I sit for a second, take a deep breath then answer the phone. Moon's expression isn't all smiley and bright like usual. She looks kinda serious.
"Hey," I say awkwardly.
"Hey," she responds a little more awkwardly.
"So who should talk first? Me, you?" I stammer out.
"You can," she responds.
"Look I screwed up. I just got so mad that you believed Kyler and them. I'm not saying don't hang out with them although I don't recommend it. You are your own person and can make your own decisions. I shouldn't have freaked out like that. Moon I really like having you as a friend and I'm really sorry I said those hurtful things," I conclude.
"I'm sorry to. I was just surprised and a bit nervous because we hung out the night before and woke up like that and I just got overwhelmed and tried to dismiss it. That's my fault. I don't like violence, but I can honestly see why you got in a fight with Kyler. I loved hanging out with you the other night. Your different than the others and I like that. I was also jealous when I thought you hooked—," she pauses and my chest does a backflip.
"What?" I stammer out awkwardly.
She signs.
"Oh nothing, it's nothing," she horribly lies.
"Well that's fine because I was wondering if you wanted to Ya know hang out sometime?" I ask.
"Well we've hung out already. Don't see why we can't do it again," she responds with a giggle.
"No I mean like a... date," I say.
She smiles really brightly at this and I do to.
"I'd love that," she says smiling brightly.
"Great how about this Friday?" I say excitedly.
"Awesome," she responds.
"Ooo I don't have a car," I say embarrassed.
"Oh no worries I'll pick you up," she says.
"We'll see ya at school tomorrow," she says.
"Later," I say.
When she hangs up. I pump my fist dramatically in the air.
"Yes!" I shout.
"Yes! Oh shit," I say again and punch the air happily, but goofily fall off my bed.
Moon pov
When I hang up the phone I squeal like a typical teenage girl from the movies. I clutch my phone to my chest. I immediately FaceTime Sam. She answers almost immediately. I'm grinning like an idiot.
"He asked me out," I say really excitedly.
"No way," Sam says smiling brightly.
"Way!" I say and we both squeal.
"I'm so happy for you!" Sam yells.
"Thanks," I say.
Suddenly Yasmine wants to join the call so we let her on.
"Hey bitches," Yasmine says smiling.
"Blake just asked Moon out," Sam says.
"Eww u said no right?" Yasmine says looking grossed out.
"Of course not," I say a bit offended.
"I guess your into fungus," Yasmine says.
"What's your problem with him anyway?" I ask curiously.
"He had no right to pick a fight with Kyler and those nasty scars," Yasmine says.
"He was in an accident. I bet you wouldn't want people making fun of you if you had scars," I say defensively.
"Fine noted. I need one of you bitches to pick me up for school tomorrow," she requests.
Blake pov
My alarm clock blares the next morning and I smash my fist on my bedside table which sends it flying across the room.
"Ugh. Son of a bitch. Fuck school," I say getting out of bed.
I take a longer shower than usual because I'm moving slow. I do my typical routine, put on a grey T-shirt with a nice jacket, jeans, and my nice dark brown cowboy boots, eat some breakfast, and walk out the door. I go to get my bike until I see Sam walk out of her house.
"Hey, need a lift?" She offers.
"Yeah thanks," I say and get in her car.
During the ride we talk about how much it sucked getting up. She pulls into a parking space and we walk into the building. It's crowded and I feel a bit nervous. I've never seen this many strangers in one place.
"Who's your home room teacher?" Sam asks looking over at my schedule.
"Mrs. Peterson," I answer.
"No way. Same home room," she says.
"Ok great," I say and we head over that way.
However, I stop and see a familiar head of brown hair at her locker. She's wearing a pretty orange dress with flowers on it. Sam teasingly elbows me in the side.
"Guess I'll meet you there," she says giving me a teasing smirk.
I saunter up to Moon.
"Excuse me, I'm new to this school and need help finding Mrs. Peterson's class," I say in a flirty tone.
"Blake hey. How are you liking the school so far?" She asks smiling at me.
"Eh rather be in bed," I tease.
"Same here," she answers lightheartedly.
She has someone named Mr. Palmer for home room.
"Wow seems like a total nerd," I say.
"I know right," she says.
"Well see ya around," I say and depart for my homeroom class.
