I had mixed feelings about having a class with Jack. It felt strange walking into the room and sitting next to him, like I had a friend or something. I ignored my mind telling me this was going to end badly because of my past history with relationships. I could never actually keep any sort of relationship up with anyone whether it be romantic or a friendship, they always crumbled in the end.
I tried to pin the blame on my mother's constant moving, but deep down I knew it wasn't true because it was happening before she decided she wanted to live in a different state every four to six months. But still, I blamed her because I will never willingly take the blame for something, even if it's blatantly my fault.
"Just my luck to get two awful classes back to back," I mumbled, already starting to count down the second until algebra was over.
"This class is completely useless," Jack agreed. "What're you planning on doing after high school?"
"Becoming a stripper so I don't have to take any more algebra classes," I stated.
"That's actually a really good idea."
I leaned back in my seat and attempted to check him out. "I don't know man; I don't think you have the legs for it. And do you have enough muscle to lift yourself on the pole?"
"Please, I have fantastic legs," He argued, pulling up his pant leg, revealing and incredibly hairy and pale leg.
"Jesus Christ are you related to Chewbacca?" I asked as he pulled his pant leg back down.
"Only half on my mother's side," He answered before we both broke out into laughter. I was glad I had least found someone who understood my sense of humour.
"Jacky! I didn't think you—" A high pitched voice squealed but stopped abruptly when she saw me next to him. "Who's she?"
"Oh, uh, Katie, this is Brooke," Jack introduced me to this chick who looked better suited to be a stripper than Jack and I did with her short skirt and dress shirt that was almost bursting. You'd think that at a school with uniforms, you could escape the slutty look, but apparently not.
"Hi," She smiled with the same fakeness I had received from the secretary earlier. "I'm Katie."
"Fantastic," I mumbled.
"Are you coming over this weekend?" She turned her to attention back to Jack who looked like he wanted to bolt.
"I'm not sure, I'll talk to Alex, okay?"
"Alright," She giggled before taking her seat on the other side of the room.
"What was that?" I asked.
"My ex-girlfriend," Jack answered, looking as though it pained him to actually admit it. But then again, I'd be pretty embarrassed if I dated someone like that.
"Are you sure she's aware of the prefix in front of girlfriend?"
"Nope, she thinks we're on a break," He said, putting air quotes around break. "And won't stop asking when it's over."
"On a scale of one to a toddler, how smart is she?" I asked.
"A four," He answered, holding back a laugh, "Why?"
"Next time she asks, tell her it's indefinitely. She'll think that because definitely is in the word, it'll happen and then I'll pelt her with a dictionary." I suggested.
"You don't know how much I'd enjoy seeing that, along with half the school," He laughed.
"Ah, she's self-proclaimed then?"
"Yup, you'd almost be a hero. People would worship you."
"I don't know I don't like the sound of some nerdy lower class man making a shrine to me in their locker if I did." We both laughed again before the teacher walked in and began his lecture without even questioning why there was some unfamiliar girl sitting in his room. I was alright with his ignorance for now. I didn't want to deal with a snobby teacher today, and the more he talked, the more I got the idea that he wasn't very friendly.
I also couldn't help but to notice the way he watched the girls as they walked out of the classroom as I packed my books.
"Hey, Jack, do me a favour?"
"Yeah sure, what?"
"Walk behind me." I commanded and he listened. He was bigger than me even though he had a stalky frame, and he covered me perfectly so the teacher couldn't watch my ass shake as I walked out. We exited the classroom and I fell into step beside Jack.
"Thanks for that," I nodded.
"What was that all about anyway?"
"The teachers a pervert and I didn't feel like having his beady eyes on my ass." I told him.
"You're really observant," Jack commented as the gym came into view.
"It's what happens when you don't have friends. People watching is my speciality, in the most none creepy way for course." I smiled and he gave me a confused look. "It's a long story. I'll tell you it sometime."
As I was about to walk away, he caught me off guard by wrapping one arm around my shoulder and pulling me into his chest. It was a lame one armed hug, but it was odd to me because I rarely ever got hugs from anyone.
"See ya later," He smiled after letting me go and disappeared into the crowd of students.
I composed myself as I walked into the gym and followed the trail of girls into the changing room. Thankfully, there was no one I recognized as I went into one of the stalls and changed into my baggy shirt with our school's mascot on it and basketball shorts. So maybe I ordered the guys' gym clothes instead of the girls' but who really wants to do gym in a pair of itty bitty spandex shorts and a hard to breathe in shirt? Not me.
I emerged from the change room and begun the task of pulling my hair into a pony tail when a familiar voice came from behind me.
"Brooke?"
I spun around to see Alex grinning at me, wearing the exact same clothes as me.
"Oh, hey Alex," I smiled as I got the last pieces of my hair into the elastic.
"You're taking gym?"
"Not willingly," I mumbled and watched him check me out.
"You got the guys gym strip?"
"You're super good at pointing out the obvious," I grinned as we sat down in front of a whiteboard.
"It's just strange seeing a girl in a gym class not dressed in barely any clothes. I never understood how that was comfortable or practical."
"Me either," I agreed. "But really, what girl do you know cares about being practical and comfortable in gym class?"
"Well, do you?"
"Not really, but I also hate gym with a burning fiery passion."
"Then why are you taking it?"
"You're full of questions aren't you?" I laughed, "My mom made me. It was either gym or an extra math class and I'd much more rather run mindlessly in circles than try and find the circumference of the circle."
"Good point." He laughed.
Two teachers came out of the office next to us and called out attention. One was male and the other female and both seemed like they actually wanted to be there and teaching, unlike Mr. Algebra teacher whose name I didn't care enough about to remember.
After quickly going through the attendance the female teacher announced it was a free period and we could do anything but leave.
"Maybe gym class won't be so terrible after all." I said under my breath.
"What do you want to do?" Alex asked me.
"Sit," I answered automatically, walking over to the bleachers and climbing up a few steps. Alex followed and sat down next to me. "The best way to spend gym class is doing nothing at all."
"I get the feeling you wouldn't be doing anything even if were supposed to be."
"You know me so well," I said only being half sarcastic.
"So how's your first day going?" He asked. It was strange that he actually asked in a tone that made it seem like he actually genuinely cared about how my day was.
"Surprisingly good," I answered. "I met your friend Jack."
"Oh, awesome! Now we don't have to do that awkward introduction thing."
"Look at that, it all works out," I said.
It was really weird knowing that I was slowly making friends. Usually on my first day not a single person acknowledged my presence, let alone talked to me. It actually felt kind of nice to connect with another person. The nagging voice in my head kept reminding me not to get too close because I wasn't going to stick around long enough for any of this to matter anyway.
I was almost in tears from laughing at something Alex had said. I was finally able to breathe when I noticed out of the corner of my eye someone a familiar frame standing in the door way glaring at me and the number one reason I didn't make friends very often.
Because with friends, came enemies.