Her first day at school had overall been quite the success, contrary to her expectations of the day. Reuniting with Randy had been great. Befriending the small group he hung out and later eating lunch with them on the school's lush lawn was a bonus, as well. She enjoyed listening to them converse and quip about all sorts of things. She sailed through her classes, mingling with cheerleaders Casey Becker and Gloria Hayes - it was great.
Second period, Angela had a science course with Sidney and Stu, though Stu bowed out to sit with a buddy halfway through class. Third period, she took an advanced placement history class all alone, which she didn't really mind. It gave her time to reflect for a moment and relax from the rest of the day in the back of the room. Fourth period she took film studies and found herself alone as well, with the exception of Billy.
She'd been sitting in the middle of the room, next to a girl with thick glasses when he breezed in. Looking up from underneath her curls, they met eyes once again. Inhaling sharply, Angela turned away from him, knocking her book of the desk in the process. Bending down in her seat to grasp it, she lifted her head to find him sliding into the seat beside her.
"Hey." He said, the word rolling off his tongue.
"Oh, hi, Billy."
A brief moment of silence passed between them. "You take film studies?"
"I could say the same to you." She smiled.
"What, are you surprised?"
"No.. just wouldn't peg you as the film studies type of guy, I guess."
"I wouldn't peg you for the film studies type of girl, either." He returned her smile.
"I'm not artsy enough?" She managed to get a small chuckle out of him. "My Dad and I love movies."
He was focused on the board ahead of them. "How do you like it here?"
"It's okay. A lot different."
"Yeah. It is."
With that, he'd stood again and made his way over to the other students. They hadn't spoken again all class period. Which was fine by Angela. Billy intimidated her. Not because he was admittedly attractive, but because he was popular. The kids at this school adored him, seemingly lapping up everything he said the entirety of the class period. Angela'd been pretty popular at her old school, but she had no idea how this small town shit worked.
x
After fourth period came to a close, Randy and Sidney had met up by Tatum's shiny red beetle in the lot, waiting for Billy, Stu and her to make their way out of the emptying school. Sliding up onto the hood, Randy scanned the doors.
"You're awfully quiet." Sidney remarked.
"Huh?" He mumbled. "Oh, yeah. Just a little drained. Public education'll do that to you."
Sidney squinted through the afternoon sun glaring off of Tatum's car. Something was definitely up with Randy. She'd been friends with him since junior high; and he usually didn't stick around long after classes were over. Randy'd take a swift exit to make his way to the video store in the town square.
"I think it's Angela."
"Please, Sidney." He scoffed. "It's not like Angela is a hot, new girl I used to charm back in my childhood."
"Oh my God, you like her!"
"No, I don't." He scoffed.
Sidney opened her mouth to speak, but promptly shut it, Stu and Tatum approaching across the lawn. Billy followed close behind, Sidney immediately perking up at his presence. Keeping her suspicion of Randy's affection for Angela was probably for the best if they were all going to be conversing.
"Randy! Get the hell off my car, geek." Tatum demanded, breaking Stu's embrace.
"Relax! Relax." He slid off the hood, adjusting his jacket.
"He's waiting for Angela." Sidney cocked an eyebrow.
Stu guffawed at this, pointing at Randy. "You can't be serious!"
"A hundred and uno."
Billy smirked. "At least the kid's trying."
"A for effort!" Tatum sarcastically nodded.
"Just because 'Angela is like, smokin, man', doesn't mean I like her." Randy imitated Stu.
Tatum narrowed her eyes at him. "Really, Stu?"
"He's full of shit." Stu demanded. "I never said that. She's a brunette."
A familiar Mercedes convertible wheeled up beside the group, Nirvana blaring through the radio's speakers. Reaching over to twist the dial down, Angela whisked off her sunglasses.
"You getting in, Randy?"
"Yeah." Randy aimed his words at Stu, who muttered something into Tatum's shiny hair. "Give me one sec."
"Hey, Angela." Stu cleared his throat. "Would you, like, call this a date?"
"It's not a date." Angela said delicately. Tatum was busy giggling, while Sidney and Billy merely cracked a smile. He noted the Nirvana thing.