When I walk in I look around the room. Sam waves at me and is sitting with Yasmine. My smile goes away as the sight of Yasmine's resting bitch face. I look for somewhere to sit, until I see another familiar face. It's Miguel sitting alone at one of the tables.
"What's up?" I say excitedly.
"Hey man," Miguel says his facial expression becoming full of energy.
We do a bro handshake and I sit next to him.
Suddenly the announcements come on and some lady gives the most corny welcome back speech ever.
"Definitely high on coffee and antidepressants," I whisper to Miguel who laughs.
The first half of the day goes smoothly until 4th period. English class. Usually I'm anticipating lunch so I'm not always in the best mood when 4th period rolls around. Also english is one of my not so great subjects. I walk in and sit near the middle back of the class. Then, in walks the lanky kid from In-N-Out. The kid who wouldn't shut his mouth. He's dressed kinda nerdy with a yellow shirt sleeve open plaid shirt. He looks around the sits near the front. When the teacher starts talking he immediately raises his hand. I put my head on my desk to try to tune him out.
"Excuse me, Mr. Smith?" He shouts in the most Sheldon voice I've ever heard.
This guy is literally Sheldon from The Big Bang Theory.
"Yes Demetri," he answers.
"I just wanted to point out my issues with the size of our textbook. Also the spine is too wrinkled and the dust causes my fingers to get all dry," Demetri complains.
I roll my eyes and just play on my phone just to distract myself.
"Mr. Murphy," my teacher calls out.
"Yeah?" I answer confused.
"I have a strict cell phone policy in my class and I'd like it if you put yours away," Mr. Smith requests.
"Sorry," I mutter and slip it in my pocket.
Demetri looks at me and I can tell he recognizes me from the other night. He scowls lightly and I just look away. I know he'll chirp and say annoying shit if we make eye contact.
I just stare at the wall until the bell rings.
"Finally," I say and walk out of class.
However, as I'm heading toward the cafeteria, I realize that I'm not sure where I'm gonna sit for lunch. I don't really have friends and I'm sure Sam and Moon wanna sit with their group. Well I guess I can look for Miguel. I never really had this issue at any of my old schools because playing football guaranteed you a spot at the big table. I decide to just get in the lunch line. Someone bumps into the back of me and I turn around. I see none other than the kid with the lip from In-N-Out.
"Sorry bro," I say.
The kid stays silent and hangs his head.
"Hey man, you got a name?" I ask.
Maybe I can make a friend right now.
"Eli," the kid almost whispers.
"Nice to meet you man. I'm Blake," I say and he just smiles briefly.
The rest of the wait is just an awkward silence as this kid has zero social skills. Mine aren't great either, but this kid acts as if it's his first day out of the house.
I go to the table nearby to get some ketchup and see Miguel leave the line with his tray. He looks around for a place to sit and I decide to walk up to him.
"You lost to?" I ask jokingly.
"Yeah, I don't know anybody here," he answers.
"Well neither do I," I say.
"I don't get it. You were in with the popular kids. Why'd you drop them?" Miguel asks.
"Because I want real friends. Those pricks aren't friends. Just obnoxious assholes that annoyed me to death when I hung out with them," I say honestly.
We find a table with two kids. And go figure, it's Eli and Demetri.
"Cool if we sit here?" Miguel asks.
"sorry table's rrreeeallly blowing up right now. I can put you two on the wait list, but it's probably next semester at the earliest," Demetri responds in the most sarcastic voice I've ever heard.
"I highly doubt that," I say giving him a fuck you look.
"Oh you again," he says bitterly as he only was looking at Miguel and didn't see me.
"Yeah me again," I say in a taunting voice.
"Here to call us nerds again?" He asks in a rude tone.
"Ok that was my brother, not me. He's a real piece of shit," I say.
"So can we sit here?" Miguel asks.
"Yeah sit," Demetri says gesturing to the empty seats.
Miguel sits by Eli and I sit by Demetri
"Miguel," Miguel says introducing himself.
"Demetri. This is Eli. He's a man of few words," Demetri answers pointing his thumb at Eli.
"I'm Blake," I say.
Demetri looks behind me and I turn my head to see Yasmine and Sam walking past us. Miguel stares in awe. Maybe I should set him up with Sam after she rejects Kyler.
