The Brat Pack
7:45 am. An tiny alarm clock blared loudly, the sound resonating around the small bedroom. Alex Deleon squirmed under the sheets, his ears beginning to bleed from the loud noise. With an eye open, he reached out a hand and slammed it on the clock, silencing it. He smiled triumphantly and pulled the sheets closer to him, preparing to go back to sleep.
It's just 7:45, he thought sleepily. Suddenly, his eyes snapped open. 7:45? School starts at 8! He leaped up from bed and pulled on anything he could find, hissing curses and mentally kicking himself for being so stupid. He dashed down the stairs and into the kitchen.
"Honey! You're going to be late!" said his mother, watching him snatch a cookie from the jar "You only have 15 minutes left—"
"Okay thanks mom. Love you, bye!" he said hurriedly. He dashed out the front door, cookie in mouth, grabbed his bike and rode to school.
Thank God he only lived 3 blocks away; otherwise he wouldn't have reached it by a long shot. Either way, he was screwed. He'd already been late four times and its only the second week of sophomore year. He couldn't afford another detention. What's worse was that homeroom started at exactly 8. Mr. Wentz's class. Ugh. I hate that stupid hobbit of a teacher.
After what seemed like forever, he reached the school. He parked his bike and burst though the doors. The clock opposite him said he only five minutes left. I can make it.
He wove through the immense throng of students, slowly making progress to the end of the hall. He was almost at the end when something caught his eye. He turned and saw a blonde haired boy around his age looking extremely lost.
I don't have time for this, thought Alex, but he couldn't stop looking at him. The boy, most likely new, was being tossed around helplessly by the river of students. Alex couldn't help but feel sorry for the kid. He remembered his first day at school and how no one had helped him until later on in the day.
And so, because goodwill and kindheartedness was just so annoyingly embedded into his nature, he went back in, knowing he will regret it later. He waded through the crowd until he managed to put a hand on the kid's shoulder, making him jump about ten feet into the air.
"You lost?" asked Alex, when the boy finally turned to face him.
"Um, kinda," he said sheepishly "I was just looking for the homeroom classroom—"
"Awesome! I was just going that way!" Without warning, Alex pulled him along through the crowd. He sprinted down the hallway, praying that he'll make it in time. The boy felt like a rag doll, being dragged along so harshly.
Finally, Alex burst through the classroom door. Several students raised their heads in surprise. They stared blankly at the two panting boys at the doorway and returned to whatever they were doing.
"WOOHOO!" crowed Alex, punching the air "I MADE IT!"
"Not exactly," said a snide voice in the corner. Alex's stomach made a knot. He knew that voice all too well.
"Five minutes too late, Mr. Deleon," said Mr. Wentz, his arms folded across his chest "You know what this means don't you?"
Alex clenched his jaw as he watched Mr. Wentz take out a detention pad and scribble his name on it. Furious at the world, he went to his seat. The boy followed after and sat in the seat beside him.
"I'm sorry," he muttered, seeing Alex tug at his long brown locks. Alex looked at him and saw the kids apologetic expression. Despite his anger, he couldn't help but smile at him.
"It's cool," he said. He held out a hand. "I'm Alex."
The kid looked at the outstretched hand, then at Alex's bright face. He smiled and shook it. "I'm Brian. Brian Dales."
~~/~~
"So, you seem to hate Mr. Wentz a lot, don't you?" observed Brian as they walked towards the cafeteria for lunch. Like it wasn't obvious.
"Sorta," said Alex, shrugging "I mean, its not like I want to rip his heart out and toss it in a meat grinder."
Brian looked slightly pale. Upon seeing his expression, Alex laughed and punched Brian's shoulder.
"I'm just kidding!" he said "I'm not a psycho. Still, I hate his guts. Its like he has to do everything to make my life miserable." Brian nodded, but still held a suspicious gaze at his companion.
The cafeteria was huge and somewhat organized. Despite the number of students weaving through the tables, cliques and groups can clearly be distinguished. Skater dudes, Goths, punks, jocks, cheerleaders and nerds had their own designated tables. And, being part of the status quo, the more popular groups had bigger tables in the middle, while the inferior groups were cast to the corners of the cafeteria.
