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Ch 6: Smells Like Teen Spirit
"You mean I have to go back to school? Tomorrow? Lame." Loomer pouted that night after dinner. It had been a week and a half since the dreams and he was still doing the therapy sessions with my mom. His ribs weren't giving him much trouble and his bruises were now a sickly greenish yellow color instead of the horrible black and blue. His face still looked beat up but not as bad as it did before.
"Yes, you do. If you two don't go back, you'll fail 8th grade and have to take summer school. Do you want to do that?" Loomer's face twisted in disgust and I had to laugh.
"No way. I'm just not looking forward to it."
"I'm not either, but I'm sure it'll be fine." I reassured.
"You too positive for your own good." I snorted.
"Well, one of us has to be positive." He rolled his eyes and sat at my desk. He started to fiddle with a picture frame containing a picture of Cookie, Moze, and I at the pool.
"Have you talked to Cookie and Moze lately?" he asked out of the blue. I sighed.
"I talked to Moze a couple days ago, but it was really awkward. I think she is mad at me. Every time I call Cookie he is always too busy to talk. I think hes avoiding me."
"Why would Moze be mad at you?"
"I think she feels betrayed because I didn't tell her about us. Shes been my best friend since forever and we've always told each other pretty much everything."
"And Cookie?"
"Doesn't like you that much. Plus, I didn't tell him either. Or hes just homophobic. I don't know, he won't talk to me." There was silence for a moment or two before Loomer stood up and sat next to me.
"I know how close you guys are, it must suck."
"Its depressing. Why should me being gay change anything? I'm not any different now than I was before."
"Don't worry Ned, your a good guy. They can't stay mad at you for too long and I'm sure things will work out just fine." Thats when I remembered Loomer's anxiety about meeting his peers again.
"How bout you? How do you think your friends will take it?" A frown came to his face at the question.
"What friends?" he answered plainly. "The only reason they hung out with me is because of my reputation." I opened my mouth to say something to battle that statement but he just looked at me.
"That sucks." he shrugged and laid back.
"I'll be fine. I don't need 'friends', besides, I really need to focus on my studies if I want to graduate this year and now I don't have anyone to prove anything to. I don't need to bully anyone either, my image is ruined anyway. Gotta work my way up the food chain again, I guess. Start over." I looked at him with must have been awe because he just smiled, "What?"
"Turning over a new leaf, huh? Gonna be a straight A student now?" I joked.
"Yeah right. I'll settle for a C average. Thats a high enough goal. Maybe I'll even join a club or something."
"Oh yeah? Like what?" I laid down on my stomach and looked down at him.
"I don't know. Maybe drama. I've always wanted to try it."
"Drama?" I asked skeptically. "I can't imagine you being in a play." he grinned and shrugged.
"Maybe I can join the band?" I snorted.
"I think I like the drama idea better." we laughed at the idea of Loomer playing in the band.
"Well, what about you? What are your plans for the rest of the school year?" I thought for a second before I smiled.
"I think I'm just going to focus on getting my friends to talk to me again." he nodded in understanding.
"Sounds good. Good luck with that." he sat up and yawned. "Well, I better go to sleep. Gotta wake up early tomorrow. Night Ned." I got up and kissed him goodnight and started to get ready for bed also.
"Night!" he chuckled and left the room. I stretched and walked to the pile of clothes in the corner to pick out my pjs. I chose some sweats and a shirt and headed to the bathroom to brush my teeth. After washing up and changing I went back to my room. I picked up my cell phone and scrolled to Moze's number. I debated whether or not to call her when it rung on its own, playing 'All The Small Things', Moze's ring tone. I flipped it open and greeted her.
"Hey Ned." she sounded depressed about something and I furrowed my brow.
"Whats wrong Moze?" I heard her sigh and I waited patiently for her answer.
"I'm sorry for being mad at you." I chuckled, Moze usually had too much pride to apologize and would always take a long time to finally say 'sorry'.
"Its alright Moze, I figured it gave you a shock and it would take a while for you to accept it."
"No Ned, its not 'alright'! I'm your best friend and I'm supposed to be understanding about these things especially since I understand why you didn't tell me."
"What are you talking about?"
"Well, I kind of have a crush on somebody." she said nervously.
"Its not Loomer is it?" I asked suspiciously. 'It better not be.' Truth be told I was the jealous type. I heard her laugh and I sighed in relief.
"Hell no! No offense but he isn't my type."
"You mean tall, handsome, and a good guy?"
"Well, not really. You see I like short, blonde, and bitchy." I furrowed my brow. 'I don't know anyone like that except....Ooooooh'. I couldn't help but laugh out loud. "Shut up Ned!"
"I'm sorry but its really ridiculous! You like Missy!" I continued to laugh my ass off until I got a knock on the door. "Hold on. Come in!" Loomer opened the door and walked in.
"Whats going on?" he asked while chuckling.
"Hold on a minute. Hey Moze, can I tell Loomer?"
"What!? No!" I sighed in annoyance.
"Sorry Loomer, my lips are sealed." he shrugged and left, a slight slump in his shoulders. "You know, your going to have to get used to being around Loomer, Moze."
"But why?" she whined. I sighed in annoyance.
"Because we're together, you know boyfriend and....well, boyfriend. Besides, I don't like Missy but I would hang out with her if you two, you know."
"Fine, but I'm not gonna like it!"
