David was walking down the hall while checking his schedule. He had Mr. Denton for Econ and English. 'Maybe two Mr. Denton's work here. It could happen.' He thought to himself as he stood outside his English class. He heard someone behind him and looked over his shoulder to see the guy Skittery had said was Jack. David stepped into the class and Jack followed him inside. David stood by the desk waiting for the teacher to tell him where to sit. It was the same Mr. Denton; David wasn't going to ask.
"David, why don't you take the seat in front of Jack?" Denton said pointing to the only open seat in the class.
David looked around the room to see anyone he knew. When he didn't see anyone he slumped in his seat. So far Specs was the only one he had seen that morning. Specs had pulled him to the seat next to his and practically shoved him into the seat.
"If you don't sit here, he will." Specs said pointing to a blond haired guy who was walking into the room.
The guy gave him a confused look before taking a seat in the front row.
"Who's that? And why do I get the feeling that he's pissed off at me?"
"His name is Ryan. And he only sits there to annoy me."
"You talkin' about me Specs?" The guy asked turning in his seat.
"He asked who you were." Specs said pointing to David.
"I'm Blink. I'm not as bad as he says I am. I just know how to push his buttons." The guy said before turning back around in his seat.
Someone clearing their throat brought David out of his thoughts. The person in front of him was turned in their seat holding a stack of papers. David took one and passed the rest to Jack. Denton started class by saying that they were having an open book test on Macbeth.
"David you won't have a problem taking this will you?"
"No sir." David said opening his book.
The rest of the class passed by without anything else embarrassing happening. Mush was waiting for David when he walked into the hall. Skittery was down the hall at his locker but when he saw Jack he went after him. David gave Mush a weird look Mush shrugged his shoulders before walking down the hall.
"Let me see your schedule." Mush said holding out his hand.
David handed it to him without saying anything. Specs and Dutchy were standing against the lockers a few feet away. Dutchy was leaning against Specs while he looked for something in his locker.
"We actually have a class together. It's a miracle!" Mush said dramatically.
David laughed at him shaking his head.
"You have History with me and Dutchy next."
"Ryan's in that class too. Stay clear of him." Specs warned before he closed his locker.
Dutchy kissed him quickly before Specs walked off.
"He's not as bad as Ethan says. They haven't gotten along since sixth grade." Mush said while Dutchy remained silent.
"Why?"
"Ask Specs at lunch." Mush said trying to hide a smile.
XXXX
David was walking to lunch when he felt someone watching him. A short dark haired guy was walking a few feet ahead of him and David caught him staring at him. The guy was in his Calc class. He sat behind Skittery, but that was all that David knew about him. The guy looked ahead again but David kept a close eye on him. Maybe he had a question about class. But why would he ask David? He would be better off asking Skittery.
David walked into the cafeteria looking for Mush and Specs. When he didn't see them he made his way over to the table. He saw someone walking towards him out of the corner of his eye. It was Ryan/Blink; David didn't know which to call him. He had better stick with Blink. Blink sat across from him but David ignored him until Blink sighed. David looked up not sure what to say.
"I wanted to come over and talk to you. I didn't get to apologize for this morning. I'm not that bad of a guy, you just picked the wrong person to tell you about me."
"It's okay. I'm not worried about it."
"What are you doing over here Bartlett?" Specs asked sitting down next to David.
"He's apologizing for this morning."
"Yeah, right. Like that would ever happen." Specs mumbled getting up again.
Blink tensed before letting out a sigh. David watched him wondering what Specs had meant. Blink gave him an uneasy smile as Mush sat down.
"Hey Mikey."
"Shut up Blink." Mush said with a smile.
They had shared the same greeting during History.
"He hates being called Mikey."
"I could call you what I normally call you." Mush said turning on his laptop.
"Blink!" Someone called from across the room.
David looked to where the voice came from and saw the guy that was staring at him this morning.
"That guy creeps me out." David said under his breath.
"He's not that bad. He's pretty cool once you get to know him." Mush said not looking up from what he was doing.
