Kim wasn't prone to sadness and melancholy. She was generally optimistic and despite her family's recent tragedy, she tried to focus on positive things in life. She had two paying jobs, made at least two friends at school, and haven't been ostracized for being a new girl. Yet. Also, she only had to work three days a week and it left her with two school days' afternoons free. She planned to volunteer at the hospital or a charity. It was her way of dealing with her mom's passing. She didn't think she could actually interact with sick people, but she knew that there's a lot that she could do on the administrative and support end. She was good with computers and could help with filing and data entry.
She sent her applications two weeks prior and got one response from a charity that was aimed at helping mostly volunteer-run animal shelters to keep to their 'no kill' policy, by giving them grants. She didn't actually have to work with animals, and her job was basically endless data entry, but she knew it that it took all kinds of tasks to get the job done and she was pleased. They wanted her to come once a week to help process the applications.
She went to school determined to have a good day. Her dad dropped her off as close to school as he could, which still left her taking a bit of a walk. She was walking along the sidewalk, when she heard someone calling her name. It was Jerry, the boy she met, who was Milton's friend.
"Need a ride?"
"Sure. Thanks." She got into a seriously ancient Camaro and looked at Jerry. "How is this thing still running?"
"Hey, no dissing Geronimo. And I don't see you with anything better. In fact, there is nothing." His words were light, but they belied a question nonetheless.
"I am concerned about my carbon footprint. This is my way of saving the planet." Kim told him primly and she could see his eyes glaze over.
"Ugh, there is two of you now? Milton goes on and on about being a custodian of the planet." Jerry mumbled and Kim was grateful that he dropped the subject.
"So, I hear you met our golden couple." Jerry said and Kim had to look at him askance. "Donna and Brody. Long legs and mop of hair?"
"Ahhhh... Yes. I didn't know her name, but I have met them. So, let me guess: a quarterback and a cheerleader?"
"Basketball team captain and head cheerleader. Our quarterback, Brett, is with another cheerleader, Kelsey."
"How did you know already that I met them?" Kim wasn't surprised that news travelled so quickly, but was curious nonetheless.
"Well, Donna doesn't like you, which isn't surprising, because you are a girl and that means you are on Brody's radar. She posted something about a new girl, who hangs out with nerds and losers, and is an incompetent barista. I figured it was you."
"And nerds and losers would be Milton and you? Unbelievable... Well, if she and her posse ignore me then so much the better. Being friendly with a girl like her is like being friendly with a snake: you're likely to get bitten."
"That's true. I hear that she already spun the story about you making nice with Milton to get your school work done. Apparently you maybe a bottle blonde, but you are still dumb like one."
"Ugh... Seriously, all of this over a guy? So not worth it. But enough about her. How did you get Geronimo? Where did you even find this dinosaur?"
It was a right question to ask, because Jerry smiled happily and told her a story involving a cousin named Pepito and some convoluted scheme with clogged toilets, summer jobs at the auto shop, and a trip to get best pupusas. She laughed at his descriptions and by the time they got to school she was in a great mood.
They parted ways and Kim walked into her first class: Chemistry. She didn't know anyone there and sat at the only available spot, which was next to a shy redhead in glasses. When Kim sat down, the girl introduced herslef as Julie and told her that she's seen Kim with Milton Krupnik. Julie's voice went a little too whisper-y and Kim suspected that Julie liked the boy.
"I used to be neighbors with Milton back in middle school days. He is still the same."
"Oh, isn't he? Always so smart and tall... Did you move out of Seaford and came back?"
"Just my dad's job took us to Tennessee and then back here."
The lesson began and Julie's focused on the class, which suited Kim fine.
It turned out that she had most classes either with Julie or Milton. She was walking towards lunch room, when Julie came up to her.
"Kim, if you like, we can sit together. I am not sure if you know anyone else."
"Oh, I was planning on sitting with Milton and Jerry. Would you like to join us?"
Julie's face pinkened and she stuttered, "Are you sure they won't mind?"
Kim smiled inwardly, "I am sure it's going to be fine."
The two girls entered the lunch room and went to sit down by Milton and Jerry, whose jaw dropped at the sight of TWO girls sitting down by them, "uhgm... Hi."