"How do you know? Loomer is a pretty cool guy when he isn't bullying you, and he doesn't want to bully anyone anymore. Hes gonna join the drama club!" I heard her snort in disbelief. I stayed silent.
"Your serious aren't you?"
"Didn't I just say that?"
"He wants to join the drama club? But why?"
"He wants to join a club. I'm guessing he wants to show everyone he is a decent guy and make friends."
"Why doesn't he join a sports team? He would probably be pretty good on the basketball team, hes tall."
"Maybe I'll ask him that, tomorrow. Anyway, I'm glad you came around. It would suck to not have you as a friend, especially since we're going back to school tomorrow."
"Your coming back tomorrow? The both of you?"
"Uh huh. Loomer is probably biting his fingernails to hell by now. Hes really nervous."
"Loomers scared isn't he?" she asked giggling.
"Yes, but don't let him know that you know that he is a big baby." we laughed and a faint voice came over the line from her side.
"Okay mom. Well, I got to go now, Ned. See you tomorrow!"
"You too Moze! Later!" I hung up and set my phone down. I got up and went out to the living room where Loomer had been sleeping since he got here. Sure enough he was staring at the ceiling and fidgeting.
"Hey." he greeted and I jumped. His eyes hadn't moved from the ceiling at all. "You know, you need to walk quieter." he grinned up at me and I rolled my eyes.
"Well, I have good news."
"Oh yeah? Wouldn't have anything to do with Moze having a lesbian crush on Missy and finally coming to her senses and apologizing for being an idiot, would it?" I narrowed my eyes.
"You eves dropper." he chuckled.
"Sorry, but I was walking by to go to the bathroom and I heard you say, 'You like Missy' and then I found out you were talking to Moze, so I just put 2 and 2 together."
"Don't let her know you know or I'm dead and possibly you, too. Moze is violent."
"Point taken. So thats all?"
"Well, she agreed to give you a chance as well. Thats good."
"I suppose it is. The more people on our side the better, right? And Moze is pretty cool, I guess. Plus, she can kick everybody in that school's ass, so yay us."
"You don't sound too enthused."
"I'm just tired." I rolled my eyes at him and he sighed. "And maybe a little nervous. This is a huge deal." I smiled and got up.
"Yeah, but it'll be alright. We have one friend and if all else fails, thats better than none." he nodded and yawned again. "G'night."
"Night." I went back to my room and laid in bed for a while before falling asleep.
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"EARTHQUAKE! RUN FOR YOUR LIFE!" is what woke me up the next morning. I don't want to admit it, but I screamed like a little girl.
"AHHHH!" I jumped out of bed and made a run for the door when I heard laughing. I turned around to see Loomer sitting on my bed laughing loudly and clutching his side. "What the heck?" he didn't answer immediately, seeing as he couldn't breathe, but he eventually calmed down.
"That was hilarious! I've never seen you move that fast and you screamed like a little girl!" I narrowed my eyes at him and crossed my arms. I admit it, I was pouting, but he was a jerk, so it was okay.
"Jerk."
"Girl."
"Baby!"
"Brat!"
"Okay boys, time to get ready for school!" my mother interrupted cheerfully from the doorway. "The money for lunch is on the table and breakfast is in the oven." 1
"Okay mom! See you later!"
"Later Laura!" my mom smiled and left us to get ready. "Well, I'm going to go get ready." Loomer left and I got ready as well. We ate breakfast, washed up, got our bags ready, and left to catch the bus.
We opened the door to see Moze with her hand raised to knock.
"Hey guys. Thought I would walk with you."
"Hey Moze."
"Hey Billy-Woah, did you just call me Moze?"
"Uh yeah, so?" he blinked questioningly at her.
"You don't call me Moze. You call me Jennifer, well, usually."
"I had a crush on you." I shot him a peeved look and he grinned. "b-but not anymore! I like Ned so I call you Moze, unless you don't want me to because I don't have to. I can-"
"Moze is fine, Loomer." she cut him off laughing. "Wow, your whipped."
"Yeah well..." I crossed my arms and looked at him again. "Ahem, anyway, don't we got a bus to catch?"
"Watch it Loomer." I threatened as I walked passed him to join Moze.
"Sure thing!" he slowed to walk behind Moze and I and stayed quiet while we talked.
"You call him Loomer? Isn't that a little...I don't know, impersonal?"
"What do you mean?"
"Well, your together. Shouldn't you call him by his first name?"
"Huh, I didn't think about that. He doesn't seem to mind it though." she shook her head and rolled her eyes.
"Hey Loomer, would you prefer Ned to call you Loomer or Billy?" she called over her shoulder.
"Uh, well, he could call me either. It doesn't really matter to me."
"Hmph, well, does he call you Ned or Bigby?" she asked me, leaving Loomer in silence behind us.
"He calls me Ned, but so what?"
"Well, he used to call you Bigby, but Ned is more personal and you are together."
"You won't quit until I agree to call him Billy, will you?"
"Nope." I sighed and adjusted my backpack.
"Fine."
"Great." we continued to chatter as we walked to the bus stop and waited a few minutes until it came.
"Well, here we go." I said to Billy. He smiled tightly and grabbed my hand.
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1: my mom puts breakfast in the oven to keep it warm because I wake up later than everyone else.
Welp, this one was a little more light hearted but fear not! It will get angstyer! Yay angst! I just like to put in some comic (unless it isn't funny eh heheheheh heh, right.) relief sometimes, its fun! Anyway, enjoy and reviews are wonderful!