As we crunched along, I began to hear the snow fill with footprints and soon we were surrounded by a group of boys - most of which I did not know. They gathered around my friend, a few peering curiously at me.
The red-headed boy tapped me on the shoulder and then ran (very maturely) to the other side of the mass of teenagers.
A boy I hadn't seen before began to tell a story.
"So, Tess called me at - like - eleven last night and sounded all important and everything and said she needed to talk."
All the boys were looking at him now, seeming to share the same apathy that came with a call from Tess.
"And she's like 'oh. Well, since my mom's the chairman of the goodwill committee, I absolutely must have a date to the banquet. What are you doing this Saturday?' and she tells me all about her dress and how they're gonna to decorate the hall. Like I care so much. And I haven't had time to even say 'hi' yet 'cause she's talking so much and I wanna sleep. So when she finally shuts up I'm like 'oh. Shoot Tess. I have a basketball game that night…'"
The red-headed boy grinned. "Dude. Basketball doesn't start for another couple months."
"Yeah, I think she knew that. And she's super quiet for a while and then's like 'oh. well, I'll call Robert then' and hangs up." he concluded.
The red head paled beneath his freckles. "Me?" he panicked. "Dude. No. that's just… no. I don't have an excuse like that." he eyed me. "What should I tell her, do you think?"
I grew terribly uncomfortable as all eyes shifted to me. "I don't know Tess…but I'd just tell her that I have a date. Do you have a date?"
He actually blushed a little. "Uh. Not yet. But I'm working on it. It's just not gonna be Tess - I know that."
"Then I just wouldn't answer my phone for a couple of days."
Robert rolled his eyes as his friends began to snicker. "Oh wow. Thanks."
He grinned back at me, though, so I knew I wasn't being completely stupid.