"Whoa," said Brian "Its like one gigantic social map."
"You got that right," said Alex, searching for his table.
Brian looked over at Alex. He sort of looked like a popular kid. His clothes looked kind of high end and he had this air of importance around him. Maybe he'll bring me to sit with the popular kids.
"So," said Brian, averting his eyes "Um…do you sit with them?" He nodded at the big table of popular kids at the center.
Alex snorted. "No. You kidding? I belong to the outcasts."
"The…outcasts…?"
"Yep." Alex took Brians arm and dragged him to the farthest corner of the cafeteria "I sit waaaaay over here." He stopped at the table. Its lone occupant was a girl, her concentration directed to her sketchbook. Her long dark and gold streaked hair hung over her like a thick curtain, obscuring her face.
She looked up. "There you are. I've been here for like 20 minutes already." She held up her drawing of a vulture. "Check it out. I think I finally got it right this time."
Alex raised an eyebrow. "Really, Sierra? Another vulture?"
Sierra frowned, examining her sketch. "I think it's a nice vulture."
"Of all the birds in the world, why a vulture? They're ugly."
"For your information, vultures are very interesting birds. They're different. They're dark, cunning, and they feed off the dead instead of the living."
"Oh yeah, very interesting," said Alex rolling his eyes "You know, if you want dark and cunning, why don't you just draw a raven or something?"
"Too overrated." Sierra shifted her gaze to Brian, suddenly realizing that there was another human being standing beside Alex "Who's this?"
"Sierra, meet Brian," said Alex, putting an arm around him "New student. Just met him this morning. Brian, this is my best friend Sierra."
Sierra beamed at him. "Nice to meet you, Brian. Have a seat."
"Thanks," said Brian. He took a seat next to Alex.
"Where's Christofer?" asked Alex.
"Cafeteria duty," replied Sierra, stuffing her sketchbook back inside her bag "Got sanctioned after he got caught vandalizing the bathroom again."
"This is 3rd sanction this week!"
"Mhm. Oh look there he is." Sierra pointed at the serving area.
Sure enough, a tall skinny 16-year old stood behind the counter, serving slop to students. Surprisingly, he didn't look embarrassed at all. In fact, he seemed to be enjoying it.
"Who's Christofer?" asked Brian.
"Another best friend of ours," said Alex "Strange guy."
"Very strange," added Sierra.
"Which is why you should meet him," said Alex 'He's really awesome, don't worry."
Sierra looked up and scowled. "Oh god."
'What is it?"
"Here come the Salpeter-Johnsons…"
Alex and Brian swiveled in their chairs to look. Two snooty looking teenagers were walking towards them, holding their trays of food like they were royalty. From top to bottom, their clothes practically screamed "We're filthy stinking rich" and the looks on their faces clearly had the we're-popular-and-there's-nothing-you-can-do-about-it message written on them.
"Well, well, well," said the blonde teenager "If it isn't the Brat Pack. Or should I say, the Rat Pack." She and her companion laughed outright.
"Check it out, Greta," said the tall brown haired lad beside her "They're not eating."
"Oh? Dieting are you?" sneered Greta "Well, I doubt it would be of much use to you anyway. It's not like it can change your mediocre appearances, now can it?"
Sierra's scowl deepened. "Go away Greta. Don't you have anything better to do?"
Greta's mouth opened with mock surprise. "Did you hear her just now, Martin? She tried to tell us what to do!"
Martin laughed spitefully. "I guess she isn't aware of who is in charge here."
"But she's right," said Greta with a wry smile "We do have better things to do than talk to people like them." She leaned closer to Sierra "And I suggest that you know your place in the social hierarchy. You may act like you're superior, but you're nothing, just like the rest of the people in this school."
She straightened up and wiggled her fingers. "Toodles!"
Once they were out of sight, Sierra slammed the table with her fist. "I HATE THAT GIRL!"
"What's their problem?" asked Brian. Alex shook his head.
"Greta and Martin Salpeter-Johnson have been the Brat Pack's sworn enemies since 6th grade—"
"Wait, is that what you call yourselves? The Brat Pack?"
