The Heartbroke Club

4

Sitting at lunch the two Mondays later, I felt like I had a new start. I was going in with more optimism than I had the last time I had a new start, which was last Monday. It took a while for me to figure out how to not have random outbursts during the school day, sadly. I'd made it all the way to lunch without going into existential dread.

It was my eleventh first day of school, and things were looking up.

Sure, I'd been saying that for days, but I meant it more that day.

Our cafeteria was the plainest part about Buckhead. Its walls were completely white, and that weird brick that you only ever saw inside of schools. Our tables were all gray circles with black stools attached. There was just enough space at my usual table for all my friends.

As I sat there and poked at my mashed potatoes (which weren't so bad, to be honest) I thought of why I was feeling so optimistic. Then I remembered; I was supposed to be helping the sad boy with the beauty mark next to his nose.

But sitting there with those tacos brought me a peace I hadn't felt in a long time. I didn't want to ruin it by prying. That didn't take away from my curiosities though; it just made me push them to the side. I'd always have curiosities.

I was reminded of this as Perry scolded me from across the table for asking her about her and Leon's hook-up over the weekend.

"Why would you ask me that in front of everyone?" she feigned anger as she threw a fry at me.

"Um," I started before looking around the table at the rest of our friends. "Everyone knows y'all..." I hesitated. "Have sex."

"You're acting like you don't know what sex is like you and André weren't fucking," she said casually before chewing another fry. My face dropped.

"Yo, Perry, too far," Quentin said, reaching across the table next to him and urging her with his motions to relax.

"I'm just saying, she's all in my business as if she's never had any herself."

Maxwell, being Maxwell, snickered to himself and instigatingly ate a fry. "Girl, shut the fuck up. Everyone and they mama knows y'all been fucking since summer started."

Quen was right about Perry going too far. I didn't understand why she was being so defensive over that situation, considering she'd just told me she was skipping class to suck him in his car some days ago. And apparently, Maxwell and the whole table knew. André was a fresh wound, and that was out of line.

But, for the sake of being peaceful and not making a big deal, I brushed it off and faced the situation at hand.

Quentin and everyone else at the table were a little confused. I was confused along with them until I read Perry's face a little bit and understood. "Y'all had a spat, didn't y'all?" I asked sympathetically.

She rolled her eyes dramatically.

Perry was like my twin flame, in a sense. We felt like the same person inwardly, but no one would register us as similar on a surface level. She spoke in figurative terms and sarcasm to a fault, and she said what she thought. 

In my mind, Perry was one of the dopest people at this high school. However, I was one of the only ones that shared this sentiment.

Let most others tell it, the girl had few and far in between redeeming qualities. She was always beefing with someone, getting in trouble, and misaligning her priorities, but we got along okay.

But Perry was a fighter. She was passionate. She cared about the people around her. And I could get down with that.

She'd always been an attractive girl. A lot of people said she looked like Kehlani, and I agreed. She had light skin and neck-length loosely curled hair. Now that she was growing into her womanhood, she was taking full advantage. I easily could tell that guys would be her downfall this year. Last year it was weed, and the year before it was fighting. I usually tried to be by her side and help her, but I'd been distracted lately. I didn't know the fullest extent of her dealings with Leon. I just hoped she was smart enough to not get burned or pregnant.