_RIAN_
I followed Marlene around the school and we eventually stopped outside of a classroom.
"And this is your Bio class. With Mr. Powers." Marlene stepped away from the door. "I warn you, he's a little weird."
"How so?" I asked.
"His favorite food is chocolate covered bacon."
"Ok then."
Marlene checked her watch and sighed. "I'm late for gym."
I watched her run off and turned to open the door.
I slipped in the classroom and closed the door behind me.
"AH-HA!" The teacher yelled.
I jumped slightly. "What!"
"You must be Rian. Our new student!"
"Uh, yeah." I looked around the room.
"I've heard many great things about you from Mrs. Whatsername."
"Uh, ok." I replied.
"I'm kidding." Mr. Powers said. "Take a seat anywhere you'd like."
There was only one seat open, next to the blonde kid from the office.
I slid into the seat next to him and took out my notebook.
"As I was saying before we were RUDELY interrupted!" Mr. Powers began teaching again. "The science fair is next Saturday. And we all know that Mr. Lane will win so there is no point in anyone else entering. So don't even attempt. But if, for some reason, you feel the need to commit social suicide then I have application papers. Oh and it's mandatory for this class."
The blonde kid slid a folded piece of paper onto my notebook.
I opened it slowly.
P- You smell nice.
I looked at the kid, and then smelled my shoulder. It smelled like coffee.
R- Thanks?
I slid the paper back to him.
P- I'm Percival. What's your name?
R- Rian.
P- That's a boys name.
R- And Percy is?
P- Touché
"Rian, Percival. Because you two seem to have hit it right off. You are lab partners."
Mr. Powers put a paper on our desk.
The bell rang dismissing class. I glanced at my schedule and stood up to head for gym. I stopped by my locker to grab my gym clothes. Thank god for older brothers, I borrowed clothes from him all the time and this morning had been no exception.
I slipped into the gym and looked around.
"Alright class." The coach shouted. " Get dressed then get back out here. We are going to run around the school. But there's an exception."
I followed the girls to the locker room, but coach caught up to me.
"Delmar. You can sit out today if you want. It's just a team work exercise."
"Actually. I was planning on participating." I said quickly, running into the locker room.
What is it with girls and their everything? I was the last one in the locker room and the first one out. Apparently, a girl changing quickly isn't approved of by other girls. I got weird looks, as I walked out and into the gym.
Coach Walker was writing down pairs of students.
"ok. Her and him and Oh. He goes there. Oh Rian. Your already dressed."
She barely even looked up at me. "Take a seat with the boys and we'll get started as soon as your peers get out here."
I climbed up the bleachers and sat down randomly. Coach started calling out pairs of runners. I listened for my name.
"Hey good lookin'. How are you doing this morning?"
I turned to see a tall slim built guy wearing a green hat sitting behind me.
"I'm fine." I gave him a questionable look.
"Julien. Leave the new girl alone."
I turned back around to see another kid from the office. The one with the cut on his face.
Julien jumped up. "You cannot be telling me what to do Michael. She is my running partner and I'm the homecoming king!"
"Uh, Julien, First off it's Rico. And secondly Football season hasn't even started. First game's Friday." The black haired kid pushed me over and sat down.
"Delmar and Schmidt."
"Did not see that coming." Rico sighed and stood up. "Come on running partner."
I paused for a moment and looked at him. "Oh, you mean now?"
"No next Saturday." Rico rolled his eyes.
"Can't I have a science fair." I stood up and trailed after him.
"You actually do that stuff?" Rico turned around and began walking backwards.
"Yeah. Why?"
Coach took my left hand and tied a rope securely around it.
"It seems a little pointless to me." Coach tied the rope around Rico's right arm, she almost acted like she was looking for something.
Rico must have noticed it to because he quickly walked away after she finished.
"Why is that?" I asked, jogging to catch up with him.
"Because, the same person wins every year. It's a waste of time." Rico knelt down to tie his shoe.
Several pairs of runners ran by. One of the boys threw something at Rico and I. Rico looked at it and sighed.
"What's wrong?" I asked.
"Immature football players." Rico stood up, "Come on, we had better start running."
Rico and I jogged in silence for a few minutes before I spoke up.
"Isn't there open tryouts tonight?"
"Yeah." Rico replied not really slowing down.
"Why don't you try out?" I sped up a little just to close the distance between us.
"Because. I'm a skateboarder, and in case you haven't noticed. I'm a loner. I don't do teamwork."
"Everybody wants to feel accepted." I said after a few more steps. "it's just human nature."
Rico stopped running. "Oh look Dr. Phil. In this school there are 5 groups of people. There's the Squad, cheerleaders and football players. They're at the top." A few pairs of people ran past us. "Then there's the Norms, they are just trying to get through school and be famous. Next is the Geeks. Or Nerds with social skills. Then there's the Goody's, like you. And then there's the loners, that's me. 5 different social groups. Those lines cannot be crossed." Rico started running again.
I started running after him, "I'm not a goody." I was confused by the title.
"Oh yes you are." Rico kept running.
"What makes you say that?"
"You have the ability to be in the Squad, but you chose not to because your too good."
"That doesn't make any sense."
"Doesn't it though?"
"Not really."
"Alright. I'll pity you. I'll try out for football. But you tryout for cheerleading."
"I'm not Squad material."
"HA! See Goody."
"In case you haven't noticed. I am not uh- girl- enough for cheerleader."
"And I'm not football player material. But guess we'll see now won't we?"
Rico and I finished our run and went our separate ways.
I changed slowly, knowing my lunch experience would be terrible. As, I brushed my hair out, 3 girls entered the locker room.
"Oh, hey Rian." Marlene said happily.
"Hey, Marlene." I replied, slinging my backpack on.
"Rian. This is Becky and Stacy." Marlene motioned to the girl standing with her.
"Oh my gosh!" Stacy squealled.
"Is it true?" Becky began jumping up and down excitedly.
"Uhm Is what true?" I asked, looking hopefully at Marlene.
"You dad is a professional assassin and your mother is a Victoria' Secret model!" Stacy struck a pose at the last word.
"What? No. My dad is a big game hunter. And my mom is a lawyer." I looked between them quickly.
"Well, that's no fun." Becky seemed disappointed. She and her twin left the room
"I'm going to lunch." I said quickly, "Wanna tag along?"
"I'm going to meet Skipper at the football field."
"Oh, have fun."
"I'm sure you could catch up to Doris and Kowalski." Marlene and I started for the door.
"I don't think Doris likes me." I said quickly.
Marlene shrugged and waved bye.
I looked over the gym and saw a familiar blonde boy.
I walked over to him "Hey, Percival. You up for lunch?"
He looked up at me. Revealing a black eye.
"What happened?" I asked.
He looked away.
