Chapter Two
I should've been happy with my seating. It was a perfectly nice spot in the middle. Grudgingly, I wished Buster would've found one in the back. I would've given anything to figure out what Francine was laughing at.
Dear God, I hope she wasn't laughing at me. Reassuring myself, I remembered that she teases everyone, not just me. She was probably laughing at Muffy. It was strange to see those two together still. To me, they were polar opposites. Muffy had matured into a young woman, ditching her dress for a skirt and blouse. Her hair was no longer in braids.
Francine had matured, too. Her hair was longer now, and she had taken out her barrettes. She never wore anything that made her uncomfortable. She was so in tune with what made her happy and unhappy…I couldn't help but feel like she had it all together. I, on the other hand, was scrambled and confused. The only thing I knew was that I liked her. I liked that she was comfortable in herself and didn't care what others thought. It seemed so refreshing.
"Hello! Earth to Arthur!"
Buster's fingers snapped in front of my face, calling my attention back to our conversation. I turned to him and asked, "Everyone's changed. We all look different."
He shrugged and began to eat a candy bar he pulled out of his pocket. "Yeah," he mumbled in-between chews, "that happens. You should see Binky. If he wasn't scary to you last year, he sure is now! He's gotta be at least six feet tall. It looks like he eats rocks for breakfast. Or puppies."
I shook my head. "He probably just eats kindergartners."
Buster snorted and took another bite of his candy bar. "Get this-Brain won't go by 'The Brain' anymore. He makes everyone call him Alan."
"Are you serious?"
"One-hundred percent serious! He doesn't even hang out with us anymore. He prefers to hang out with the upperclassmen in his Science Club."
Annoyance bubbled up within me. So the Brain—I mean, Alan—doesn't want to be seen with us anymore? "Too bad we're not as smart and clever as him and his friends," I mutter dryly.
Buster and I remain silent the rest of the ride. Chatter carries throughout the bus, making me feel even more awkward. Everyone is happy that school is starting except for me. A feeling deep down in the pit of my stomach erupts and stays there. It makes me wonder if my group of friends could ever be the same again.
The lump in my throat tells me it won't.
The bus pulls up to the high school building just in time to stop me from losing my breakfast. It looks huge, and somewhat Hellenistic. Exactly the kind of place that makes you feel intimidated walking up the steps. Or maybe that was just me.
Upperclassmen stand in their small groups of friends chatting, while small streams of freshmen file inside for a short orientation. I see Binky hanging out with the Tough Customers by the side of the school. Buster was right; Binky was huge. Muscles bulged from under his shirt, and a half-burned cigarette was between his lips. I sometimes forget he is older than the rest of us, even if he is a ninth grader as well. His eyes are set something across the grass. I follow his gaze to find that it rests on Sue Ellen.
Sue Ellen was a classmate of mine. I smile at her even though she is more absorbed in her book than in her surroundings. She has not changed. She is still short with frizzy, untamed hair. She still dresses somewhat exotic, as if she had just gone on a trip to some country I've never heard of. Why would Binky be checking out Sue Ellen?
Romantic relationships are not my strongest point, clearly.
Buster and I head into the building to find a seat. Orientation starts at eight o'clock. That's ten minutes away.
Time keeps marching on.