Debunked Part II
(Or, the one in which various John Green films are discussed over lunch)

There are a lot of things well-meaning, but grossly-uninformed movie producers have gotten wrong about high schools, but funnily enough, when it comes to the cafeteria… they are right on the money.

It really is a clique-y, sticky mess of little groups, delicate alliances, and outright enemies, all held together by a fragile thread, which is the common goal to get through high school relatively unscathed.

And in the back of the cafeteria, at a table in front of floor-to-wall windows that overlook the courtyard, is her friends.

Sinead notices where Amy's gaze lands, and shrinks slightly behind her, overwhelmed at the prospect of meeting all of them, but Amy only gestures for her to follow her to the table.

"Everyone, this is Sinead," Amy announces. "Sinead, this is everyone."

"I don't suppose you're going to tell me who 'everyone' is?" Sinead jokes nervously, eying the occupants, who are staring right back at her.

Okay, so maybe it was a little intimidating for Amy to have Sinead hit with the full force of her friends all at once, but Amy considers this to be Sinead's first test: if she manages to fit in, then she's in.

(If not, Amy is sure Sinead will make a tolerable lab partner).

"Sup, Sinead," Jonah pipes up. "I'm Jonah. You new here?"

"Yeah I am," Sinead says with a weak smile, clearly waiting for the other four well-coiffed teenagers to introduce themselves.

Jonah must sense her anxiety, because he elbows Jake in the gut, which prompts him to speak as well.

"I'm Jake," he says, somehow managing to sound super Bostonian in just those two words.

Next, Cara rolls her eyes at Jake, but gives Sinead a beatific smile. "I'm Cara, and since his mouth is too full of sandwich to speak-" she points at Hamilton, "I'll introduce him for you- that's Hamilton."

"Ah khan sthpeek," Hamilton says indignantly, and Sinead giggles a little at that, before her eyes land on the final member of their little group, waiting expectantly.

"Well, best for last I suppose," Ian drawls, shooting her a quick but lethal smile. "I'm Ian."

"Nice to meet you all," Sinead says shyly, and Amy gestures for her to sit, and she takes a seat next to Ian.

Amy and her friends don't really have a process when it comes to the new kid- no elaborate mind games or whatever the equivalent to rush week is in high school- no, they're much more instinctual. So while the five of them take turns talking to Sinead while subtly inquiring for information, Amy merely watches her.

For one, she notices that Sinead likes to eat all her food separately, meticulously. The coleslaw goes first, and then the burger, and finally the sweet potato fries.

She also notices that her eyes dart around a lot, like she's waiting for someone at the table to abruptly announce "Surprise!" and dump their espresso on her.

(Poor girl. If she thinks that constitutes as a hazing ritual here, then she's probably watched one too many chick-flick).

And of course, she sneaks the requisite number of not-so-covert glances at Ian. That's probably the least surprising thing. Her boyfriend is good-looking, and of course, she's welcomed to stare- Amy's not that proprietary.

And besides, Amy has a feeling that Sinead is one of those girls who are doomed to record every single sordid crush in their diaries, and nothing more.

In short, she'll never make a move.

"So Ian," Sinead says suddenly, "Amy told me you like Casablanca- I had no idea people around here liked old movies."

It's not the best conversation opener, but she's already proved Amy wrong.

Interesting.

Jake turns to Ian and asks, "dude, isn't that a chick-flick?"

From Sinead, offended: "Hey, don't lump it in with movies like The Notebook!"

From Cara, amused: "I think that's an insult to The Notebook."

From Jonah, who's butting in entirely: "I always liked Dear John better- Channing Tatum, you know."

From Hamilton, nodding fervently: "Agreed".

From Jonah, really getting into it: "Ryan Gosling is so overrated-"

From Ian, who sniffs indignantly and announces: "-I am secure enough in my masculinity to admit that I like classics like Casablanca."

From Amy, intent on exposing Ian anyway: "His first crush was Liz Taylor."

From Hamilton, who crows: "EXPOSED."

From Ian, scowling: "Why do you have to sell me out like that?"

From Jonah, patting Ian's back: "It be like that sometimes."

From Ian, continuing to scowl: "Don't quote memes at me-"

From Amy, jokingly: "-You know what memes are?"

From Jake: "Is Liz Taylor the one with the big-" he gestures with both his hands to his chestal area.

From Sinead, somehow understanding exactly whom Jake is referring to: "That's Liz Hurley, I think."

From Jake, as somewhat of an afterthought: "She's hot".

From Cara, a beat later: "Yeah…"

Just then, the bell (or more like the loud, but soothing new-age jazz their principal prefers) rings, and everyone makes their way out of the room in an orderly fashion (What do you expect? These kids have been attending etiquette classes since they were in organic cloth diapers).

Ian, Jonah, and Jake quickly leave, citing an extremely strict English teacher.

"They're so cool," Sinead tells Amy quietly (and perhaps a touch enviously) as they leisurely pack their bags. "A lot more than I thought they'd be."

Amy doesn't even bother to dissect that comment- she gets it: they're not as elitist as Sinead thought they'd be, they're not snobby, they're not mean…

A new school can be hard, especially one like theirs. If one has the right allies… the right friends-

Well, it can make it all the more enjoyable, can't it?

And so in that moment, Amy decides that her spur-of-the-moment project is about to become something real.

(Not that she says any of that out loud).

"What do you have next, Sinead?" Amy asks instead.

Sinead fumbles with her bag before removing it and pulling out a laminated sheet of paper, and consults it. "Uh… Calc BC ."

"Oh, Ham and I have that too," Cara pipes up. "We can walk you there."

Sinead blinks, and Amy can tell she's not used to having people offer things like that. She looks at Amy, as if silently seeking her guidance, and Amy only offers her an encouraging smile.

Something in Amy's eyes must convey what she's been thinking, because suddenly, Sinead looks far less skittish than she's been this entire lunch, knowing that she has Amy Cahill's approval.

And for a moment, a gleam appears in her eye as her lips quirk upwards, as though Sinead knows something Amy does not, but before Amy can blink, it's gone, and Sinead is telling Cara "sure, let's go."

Interesting.


Thank you all for the reviews!

I've had this idea of a High School AU for a while, but I'm so glad ya'll like it- there will definitely be more.