FOR YOU PAGE || jenzie

18

THE NEXT FEW WEEKS were extremely hard at West Angeles High School for the four friends. Though the school was filled with ecstatic energy as the Manatees brought home the championship, Kenzie, Mandla, Emily, and Joshua were all more upset than usual. Mandla felt as if all his friends had problems and he didn't know how to help them. He was used to being the problem solver in numerous ways, but he just felt blocked by his friends as if Thursday's game drove a wedge between the solid four. Joshua continued to sulk about Olivia's disappearence. She wasn't coming back, and because of this, Olivia broke up with him. Olivia's words "It's not fair that you should have to wait for me," kept ringing in Joshua's ears every moment since he heard them through FaceTime. Because what Olivia didn't understand was Joshua would wait for her. Emily felt the way she always felt– scared. She knew there was no way Kenzie ever reciprocated the feelings she felt towards her, but she couldn't just bottle these feelings up. Emily wanted to confess everything just to let it out of her system, but what if that meant losing Kenzie forever? And finally, Kenzie. The way she felt since the game was different than the other three. She couldn't label the feeling. It was a mix between anger, confusion, and denial. She hadn't known Johnny for that long, but the short time she spent with him was magical. She hated herself for missing him. She hated herself for thinking about being with him at night. Why did she always have to go for the dicks? Why couldn't he just be a genuine normal boy like Mandla or Joshua? This string of thought clouded her thoughts almost always. 

"I'm talking to youuuuu," A sing-song voice hummed in Kenzie's ear during first period Geometry class. Kenzie was mid-daydreaming, probably about Johnny when she felt a tap.

"Kenzie, Lexi's been trying to get your attention for an entire minute," Joshua said, removing his hand from Kenzie's shoulder.

"Oh, what?" Kenzie turned her head in a whisper, coming face to face with Lexi who was busy stacking her led pencils on her desk. 

"I'm having a party tonight at my house to celebrate the championship. Make sure to be there at 8pm," Lexi said casually brushing her hair back. Other kids in the class silently observed, knowing they would show up even if Lexi didn't tell them to.

"Uh, okay?" Kenzie shrugged. She'd always been friendly with Lexi, but they were definitely not friends. It was weird Lexi chose to tell Kenzie of all people.

"Ashton wants you to be there," Lexi stated cooly, turning her attention away from Kenzie and back to her friend Lilia.

"Ashton? The fuck?"  Kenzie mouthed to Joshua who sat there dumbfounded.

"Lexi, aren't you dating Ashton?" Joshua asked her blatantly, which again caused the other kids surrounding them to look up from their Geometry textbooks. 

"Kind of I guess... I wouldn't say dating," Lexi smiled. 

"Then why does he want me to come to your party... the only girl he should be worrying about is you," Kenzie said clenching her fist.