"See you guys later." Randy slammed the door.
"Hey, wait!" Stu slipped away from his girlfriend, rushing to the side of the car.
"What do you want?" Randy sighed.
"Can I get a ride home?"
Angela blinked. "I thought you were going with Tatum?"
"Cheer practice." She held up a lone pom-pom from her car. "And doofus' car is in the shop."
Stu shrugged. "Yeah, guess I need driving lessons from you, Tate."
"Sure, get in." Angela laughed at their bickering.
"Sweet, thanks." He vaulted into the back of the car, sparking an entire conversation with Randy about how he'd managed to pull off the feat.
"You need a ride, Sidney?"
"No, no. I'm going home with Billy. But thank you for the offer." Sidney spoke.
"You know what that means." Stu grinned from the backseat, where he was reclined, his feet kicked up on the console.
"Try a little subtly, you dick." Billy warned.
"I was joking, man."
"I really hate to break this up but some people have a living to make." Randy announced.
x
After an undoubtedly interesting twenty minutes, they'd dropped off Stu at his home and retraced the drive back to the video store. Angela enjoyed their bickering for the most part along their journey, but was grateful to finally arrive at the video store It was bright and colorful, with plenty of windows shining light in on the extensive array of video tapes.
There were a few customers in the store, shambling around aimlessly. Randy got to work almost immediately, wheeling around a clunky cart scattered with tapes. Angela was stationed at the register, ringing up customers, answering the phone and placing returned tapes into a box. She was quite impressed with his work ethic.
The afternoon went by slowly. So slowly, in fact, that Angela figured she'd phone her Dad up at work. Randy had disappeared into the back room to take inventory, and the store was dreadfully empty. Dialing the number to his new work number, she patiently waited until he picked up.
"Rich Edwards speaking, can I help you?"
"Hi, Daddy." Angela smiled.
"Hey, pumpkin! How was school?"
"It was great."
"I'm glad. I told you it would be."
"You remember Randy Meeks?"
She heard the clatter of a keyboard in the background of the call. "What'd you say? Randy? You know, I do remember him!"
"Well, he's in my first period and now we're at the video store." She hesitated. "I'm helping him out with his job."
"A job?" She could hear his surprise. "It's your first day, honey."
"Not my job."
"Huh. Don't let it affect your grades, Angela." His voice grew stern.
"I won't, Daddy. Don't worry."
She faintly heard the sounds of another person in the background. "Listen, I gotta run. I'm glad you're adjusting well. I'll see you home around ten. Love you."
"Love you too."
Angela set the phone down and had just returned to sorting through tapes when Randy slid up onto the counter beside the register, causing her to a jump a little. It was dark outside the vast windows now, with the exception of a few faint traces of pink streaking through the sky. The rolling California hills in the distance had become just silhouettes now. In fact, she found it more beautiful than the San Francisco skyline.
"Didn't mean to scare you."
"Jesus, give a little warning next time!"
He snickered. "Was that the famous Rich Edwards?"
"Of course. He remembers you."
"I'm unforgettable."
"That's for sure." Angela dumped a box onto Randy's cart. "Anyway, what time do you get off?"
He glanced at his watch. "Eleven."
If Angela wasn't home on time, her Dad would give her quite the talking to, and probably ground her in a well-meant attempt to establish ground rules. He meant well, but sometimes he tried too hard to fill the void her Mother's betrayal and disbandment had left. The ramifications were seemingly endless.
"I'm gonna have to leave. My Dad gave me a ridiculous curfew."
"Don't worry about it." Randy masked his disappointment, jumping down and rifling through the fresh stack on his cart. "I usually pop a movie on in the back when it's slow."
"That's pretty cool, really." She rested her chin on her hand. "Think your boss'll care if I help you out sometimes?"
"Definitely not.. and hey, thanks for giving me a ride today, Ang. I'm really glad you're back."
Angela gathered up her bag, fishing her car keys out with a smile. "No problem. Thanks for being so nice. Not sure I would've made it through today without you."
"Be safe driving home, alright?"
"Will do!"