"Dude don't torture yourself. Those are the rich girls
"Do you ever talk to them or...?" Miguel asks.
"Oh yeah all the time. We hang out after school, make out, give each other handjobs. Well Eli here is the homecoming king. Gets laid more than anyone. Isn't that right Eli?," Demetri sarcastically replies.
Eli smiles at him trying not to laugh.
"Why are you so negative?" I ask in disbelief.
He's more depressing than the movie Marley and Me. I feel bad for Eli because he has Demetri feeding defeatist bullshit to him everyday.
"Talk to them? You realize what table your sitting at right? You've basically signed away all hopes of losing your virginity before college," Demetri replies in his defeatist tone.
"Wouldn't be so sure about that," I say.
"Why's that?" Demetri asks.
"I got a date with one of em on Friday," I say smirking.
"No way," Miguel says in awe.
I jerk my head over my shoulder and look at Moon. She's talking to Yasmine. She sees me and waves while smiling brightly. I curl my lip into a smile and nod my head.
"How?" Demetri asks speechless.
"It's the Murphy charm," I say confidently.
"Oh haha," Demetri says bitterly.
"Cmon. Don't be like that. Who knows maybe he could set us up," Miguel says.
"Shit! Yasmine's looking at us. She's probably just making fun of me,"
"I don't think she's making fun of you. I mean just because they're hot doesn't mean they're mean," Miguel says.
"No she probably is," I respond giving Yasmine a dirty look.
"Dude," Miguel says in disbelief.
"No it's nothing on Eli it's just that Yasmine is a total bitch," I say.
"I don't care if Yasmine is the meanest girl at school. I'd kill all three of you just to get her to spit in my face," Demetri says.
"Well then you need to sort out your priorities," I respond.
"Yeah well if you don't make a move, your never gonna have a shot with her," Miguel says.
I smile at this. At least Miguel has some confidence.
"That's the spirit," I say encouragingly nudging his shoulder.
"True, but I'll also never suffer a humiliating rejection," Demetri replies.
"Better to know than to spend your life wondering what if," I say.
"Got anything to add?" I say to Eli.
His eyes go wide for a second and he just shrugs.
"I'm at peace with my depression. Last thing I need to be is suicidal," Demetri says then starts fiddling with his food.
"Well if that's how you feel, you might as well start feeling suicidal because it sounds like your just quitting on life. If you really wanna find some happiness then sack up and live in the moment," I say trying to sound encouraging.
Demetri ignores me.
Suddenly Miguel stands up.
"What are you doing?" Demetri asks sounding scared.
"Striking first," Miguel responds and starts walking slowly toward the girls' table.
"Oh shit. I hope we don't get hit with the shrapnel," Demetri says filled with dread.
"Yes, that's my boy. Go for it," I whisper to myself.
I wonder which one he's gonna pick. I see Sam look and smile in his direction. I'm nodding my head and smiling. I know it's a long shot for him because he's never seen these girls in his life, but I'm rooting for him. Suddenly, Brucks sits down on a chair with his ass facing to us. The chair creeks loudly and I swear I hear some cracking. Then Kyler sits and puts his arm around Sam. He looks at Miguel and waves mockingly. Miguel's shoulders slump and he walks back to our table with his head hanging down.
"See ya later Rhea," Brucks says then starts laughing hysterically.
I shake my head at his stupid face.
"Don't mind him! That chair is about to break under the weight of his fat ass!" I say loud enough to Miguel to where the table hears it. I bet Moon won't like it, but I don't care. I'm sick of them pushing around Miguel.
Brucks and Kyler stand up and Sam looks at me worriedly.
"The hell you just say scarface?" Kyler says challengingly.
"You heard me. Hopefully porky next to you heard me," I say pointing at Brucks who's smile slowly fades.
"Oh no," Demetri says clearly terrified.
Eli might as well be a turtle and Miguel just looks at the ground.
"You didn't learn your lesson last time freak?" Brucks says and starts laughing and goes to high five Kyler who ignores him and just looks at me ominously.
That strikes a nerve, but I'm able to hold it together.
I walk past Kyler and straight up to Brucks. I get in his face and look him straight in the eye.
"What are you gonna do? Sit on me?" I say with an evil smile.