"Jerry, Milton, this is Julie. We have Chemistry together. Julie, this is Jerry and Milton."
Julie gave a small finger wave and Milton, who looked a little ruffled, cleared his throat and said, "I think we have Physics together. I liked your presentation last week."
"Oh, thank you. I was worried that my findings would be too inconsistent - I heard it happens with school equipment being poorly maintained and calibrated - but then all was just as I expected."
And off they were, discussing classes, tests, teachers and lectures they attended.
Jerry and Kim were left to their own devices and proceeded to discuss the best places to find decent food of various kind.
Suddenly, there was a hush over them and Milton, who was sitting across from her, had a pinched expression on his face as his eyes tightened.
"Hey, new girl! What are you doing sitting next to these nerds?" Was this guy for real?
"I was enjoying my lunch with friends, eh ... Sorry, I didn't catch you name there."
"It's Randy, Blondie. Wanna come and sit with us?"
Kim wasn't sure, but it seemed like this guy was more brawny than brainy.
"Oh, that's OK. It seems like you've got a full complement of friends. Wouldn't want to go and break the flow, so to speak."
Randy's face showed that he didn't quite understand what she said. "What?"
"It's like when you have a full team of players, who already played together for a long time. They develop a certain energy together, a certain chemistry, you know? Do you play sports?"
"Yeah, I am on the basketball team." Randy beamed at Kim.
"Then you know what a well balanced team brings to the game, right?" Kim looked at him earnestly and pleadingly.
"Yeah, sure, I know..." Randy didn't look like he got what Kim was saying.
"Then, you understand that when a new player comes in, it often ruins the magic... A player could be good, but wouldn't click with the rest of the team... So, you see, I can't do that to you group..." Kim's face looked sad and she turned away shaking her head.
Randy stood there uncertain as to what had happened and eventually went back to his table. Kim was still looking at her apple like it was a very compelling piece of art.
"Thay was brilliant, Kim." Milton gushed and Jerry looked at her with awe.
"And we didn't get beat up... I like you, Kim."
Kim shrugged her shoulders and smiled at her new friends, "diversion is a legitimate tactic when engaging a new and untested enemy."
"I am sure that Sun Tzu* would have something to add here," Julie said and Milton's eyes were bright and wondering when he looked at her.
"Sun Tzu didn't have the high school experience. His thirteen lessons might have been different." Kim was sure that even the most brilliant strategist would add a thing or two on high school.
Jack was in a slightly better mood today. After yesterday's run in with an oblivious blonde, he shook off his vexations and reached for the calm that helped him deal with father, family business and all the expectations. He usually focused on his Karate moves that he was practicing at the moment to get through engagements like this. He was surprised then, when the light brown eyes framed by golden hair popped into his head in the middle of the dinner. Huh... He shook his head and concentrated on conversation. 'Distractions, even the most pleasant ones, do not serve the ultimate purpose, Jack. People, emotions, affections, can and will betray you. But if you stay true to you goal, free of distractions, you can achieve greatness.'
He certainly didn't need distractions now.
The next day he was once again in the company of jocks and cheerleaders at lunch when Randy announced loudly, "I'll go try my luck with the new girl, the Blondie. She is stuck there with those losers. I bet she'd be all over me to get into our group."
Jack could tell by Donna's positively glacial expression that she hardly approved of this move. He sort of understood: Donna was image conscious and wanted at least the appearance, if not the substance, of the high school dream - her being part of the Golden Couple that ruled the school. Only Brett, the quarterback, went for Kelsey (wise choice on his part, Kelsey was a reasonable girl). There was a period of a Cold War between the two girls, but Kelsey had the quarterback and Donna decided to keep Kelsey on her good side. She settled for Brody. Brody, who had a roving eye and commitment issues. So Donna was exceptionally vigilant and any new face, especially allegedly a pretty one, would make her weary.
Brody had a weird expression on his face and only said, "Go ahead. Try." Donna's face turned smug and displeased at the same time.
