mood. I need like a 98% in gov to get an A so I've just kinda given up on that one. And pretty much everything else. If I pass, I'm happy." 

"I feel that," Paul muttered. I scowled, flipping him off without lifting my eyes from the page. He sighed and I felt a vindicated grin twitching my lips. Gene might've forgiven him but I wasn't even close to being at that point.

 The bell rang and Eric sighed, closing his notebook. "Alright, calculus time I guess. Maybe if I cry Aucoin will give me a chance to get the 147% I need for an A." 

Bruce patted him on the shoulder, rising to his feet. "I'm just gonna tell you now, save your tears man, he's not gonna give you that. Just shoot for a B." 

"Right, cause a 96% is so much easier to get." 

I winced, stuffing my books into my backpack. "Hey, good luck, man. Just study all night for tomorrow I guess," I said, giving him a parting wave before heading off to drama. 

Speaking of drama, I bumped into him in the hallway. 

I mean more like he aggressively walked into me but same difference. "Oh, so sorry, Paul," he growled, before storming off. I rolled my eyes as I watched him weave his way through the crowd, but I could feel my heart twisting into an angry knot. I mean Gene and Paul were half-heartedly making up, maybe Pete and I could--

I shook my head, shoving my hands in my pocket and heading to class. No, he wasn't worth it. I'll just have to find another boyfriend. Not like that was a problem at a small private school or anything.

Eric had traded art for his calculus study guide by the time I slumped into my seat in gov. "How's it looking? You gonna be able to get that 96?" 

He closed his eyes, dropping his head to the desk. "Shhh. If I don't think about it I can't stress about it and if I can't stress about it I can't choke when I actually have to take the test." 

I leaned back in the desk, propping my feet up and letting out a sigh. "Yeah I feel that. I'm just going to go in blind and hope I know enough to pass. Senioritis, baby, I'm not gonna study." 

"That's a dangerous game to play, man," Gene said, taking his seat. My smile vanished and I turned away from him. "Yeah whatever." 

It got a lot more awkward when Peter walked into the classroom, pointedly not looking at me. Whatever, I didn't to look at his cute face anyway either. 

I was over him, done with him, definitely didn't miss making out with him and hanging out with him and having someone I could talk to about anything or whatever. 

Nah, it was fine. I was fine. Everything was fine. I had Eric and Bruce, they were cool, I didn't need the friend group I've had for years or anything. I'm cool with ones I've known for a few months. 

"Maybe if I keep thinking it it'll come true," I whispered to myself. 

I mean probably not, but if Eric can wish his math final out of existence I can wish my social life back into it.