RAVI (formerly Indie-America)

4

(((Edited•)))

Monday came too fast. But nonetheless, I was ready for it. I wore the uniform: a white long sleeved shirt and a plaid free skirt, pure white socks and my black Air Max. The one with a layer, it makes me taller. I packed my hair into a ponytail, knotted my tie and wore the sleeveless sweater. I have to admit, this uniform is better than the branch upstate. Grabbing my bag, I bounced downstairs, slightly shocked when I saw that idol again but what actually shocked me was Simmi in her uniform. She was taller than me and had a more obvious shape which was even more obvious in the uniform. It was exactly like mine, just that the badge of the branch is on the left, not right. She was so nervous she even asked me:

"How do I look?"

I, of course, smiled and said: "perfect" and I was not lying.

Grandma comes outside the kitchen with a tray of sweets.

"Each one of you should take one. For good luck," She said, handing each one of us a sweet. I took one and asked for her blessings (since dad told me to) then went outside.
Where I throw the sweet inside the trash can.

"Ravi, are you going with Teddy?" Mum asked and I nod.

"Yes. It's faster for you to. The airport's upstate," She smiles and looks across
"They're coming." I followed her gaze and saw the Morgan's headed our way, but Teddy was entering his car.
"Hello dears." Mr Morgan said after we greeted him.

"They went inside but Mara waited with me as we watched Teddy pull up in front of us.
He lowered the glass, "Ready?" He is smiling and I return it.
"Yes", we jumped in and watched the houses fade away.

Legacy High, Citrus Groove. This was a whole new world. It was twice the size of the Upstate branch and even more prettier. And I have only seen the parking lot.
Teddy pulled over and removed his seat belt.
"Come on." He said, opening his door. I come down after him and took a minute to get my breath. Teddy had dropped Mara at her school on the way, he came down and told me he wanted to check out something so I should wait a bit for him.
I leaned on the black Jeep and waited for him, watching the students as they passed. I was really excited to see my friend Ronnie. She was the only other person I was very close to apart from Teddy, we'd met at regional club meeting when we were 5 and have been friends ever since then. Ronnie and I were quite different from each other but we've managed extremely well.

A crowd of boys, four or five passed. A medium height black boy, a slightly taller white boy with blonde hair, a pale skinned boy with black hair and finally the tallest, brown hair, slim and broad body.

Luca McQueen.

A jock, the best soccer player in the seven branches of Legacy High across the globe. I'd seen him play once at our school but that was in 8th grade. He was quite a natural, and many people seemed to like him. He also had a reputation of flirting and whatever went with it. They walk past just as quickly as they came. About five minutes later Teddy arrives.
"Okay RV. Let's go."

This totally felt new to me. I knew absolutely no one else in here except Teddy, who left me to go to his locker, I went to mine, hoping to find someone I was already aqquinted with, but to no avail.
I took my books and went to class.

My classes were smooth, I loved my time table and so far the teachers were really nice. But trig was awful, not that I hate it or I'm not good at it, I am very good if I must say. It's just that I would rather be in English class, or reading a novel.

School ended by 2:00 and I didn't exactly 'run' to the car park but it's somewhere near there. I really wanted to go home but fate had something else in stored for me.
I am almost near Teddy's car when I see the former silhouettes more clearly. It's the same guys I saw earlier today, the jocks. And Luca McQueen's there. Teddy sights me before I can run and calls for me.
"Ravi!!" He yells more than once , bringing attention on me and because I really don't like the attention I quicken my pace to meet him
"Hi," I say, forcing a smile and Teddy has a wide grin on his face as he says.
"Guys this is Ravi. Ravi these are my friends, Lamar, Kendrick, Nelson and Luca," I turned to smile at them. Nelson's the slightly taller brown haired one, Lamar's the black guy, Kendrick is the pale medium height blonde and...you already know who Luca is.
"You're Ravi?" Lamar asks but it doesn't sound like a question. His accent is as black as his color.
"Yeah?" I say shifting around. "Why?"
"I'onno. I expected something more...nerdish?"
"I'm not a thing," I say and Luca finally looks up from his phone, apparently intrigued.
"And I gave up glasses in 7th grade," I finish and Teddy snickers.
"Her eye sight's still bad though."
Lamar's still staring at me and I let out an exasperated sigh.
"Would you stop what you're doing, it's freaking me out," I say deadpan. I've never been the best at human conversations.
He shifts his weight.
"You look so different. I imagined a short, glassed, flat braces girl.
But you're... short, but not too much, no glasses, ain't no braces and you're definitely not flat."
I cringe at the 'compliment' while they make 'ooooo's, even Teddy.
Luca stands straight and looks ahead.
"There she is. Gotta go guys. Bye," he says in a rush and before I took it in he was gone.
"Where's he going to?" Teddy asks and Nelson tsks.
"Where do you think? After Miss Pom Pom."
They had expressions fit for a burial on their faces and I finally open the front door.
"Ted, we've got to go. Mara's been waiting," I say, wearing my seat belt.
"She takes the bus home." He gives me an expression that's like
' why don't you know your sister's means of transportation back home? '
"Oh. Nevermind, I want to go home."
He fist bumps his friends before walking over to the door.

"How was your day?" He asks when we're out of the school compound.
"Okay. Yours?"
"Meh."
"I didn't know you hanged out with Luca McQueen and his squad."
"I do, hang out with Nelson, Lamar, Kendrick and Luca. Not Luca McQueen and his squad."
"Sorry. It just came out." I say, crossing my fingers and rolling my eyes.

"You're being stereotypical."

"What's wrong? I thought you guys were best buddies."

"You didn't even know we were friends."

"Yeah but you looked close."

"Everyone thinks we are. We were but things changed when he joined the football team." His face turned down cast.
"He got pompous?"

"Not exactly. No. Luca can talk to anyone. I guess his teammates understand him better."

"I don't like Lamar." I announce.

He looks shocked.
"Why?"
"Did you not hear what he said?"
"It was a compliment."
"Quite a horny one."
"Hey at least you know where you stand in his eyes."
"Do I look like I care?"
"No."
Somehow, his simple answer makes me smile and I look away.
"Idiot."
We're almost home when I remember Luca running off.
"Hey, who's miss pom pom?"
Teddy shrugs.
"Luca's ex. She broke up with him a few weeks ago and he hasn't quite gotten over it."
"He must really like her."
"Yeah. Plus, you must be a real one to snag Kimberly and a real idiot to loose her." He says this just as he pulls up in front of my house.
"Thanks." I say, coming down.