Ahhh, so tried his charms on the new girl and failed and Donna saw it all go down. Interesting. Jack followed Randy's progress and was startled when he saw the brown eyed blonde from yesterday sitting with the local genius and his friends. She was saying something to Randy and he had that constipated look on his face, because he was thinking hard. She turned away and was studying her apple, while Randy stood behind her with a bewildered look. Finally he turned and came back to their table.
"So, strike out?" Brody was grinning, perhaps pleased that the girl turned Randy down.
"She said she can't distract me from basketball, because it would ruin the team."
Jack thought that even his father would not have been able to keep his composure at this. Jack's what was echoed by everyone at the table.
"She is so into me, I can tell. Like, she bothered to find out about the team I am on and how important basketball is to me..."
"Randy, what did she actually tell you?" Brett had a long suffering expression on his face.
"Well, first I was like 'hey, Blondie, ditch the nerds and come hang out with us.' and she was like, I don't know your name and I'm sitting here with my friends. So, I was like..."
"Wait. She didn't know your name? Why would you think she knew about you being on the team." Brody asked.
"I told her..."
Jack was rolling his eyes and not bothering to hide it.
"So you told her your name, that you are on the team, called her friends nerds, and somehow you think she is into you?" Jack could not quite contain the incredulity.
"Well, yeah. She was like, I can't come to your table or it would interfere with the team and it's so important."
"Did she say interfere with the team?" Even Donna was curious now.
"Wel, first she was like you friends are like the team. And the team playing together is important. And a new player will ruin magic. And I can't interfere with that."
Oh. Oh. Jack swallowed the surprise by force of habit. The girl was smart. And if he was not mistaken, she did not want anything to do with Randy, Brody, Donna, and their entire group. And she was loyal, since she didn't ditch her friends so easily. So that spine of steel that he thought he saw yesterday wasn't just his imagination. Good for her.
"Did you at least get her name, Casanova?" Jack was grateful it was Brett asking.
"...No."
Why was he friendly with these people again? 'Friendships, Jack, are merely a give and take between pleasant acquaintances. Sooner or later, your friend would be just another supplicant for favors, if you're a more successful one.'
"That girl thinks she is smart and funny. Hello, sarcasm doesn't actually count as a good quality. And her dye job is so awful. Like, who is she fooling? And her clothes... three years out of fashion at least. Wherever she is from, it must some god-awful tiny place in the middle of nowhere. And those nerds she is with... Ugh... whatever. She basically committed a social suicide by sitting with them. No one would want to be seen with her..." Donna, it seemed, realized the insult that was in the new girl's refusal to join Randy was aimed at all of them. And she basically declared the new girl persona non-grata.
Now, Jack was sort of curious to know what exactly went down between Brody, Donna and the girl. If nothing else, she made the lunch hour pass quickly with all the entertainment caused by her.
Jack caught himself turning to look at the brown eyed blonde and stopped. 'Distractions, Jack, even the most pleasant ones...' he stood abruptly and left the lunch room deliberately keeping his gaze straight.
Kim noticed the tall brunet leaving the room and realized it was the guy with short temper she ran into yesterday. He looked like he was still in a bad mood. He must really be just a miserable sort of person. Although, he was sitting with Donna and Brody, so she couldn't quite blame him for being in a bad mood. She turned to look at Jerry and asked, "who is that guy, who just left?"
"That was Jack Brewer, black belt in karate and part of the basketball team. He is sort of quiet and keeps to himself, but if you cross him... He has a temper and seriously iron fists. He is also from a prominent family. Rich. I am not sure why he isn't in Swarthmore. Donna was all over him at first, but he wouldn't give her time of day. It's Lindsay now, who is after him. He does not date now, though." Milton was surprisingly thorough.
"Yeah, he doesn't date now, but he went out with a few girls before. According to rumors he was brutal. You better stay away from him." Jerry added.
"Shouldn't be a problem on my end. And he is with Donna and Brody's crowd, so I might be too low on the totem pole for him."
Kim didn't tell them about her run in with Jack the other day, but she suspected he thought little of her. Perhaps he shared Donna's thoughts on clumsy and inept barista.
*Sun Tzu was an ancient Chinese strategist, who is thought to have written The Art of War, a manuscript on military strategy that has been used in diplomacy and business world. It contains 13 chapters.