"Why don't Specs and Blink get along?"
"I really shouldn't be telling you. Skittery tells it better. But he's sitting with Jack and them today. Blink tends to get on peoples nerves really easily. He likes annoying Ethan more than anybody. One day in the sixth grade we all had a snowball fight. Blink was being more annoying than usual and Specs got tired of it. He came up with the idea to throw an ice packed snowball Blink. I swear it was more ice than anything. What he didn't realize was that there was a twig sticking out of it. It hit Blink dead in the eye. The twig ended slicing across his cornea. He had to wear an eye patch for three months after it happened. And that's how Blink got his nick name."
"Really?" David asked with worried eyes.
"Swear to God. We were all friends then. Once we got into high school we all went our separate ways. Ethan and me are considered the smart ones. Skitts and Race are smart too. Skitts bounces from table to table. But out of respect for Blink Race won't sit over here because of Ethan."
"Who's Race?"
"The one who creeps you out." Mush said matter of factly.
"So you guys just stopped being friends?"
"Ethan doesn't talk to them at all. I talk to them because I tutor most of them. And I have classes with Race and Blink."
David nodded seeing Skittery walking over to them. He sat across from David as Dutchy and Specs sat down.
"You can come and sit over there. These two won't because of Specs." He said jerking his head to the other table.
"Maybe some other time."
"Go." Specs said shoving him.
"Are you sure?"
"No, I'll totally disown you. Go!" He said shoving him again.
David followed Skittery over to the table as Jack and Race got up to leave. David sat down across from the Korean guy in his Chemistry class. The looked up from his paper and nodded at him.
"You know him right?" Blink said pointing to him.
"Mitch right?"
"Swifty." He said going back to his drawing.
David nodded as Blink and Skittery introduced him to everybody. By the end of lunch David's head was swimming from having so many names thrown at him. He would just remember the ones that were in his classes for now. He would learn the rest later.
XXXX
Mush and David were walking through the school parking lot when they heard Skittery yell for them.
"You go ahead, he lives closer to you anyway."
"You sure?" David asked looking over Mush's shoulder at where Skittery was standing.
Mush nodded before getting in his car. David made his way over to Skittery as he saw Sarah walk out of school. Mush had said he would give her a ride home too.
"You don't mind giving my sister a ride home too do you?"
"Nah. It's just Blink and you two. You'll have to sit in the back though. He gets out first." Skittery said jerking his head towards Blink.
"Sarah!" David said getting her attention.
She walked over to them and waved at Mush when he passed her. Blink looked her over before getting in the car.
"You're in my Drama class right?" She asked as Skittery opened the door for her.
"Yeah. Sorry about Race, he's a moron sometimes." He said before she got in.
"What did he do?" David said getting defensive.
"It's nothing bad, I'll tell you when we get home." Sarah said with a sigh.
The ride to Blink's house was quiet. Sarah sat up front on the way to their house while David looked out the window. He saw Jack and Race a couple houses up playing basketball in a driveway. Blink threw his bag on ground then ran to join them. David wondered if he would ever fit in with all of them.
Skittery pulled into their driveway a few minutes later and David invited him inside.
"I can't. I've gotta get to work. Anytime you two need a ride home let me know. Or ask Snoddy, he lives across the street."
"Where do you live?" David asked before getting out of the car.
"The yellow house on the corners' mine. Mush is a couple streets over. I'll show you tomorrow." He said as David got out.
"See you tomorrow." David said shutting the door.
Skittery pulled away and David sat on his front porch waiting for his brother's bus to come. He heard it and walked down the sidewalk to meet him. His brother came running off the bus almost knocking David over.
"Did you have a good day?"
"Yeah, I made some friends."
"Oh, yeah? So did I."
"Hey Dave, you think it'll be nicer here than where we used to live?"
"I hope so Les." He said messing up the boys' hair.
They made their way back to the house in silence. As David shut the door he saw Snoddy in his front yard. He waved before shutting the door. He had a feeling things would be different here. He hadn't figured out if they were a good different or a bad different.