His face burns bright red and he starts fuming until a woman walks up to us.
"Boys, are we gonna have a situation?" She warns.
"No, just talking to my good buddy Kyler here about how he owes me a pudding from our bet about the Dodgers game," I say confidently.
I reach over to Kyler's tray and take his vanilla pudding. I open it before the counselor leaves. I get my used spoon and take a bite. I raise my eyebrows and taunt him.
"You shouldn't make bets with someone when you don't know anything about baseball," I say and lightly slap his cheek twice.
"Mr. Murphy, hands to yourself. Boys you need to respect each other's safe space," she says then walks away.
I take one more big bite then drop it on the ground. It splatters all over Kyler's shoes
"Want it now?" I taunt to Kyler who looks at me with a burning hatred. The entire cafeteria is looking at us.
"You better watch your ass. Blatt won't be here to save your ass next time," he says then turns around.
"That's what you think? Think you can just say whatever the hell you want to people? Treat people like shit for no reason?" I say and get close to him. Unfortunately, he's slightly taller than me, but by a tiny margin. I'm 6' and he's around 6'2.
"What are you gonna do about it? Bitch," Kyler says.
"Oh I'm gonna make it my mission to make sure you eat the rest of your lunches on the shitter if you even think about bullying my friends again," I whisper threateningly.
The bell rings and i get my back pack and walk out with my friends. The rest of the day, people are whispering behind my back as I wonder through the halls. A bunch of girls giggle when I walk by and some of the freshman guys point in awe.
When school gets out I walk out of my anatomy class with Eli. We're debating on whether Star Wars or Star Trek is better. I'm team Star Wars all the way. It took me bringing up sci fi to get him to talk. When it's a subject he likes, he's almost as talkative as Demetri.
I go up to my locker and he goes to his which is three doors down. Our last names start with the same letter so we have close lockers.
"Hey," Sam says as I close my locker.
She doesn't look happy or sad.
"Hey," I respond.
She folds her arms.
"Your mad," I say smiling.
"No just confused at your logic," she says.
"What I wasn't gonna stand there and let Kyler heckle my friends," I say defensively.
"He was just joking around," Sam defends.
I look at her like she's an idiot.
"Look what you did was really noble and brave, but all im saying is pick your battles. You really don't want a bad reputation. Stunt with the pudding was gold tho," she says and her familiar wife smile returns.
I laugh slightly.
"Hey Blake I..." Eli says then freezes when he sees Sam.
"Hey man this is Sam. Sam, Eli," I say gesturing between the two of them.
He covers his lip and just walks away.
I sigh.
"Kyler's been hard in him," she says sadly.
"I don't get it. Why do you hang with him and why would you even go on a date with a guy like that?" I say in complete disbelief.
"He's different around us," she argues.
"He's a bully!" I yell.
"Today it seemed like you were the bully?" She says angrily then storms off.
"Fuck," I say and smack a locker.
I walk out of school and run into Moon. She's not her smiley self either.
"Don't wanna hear it. Sam ardy gave me the red ass," I say about to walk past her.
"What no. I wasn't gonna talk about that. I actually thought it was totally awesome how you stood up for your friends. And it was kind of hot," she whispers at the last statement.
"Oh was it?" I say in a flirty manner while smiling.
"What I was gonna talk to you about was Friday. I was thinking since you haven't lived here very long, I can take you on a little tour through The Valley. Shakes at Salt N' Straw, then we finish the night at Golf N Stuff," she suggests.
"That sounds awesome. I'm really excited. Only problem is I have to suffer through the rest of the week in anticipation now," I say jokingly.
She laughs at that.
"Well you have something to look forward to and so do I," she says.
"See ya later," I say.
"Bye," she says.
I walk off with a goofy grin on my face. Then I freeze for a second. I have no ride home. Sam was my ride, but that's probably down the crapper. My parents are at work. They think I took my bike. I doubt any of my friends have cars.
"Bummer," I say to myself.
Authors note: this was a long chapter and an eventful first day. Next chapter will be Blake and Moon's date. And the mystery of who will give him a ride home from school because I wasn't planning on him getting in an argument with Sam. My fingers just kinda typed I guess. Happy reading and I hope you have enjoyed my story so far.