They Are There For Me (book 3 of Running Towards Home series)

CHAPTER 19

ARLENE'S POV:

It's the first day of school. Perfect. I already hate being back here. I'm getting my new locker. I start to unlock it and a boy starts to unlock the locker next to me. He has brown hair, combed back but without grease. He's wearing a pair of nice pants and a letterman jacket. He must be a soc. I don't make eye contact with him. I'd better not interact with him.

"Hey. I'm Ricky. I think we've met, we were in a lot of the same classes last year." He tells me, sticking out his hand. So much for not interacting. I shake his hand. "I'm Arlene. I think we were in the same classes." He smiles at me. "What class do you have first?" He asks me. I look at my schedule. "Math, in room 301." I tell him. He looks at his schedule. "Me too! Let's walk together." He says. I walk with him, and we chat. He's actually really nice. I'm surprised.

I grab a seat near the back of the class and he sits next to me. I give him a nervous look. "Shouldn't you be sitting with the other socs near the front?" I ask him. He just snorts. "I don't believe in the whole greaser-soc thing. It's bullshit." He says. I smile at that. We get to chatting. It's fun. During the whole class, we fool around in the back, not getting any work done.

When the bell rings, we walk out into the hall. "You want to go meet at the Dingo for lunch on Friday?" he asks me. I blush. I must have given him the wrong idea. "Oh, Ricky, I'm really sorry but I have a boyfriend, I didn't mean to give you the wrong idea-" I start, but he cuts me off. "As friends, not a date. I know you have a boyfriend." he says. I nod, relief flooding over me. "So we're on for friday?" He asks. I smile at him. "Sure. Noon?" I say. He agrees, and we go our separate ways.

I go to the rest of my classes. Sam is in my history class, Pony is in my art class, and Johnny is in my english class. Johnny passes me notes the whole time, little hearts and whatnot. He's adorable. I have them all in my pocket. I'm going to save them. I meet Sam, Pony, and Johnny by the front of the school to walk home. We meet up, and as we're about to leave, Ricky comes running over. "Hey Arlene! Hey guys!" He says, waving at them. They all look at him suspiciously. "Guys, this is Ricky. He has the locker next to mine. Ricky, this is Johnny, Pony, and Sam." I say. He smiles at all of them.

"Mind if I walk with you guys? We're going in the same direction." He tells me. I nod. He walks with us, and he seems oblivious to the glares Johnny keeps giving him. Johnny puts his hand over my shoulder protectively. When Ricky darts off to go in a different direction, they all seem to let out a collective breath. "I don't like that guy." Johnny says. "Jealous much?" I joke, but he frowns a bit. "Maybe." he says softly. I give him a kiss on the cheek. "Aw, Johnny, I don't look at him like that. You're the only one for me." I tell him. He smiles a bit after that.

"You shouldn't be hanging out with him. He's a soc." Pony says. I sigh. I knew this was coming. "I know, but he seems like a genuinely nice guy. He told me he doesn't believe in the soc-greaser thing." I respond. "Just be careful, okay?" Sam says. I nod, and we walk the rest of the way home, barely talking.

RICKY'S POV:

When I saw Arlene this morning, my heart started pounding. She's gorgeous. I've had a crush on her for ages. When I asked her out, I did mean it as a date, and when she told me she had a boyfriend, my heart plummeted. Luckily, I made a good save and I convinced her I see her as a friend. I was so happy when I caught her leaving school. It was nice to walk home with her. It really bugged me how Johnny had his arm on her shoulder, as if he was mocking me, saying "She's mine."

I'm sure that after our sort-of date on Friday, Arlene will realize that I'm better for her than some hood. I just have to wait until then. If that doesn't work, I'll figure out another way. I will get her to love me, I know that much.