Alex shrugged "Yeah. It's our group name. Christofer came up with it. Anyway, everyday, for the past five years, they had to make it a point to make our lives as miserable as possible. It mostly comes in the form of verbal abuse, which is more or less tolerable. They're too chicken to actually fight us physically."
"Yeah, cause Greta knows I can take her down with both my hands tied behind my back," spat Sierra "Little Barbie demon child."
"Yeah, Sierra's got it worse," explained Alex "She has history with Greta…"
Just then, the sound of an explosion shocked the entire cafeteria. It was followed by an ear-piercing shriek. Everyone turned around to see what had happened and immediately burst out laughing.
Greta and Martin were covered in their lunch. Mashed potato clusters clung to their expensive clothes and heads. Gravy dripped down the sides of their faces and stained the silk and fabric. They were too shocked to do anything else.
"WHO DID THIS?" demanded Greta, as dozens of loyal students dabbed at her angry face with napkins. She stamped her foot in rage. "WHO DID THIS?"
Alex looked back at the serving area and saw Christofer slipping through the crowd, a wide grin on his face. Finally, he slid into the seat next to Sierra, biting his lip so he wouldn't laugh.
"How did you manage to pull this one off?" asked Sierra, wiping the tears from her eyes.
"You know how they like having their trays reserved and stuff?" said Chrisofer. He grinned mischievously "I reserved them all right."
"Where'd you get the bombs?" asked Alex.
Christofer shrugged. "Joe's Prank Shop. Where else?" He looked at the siblings, who were raging about their ruined outfits. Fortunately, they were too busy being angry to actually look for the culprit.
He then noticed Brian. "And you are?"
"Brian," replied Brian, still slightly bewildered by what just happened.
Christofer looked at Alex and pointed at Brian. 'New?"
"Yeah," said Alex 'Picked him up before class."
"No wonder you were late this morning. Heard you got detention again cause of it."
"Again?" said Sierra incredulously.
"What? Okay if it weren't for me, Brian wouldn't be sitting with us right now," reasoned Alex.
Sierra sighed in exasperation. "You two seriously need to straighten up. These punishments are getting out of hand."
"Excuse me, but weren't you the one who got suspended for 3 days for punching a girl in the face?" Christofer threw back. Sierra scowled.
"I was in a bad mood," she defended.
"Suurrree," said Christofer raising his eyebrows "And you say our punishments are out of hand."
"Whatever. I'm hungry." Sierra pulled out her wallet and cursed. "Dammit! You guys have any money on you?"
"Forgot my wallet today," said Alex.
"Cafeteria duty," said Christofer. Sierra looked at Brian hopefully.
He held up a paper bag. "Packed lunch."
Sierra groaned. "I'm going to starve." Just then, a large group of loud obnoxious hoodie-clad guys burst into the cafeteria. Their voices drowned out every other noise in the whole room. They high-fived the jocks and strutted around, their sneakers squeaking on the polished floor.
Sierra straightened up and grinned. "Excellent."
"What is?" asked Alex, but Sierra got up before she even gave him an answer.
She walked towards the leader of the group, a tall tan and skinny guy clad in a purple hoodie and skinny jeans. He was the loudest and most obnoxious of them all, practically shouting at his group mates, despite the fact that they were only like a foot away from each other.
"Gabe! Hi big brother!" greeted Sierra, throwing her arms around him. The entire group stopped and stared at the awkward scene.
"The hell are you doing sis?" asked Gabe, pushing her away slightly.
"What? I can't give you a big brotherly hug anymore?" said Sierra with mock hurt "Am I 'cramping your style?'"
"Yep, sorta," said Gabe, looking slightly embarrassed.
"Aw, come on man," said Travis, the guy beside him "She's your sister."
"Yeah, and this is kinda cute, if I must say," said Ryland, another guy "Give her a hug!"
"Hey, come on—" protested Gabe, but a slow chant began to rise from the group.
"Hug her, hug her, hug her," they chanted. Gabe looked at his little sister. Sierra looked up at him innocently.
Gabe sighed and smiled. "Aw, fine. C'mere." He gave his sister a big hug. She hugged him back. The rest of the group cheered.
"Okay now leave," said Gabe "I'll see you at home." With that, he turned and left, his group poking and teasing him.
