The Staircases // 5SOS

Chapter 9

Marj's P.O.V.

Kat and I, and sometimes Cal, are usually the only ones to get lunch at school and we always wait to get in line together so we don't have to go alone. The lunch room is a jungle. No one wants to go in alone.

I wait for what seems like hours but what was probably only three minutes for Kat at our usual meeting place by the stairs. I decide she must've had to do something so I guess I have no choice but to get in line alone. Great.

I'm already nervous as hell to see Calum and now this? This is really not a good day for me. Spacing out, teachers calling on me, worrying about Cal, and now Kat's not in line with me.

I walk to the line and try not to look like a loser that's all alone, so I play on my phone a bit until I'm close enough to grab a tray. Once I do, I grab a chocolate milk and just slowly make my way down the never ending, slow as molasses line.

Everything looks nasty, as always, but I gotta eat something so I grab a burger along with a supposedly healthy side salad.

Once I pay I head over to the utensil table and get a fork and napkin and head to my table.

As I'm walking there, I look across the sea of students to where my small round table is tucked in the corner and I can't believe my eyes.

For a second I thought maybe I was looking at the wrong table, but I know it's that one in the corner.

The first thing I noticed was the hair. How can that not be the first thing you notice?

I didn't realize I had stopped walking until someone shouted "move outta the way" and I continue on the path to what I think is my table, well it looks like my table minus the green haired boy in my Spanish class, Michael.

I approach the table and my look must give it away.

Right away Kat explains, "Michael wanted to sit by me-us so yeah, he's here" she points to him "Do you know Michael Marj?"

I don't know why but I find this whole situation weird. This is OUR table. 'Our' as in Kat, Cal, Raya, Bristol and me. No one else. Why did he have to sit with us? And why randomly today? Why did he want to sit with Kat? Why did she let him? So many questions that I keep to myself.

It's not that I have a problem with Michael, I mean he helped me out today, it's just I have a problem in general with people who aren't one of my close friends.

Since I didn't answer, Michael does.

"Uh yeah we know each other, we sit next to each other in third hour." He seems to sense my uneasiness and looks down at his chicken sandwich like suddenly it's the best gourmet food in the world and starts devouring it.

Kat on the other hand won't be able to try and eat my uneasiness away and she can probably sense my irritation because she's watching me like a hawk. Like she does with everyone.

"Really? That's great I didn't know that" she says way too enthusiastically as she eyes me. But I'm still irritated, this is our table.

I look around and realize Cal's not here yet. Probably still in line, I should've waited a little longer and we could've got lunch together, but maybe it was a good thing I didn't wait. It would hold off the dreaded awkwardness I was fearing a little longer.

I look at Bristol and Raya who don't seem to mind that Michael's here and are divulging in what looks like a very intense conversation. I wonder briefly what about.

I turn my attention to my unflattering burger and pick it up and take a bite only because I'm starving. It's not that bad, but bad. I take a stab at the salad and it's pretty good so I whiff it down pretty fast. I look around at my friends and Michael.

Kat and Michael are both eating and Michael looks like he's really enjoying himself. I don't really know how to explain his expression other than maybe content? Genuinely happy? Kat on the other hand keeps looking from Michael to me, probably because she either likes him or thinks he's interesting and she's probably looking at me to see if I'm still upset. She should know though.

I turn my attention back to Bristol and Raya and I hear snippets of their conversation as I chew but I'm not sure what's going on. Something about setting someone up.

This is when I wish maybe I wouldn't have asked Calum out. I could really use him right now and when he gets here what if it's awkward? I'll have no one. Bristol and Raya are talking and I don't really want to talk to Kat or Michael.

As if knowing his presence would makes things absolutely better and worse simultaneously for me, Cal shows up on my left and takes out his earphones as he sits down. He doesn't even question our new guest at the table. He just starts chowing on his burger and is just looking off past Kat's head like no big deal.

"Cal this is Michael" Kat says a second later gesturing to Michael.

"Yeah I know him" he says nonchalant still looking off past her head. He then turns to Michael "Hey Michael" he says with a grin.

"What up?" Michael says casually.

As if reading my mind Kat curiously asks "You guys know each other?"

"Yeah" they both say in unison.

"How?" Again Kat is like the mouth to my brains questions.

They both just kind of sit there for a second almost like they can't remember how they know each other. Finally Calum speaks up.

"Just mutual friends and seeing each other around school, stuff like that" he shrugs and finishes off his burger. I look at my burger with a pathetic one bite out of it, I won't finish it. But I could go for more salad.

"Why are you guys being weird?" Kat says randomly, narrowing her eyes at the boys.

"Weird?" Michael asks turning towards her.

"Yeah! If you guys knew each other why didn't you say hi before I introduced you? And you like were weird when I asked how you knew each other" Kat says practically looking into Michaels soul before she turns to Calum for answers.

She cracks me up. One minute she's as chill as a cucumber and the next she's picking apart everything you do.

"Kat, I think you're just way over thinking this" Cal says with a bit of sass, his dark brown hair covering his matching eyes a bit. "I don't know, we're guys and it's no big deal. I did say hey."

I have to admit I agree with Kat it was kinda weird but I do think she's over thinking it, but it's never good when a guy uses the 'we're guys' excuse. But maybe now I was overthinking it.

Kat makes an 'unsatisfied with her answer' look but continues to eat. Raya and Bristol are still talking and Michaels playing some game on his phone which he's now showing Kat.

I turn and see Cal about to put his headphones in now that's he's done eating, he scarfed it down quick, and I decide maybe I should try talking to Cal to see if it's any different or more awkward before he listens to his music.

"Hey Cal" I say fast before he can put in his buds and I lose my nerve.

"Hey" he grins turning towards me.

I sigh and decide to just say what I really want and not bullshit around and play games and lie and act like I'm not nervous and excited, which I am.

"I'm excited for Sunday" I whisper so the others won't hear.

"I am too" he whispers back with a smile.

Three words have never meant so much to me.

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