The New Guy
Adam sighed as he waited by his locker. Drew had told him to show a new guy around the school. Just as he started looking at a new comic he heard heavy footsteps getting closer. Looking up he was taken aback. The owner of the footsteps was wearing combat boots, a pair of jeans that looked like they had been to hell and back, and a torn plaid shirt with the sleeves rolled up. His hair was cut short with his bangs covering the top of his eyes. The boy had a cigarette held by his teeth, but it wasn't lit.
"Are you Adam?" He nodded towards Adam and offered a hand. Adam wiped his hands on his jeans before shaking.
"Uh, yeah. You know you can't smoke in here, right?" The boy laughed and nodded, taking the stick in his hands and admiring it.
"I don't smoke them. It's just for show. Did you want one?" Adam shook his head while Matt returned the cigarette to his mouth and motioned down the hall.
"What was your name again?"
"Matthew or Matt, I don't really care what you call me." He said as they made their way to the cafeteria, the sound of Matt's boots echoing down the hallway.
"Where'd you move from?
"The States. My dad found a new job here, so I really didn't have a choice." Adam nodded as they rounded a corner. He was too engrossed in the conversation that he didn't see Becky in front of him. Once they collided he immediately helped her up.
"Becky I'm so sorry, I wasn't paying attention and…"
"No, it's fine." She responded as she dusted herself off. "Who's your friend?" Adam followed Becky's eyes to Matt who was smiling brightly back at her.
"Um, this is Matt. He just moved here from the U.S." Becky's face lit up at the sound of America. She started asking questions and Matt gave Adam a pleading look.
"We should probably get going, I'll see you at lunch, okay?" Becky smiled shyly and waved a goodbye. Adam and Matt went to the art room.
"Is she always so…Happy?" Matt struggled as they found a seat. Adam laughed and nodded.
"Yeah, pretty much. You get used to it though." Matt shook his head in disbelief and starting drawing on the desk. After minutes of working in silence Matt poked Adam.
"Is she taken?" He mouthed. Confused, Adam asked whom he was talking about.
"That Becky chick. She's way too hot to be single." Heat rose to Adam's face.
"Um, she's kind of my girlfriend." He mumbled, concentrating more on the scribbles on his notebook than the boy beside him.
"Dude, I didn't mean to…" Matt began but was cut off by Adam. "No it's fine." To be honest it was. Adam hadn't really told anyone about them. Assuming everyone knew about this summer's events he thought they also knew they were a couple. Awkward tension filled the room, and Adam was relieved when the bell rang.
"I'll see you around Adam." Matt said as he went to his locker.
"Adam, are you even listening?" Becky questioned while waving a hand in front of him. Adam nodded.
"Yeah, yeah, something about new shoes." His eyes scanned the cafeteria in search of Drew. He had been getting on his case about Becky, and Adam was tired of his crap. He jumped when he felt a hand hit his shoulder.
"Dude calm down." Adam's body relaxed when he heard Matt's voice.
"I'm fine." Adam gave him a questioning look as he sat down next to him. "What are you doing?" Becky kicked his leg and gave him a disapproving look.
"I invited him to eat with us. He's new and I don't want him to feel left out." Matt put his hand on his heart and pretended to wipe tears from his face. Adam snorted at his gesture, which resulted in another kick to the shins.
"So tell me Matthew, what grade are you in?" Matt swallowed part of his sandwich and wiped his hands on his jeans.
"I'm a junior. Sorry, I meant grade 11." He said after noticing Adam's confusion. Becky nodded excitingly as Adam continued to devour his pizza. They continued to talk about how different Canada was from America until the bell sounded. Adam offered for Matt to go to his house after school, which he agreed to. After walking Becky to class he went to Geography. He stopped paying attention once the teacher started talking about Russia. The rest of his classes flew by and now he was walking to his house accompanied by Matt. Drew greeted them as they came in.
"Who's this?" Drew motioned towards to Matt who had a new cigarette in his mouth.
"This is my friend Matt. Matt, this is my step-brother Drew." Matt stuck his hand out and Drew shook it.
"Well, any friend of Adam's is a friend of mine." Adam wanted to laugh and call him out on lying but decided better of it.
"We're gonna be on the Xbox, so if you don't mind." Adam jerked his head to the stairway.
"We have more than two controllers bro, the more the merrier." He exclaimed as he hopped on the couch. Adam sighed and turned the TV on. He was getting really tired of his brother monitoring him. Throughout the evening they mindlessly killed zombies and ate pizza, occasionally cussing at each other in frustration. Adam was relatively quiet while Drew wouldn't shut up. Dropping his controller, Adam stood up and made his way to his room.
"Dude where are you going? We need you!" Matt said as he decapitated an enemy.
"I uh, have to finish my homework. I'll see you tomorrow." Adam glared at Drew as he ascended the stairs.
"What was up with you yesterday?" Adam sighed as he turned to face Matt. Today he was sporting a band tee with battered jeans and sneakers, accompanied by a worn-looking cigarette in his mouth. He was constantly pushing his bangs back to no prevail.
"Drew just, gets on my nerves sometimes." He didn't want to bother the poor kid with his personal life. Matt nodded and they went to art. As they were walking they past Zoë, causing Matt to stop abruptly, eyes on her as she went by.
"Girls with asses like mine do not talk to boys with faces like yours." She said over her shoulder, causing Adam to break down with laughter. Wiping the tears, he grabbed Matt and led him to class. "Some other time, Romeo."
"Do you think she's into me? Do you think she was hitting on me? How's my breath?" Adam coughed as Matt blew into his face and pushed him away.
"More like she wanted to hit you." He muttered, but Matt was too busy coming up with schemes to hear him.
"I'll win her over, I mean who could resist this?" He gestured to his face waiting for a response. Adam just shook his head and continued on his assignment. He could get used to this guy.
Thanks for reading!