"What was that all about?" asked Alex as Sierra slipped into her seat. Grinning, she whipped out her brothers wallet.
"Cha-ching!" she said, taking out a few dollars.
"Sneaky little devil," said Christofer. Sierra gave him a look.
"Like you aren't?"
"Touché"
The cafeteria doors opened again, but quieter than the last time. Three boys made wove their way through the clusters of tables and took a seat behind the Brat Pack. Two of them were talking animatedly with one another. The other one sat quietly beside them, reading a comic.
Sierra looked up at the newly occupied table. She saw him. Light brown hair, blue eyes, a hint of scruff on his chin. She narrowed her eyes. There was no mistaking that face.
"Looking at Strauchman again?" asked Christofer.
"Am not," retorted Sierra.
"Who's Strauchman?" asked Brian. Alex turned him around and pointed at the quiet individual in the next table.
"David Strauchman," he said " In my opinion, one of the most rebellious students in the school. Those two over there are his cronies, Travis Clark and Alex Gaskarth."
"You forgot to mention that he's the love of Sierra's life," said Christofer, earning a smack on the arm.
"He is not!" snapped Sierra "I mean, what's there to like about him? He's rude, obnoxious, totally insulting…"
"He doesn't look it…" said Brian.
"No, trust me he is. He is the most insolent human being I have ever met."
"She's just saying that, but deep down inside, she's totally infatuated by him," Alex whispered to Brian. Sierra smacked him over the head.
"I heard that!" But Alex just laughed it off.
Sierra ignored the boys and looked back at the table. Her eyes met with his blue ones. Without hesitating, she glared at him and looked away.
~~/~~
David didn't stop looking at her. He was deaf to whatever nonsense his best friends were spouting out of their mouths. He watched as she glared at him and looked away. He didn't break the gaze for a minute.
"And then, like, they picked him up and smashed him into the table!" said Travis animatedly.
"No way!" exclaimed Alex "The Big Show got smashed?"
"Yeah!" said Travis "And then they got the steel steps and smashed it on him" He demonstrated with his hands. "They threw Kane out of the ring too!"
"Man, that is MENTAL!" cried Alex. Travis noticed that David hadn't said a word at all since they entered the cafeteria. He wasn't even reading his comic anymore.
"Hello?" said Travis, waving a hand in his face "Anyone home?"
Alex poked him in the face. David blinked and looked at him.
"Yes?" he asked.
"Who were you looking at?" asked Alex.
"I wasn't looking at anyone. I was spacing out."
Travis and Alex looked at the table beside him and saw the black and gold streaked hair. They nodded in understanding.
"You sure?" asked Travis slyly "I could've sworn you were looking at someone."
"Really," said David emotionlessly "Who was I looking at, then?"
"Yeah who was he looking at?" asked Alex. Travis whacked him on the head.
"We both looked at her, you idiot!" he said as Alex rubbed his sore head.
"Aaaaahhhhhh," said Alex finally understanding.
"What the hell are you guys talking about?" asked David.
"You know," said Alex slyly "A certain someone sitting in the table next to us. Possibly starts with the letter Sss-ierra?"
David frowned. "Why would I be looking at her? What's there to look at anyway?"
Travis shrugged. "Okay, whatever you say." He turned back to Alex "And then, they took out the referee…"
David looked back at the table again. She didn't look back up at him. He continued to look at her.
~~/~~
Sierra looked at her watch. It said 5:30 pm. "Damn, my dad's gonna kill me. I was supposed to be home 30 minutes ago…"
"Why didn't you say so?" asked Alex.
Sierra shrugged. "You know how I forget stuff…"
"Shall I take you home?" offered Christofer.
"You have a ride?"
"Nah, I'm walking."
Sierra sighed. "Well, its better than nothing." She waved at the two remaining boys. "See ya guys. Nice meeting you Brian!"
"Yeah, nice meeting you too Brian!" said Christofer before they turned around and left.
"So," said Alex "You enjoy your first day with the Brat Pack?"
Brian grinned. "I did, actually. I've never been with a group like yours. Hell, I haven't been in a group my entire life."
Alex put an arm around him. "Well Brian, congratulations. You've just earned yourself a new group of friends. Welcome to the Brat Pack."