Hello everyone,
Here is another chapter for you. Thank you for the reviews. I appreciate them.
Enjoy.
Chapter Three:
They are back in class. Randy is in Math while John and AJ are in English class.
English Class:
"Are you okay, AJ?" John asks her as they sit in the middle of the class beside each other.
"Yeah, I just take it one day at a time." She gives him a big smile for reassurance.
"That is good. Remember you are Randy's best friend nothing is going to change that." John reminds her. No matter what John will not let their friendship crumble.
"Thanks John."
"Hello class and welcome to Grade 9 English class. I am your teacher Ms. Silver. Today, we are going to introduce ourselves to each other. This will hopefully help because most of the assignments will be group assignments. Now, who wants to go first?" She explains the explain for today's class.
"I'll go first." John stands up.
"Very well, proceed." She sits down on her desk.
"Hello, my name is John Cena. I am an only child that loves football. I am trying out running back. I am a lay back guy that values friendship and family the most, so I guess that's it." He smiles and sits back down.
"Thank you, Mr. Cena." Ms. Silver smiles at him.
"Please call me John." He tells his teacher.
"Sure, how about you go next?" She points towards AJ.
"Umm… can I go last?" AJ quietly asks not comfortable speaking in front of a group.
"If you want, but going earlier is better. You get it over with." She advises her.
John offers her support as he encourages her to deal with her shyness.
"Well ok." She stands looking down. "My name is-" She speaks with a mouse-like tone.
"I'm sorry sweetie I can't hear you." She tries to let her to speak up more.
This time John stands back up to give her a little pep talk. He tells her that it takes about a minute and that's all. Afterwards, he gives her a hug before she continues.
AJ looks a bit higher however not looking anyone in the eye. She puts some strands of her hair behind her ears before starting. "Hi, my name is AJ Lee." She speaks louder as the teacher nods in approval. "I am also an only child. I enjoy reading comic books and video games. As you can tell I am shy, but when you get to know me I am a loud, bubbly person." She giggles at what John and Randy have told her. "Thank you."
"Thank you Ms. Lee." She moves onto the next person.
Everyone else introduces themselves which took most of the class. There are about fifteen to twenty students in each class.
"Okay, since the introductions are out of the way. I want everyone to write about an important person in your life. It could a parent, a friend, a cousin, a pet, someone on TV, or anyone you like. I want you to write why they are important, how they came into your life and a story about you two. It is not graded, but will count towards participation. It is due at the end of the week, have fun." Ms. Silver explains their first assignment. With that said, they bell rings to signal class is over. John waits for AJ to pack, so they can both head out together. "Wait, John and Ms. Lee." She calls out.
"Yes." John responds with AJ beside him looking down. She doesn't like facing people with authority which is why she tries not getting into trouble.
"I would like to help Ms. Lee with her confidence. I do a lot of presentations that you guys have to talk about in front of the class. I don't want her to get low grades because I can't hear her." She worries that the work is there, but she will be duct marks because of the volume of her voice.
"I sure you Ms. Silver confidence is something she doesn't lack. It is just that she over thinks too much. My friend needs to relax and know she's great." He hugs her.
"John, stop." She pushes away. "I can stand up for myself." She stands tall all confident.
"See what I mean." He whispers to Ms. Silver.
"I do see." She looks amaze at John's handy work.
"She just needs more time that's all. If there is anything else, we need to get to class." John tells Ms. Silver.
"Nothing more, go on to class." She smiles brightly.
"Come on AJ, Randy is probably waiting for us." With Randy concern for his best friend, he set up that meet at AJ's locker after each class. This gives her a bit more reassurance. They don't know that it will be harder to manage as time passes.
"Okay, let's go. Thank you for your help Ms. Silver." She smiles before they leave.
At the locker:
"There you two are." Randy sees them as AJ hugs him. "Someone missed me." He hugs her back.
"I had to talk in front of people to introduce myself." AJ pouts at him as John shakes his head.
"Damn, how did you do?" He questions knowing that she hates public speaking in front of strangers.
"I did great you would have been proud." She lies not letting Randy know she does the same thing she always does.
"Yeah right, John how did she really do?" He chuckles as she tries to lie to him; she wrinkles her nose like a rabbit when she lies.
"Don't tell him John, just agrees with me." She pouts the pout that always works at him. He can't stand when girls, especially the ones close to him, are sad.
"Okay Randy-" He starts.
"Nah, you are not saving her this time." He blocks his view of AJ by winning her to her locker with his back. "Okay John, tell me quick." He holds his hold as AJ struggles to get free.
John chuckles as he sees their friendship. "Well, at the end she did great; the beginning not so much."
"What happen?" Randy is proud of her to show her confidence at the end.
"Randy, get off me your big butt is squashing my stomach." She hits his back without any impact.
"Hurry John, I can't hang on for too long." Randy ignores her pleas.
"The teacher had to tell her to speak up, but first she wanted to be last. We both reassure her that earlier is better. I gave her a hug to help her." John explains.
"Aww, you are such a good friend." Randy lets go of AJ. "My best friend is growing up." He hugs her with her not wanting anything from him.
"Get off me I think you bruise one of my ribs." She checks her ribs to make sure it is or isn't.
"I did not. I will never hurt you, you should know that AJ." He defends his actions.
"I know, but you did squash me. I don't like the feeling." She crosses her arms.
"I know and I'm sorry." He hugs her again however this time AJ lays her head on his chest.
John jokingly tries to throw up at the cuteness.
"Whatever John, you are just jealous." She doesn't look amused.
"I am just kidding, come on we need to get to class." He informs his friends.
This period they are all in different classes. John is in Math, AJ is in Science, and Randy is English. Randy has a different teacher for English because he is in the General English. AJ and John have the specialized English which has more work and higher standard.
Randy's English class:
He walks to find a seat to sit on for the whole year.
"Hey Randy, sit next to me." Stacey waves him over from the back corner near the door. He smiles amaze that she is in this English; she is an A student. Now he can get to know her better.
"Hey Stacey, why are you this English?" He tries not to imply that she dumb or anything.
"I can say the same thing about you?" She giggles happy that they are in the same class.
"I am not good at punctuation and brain storming. I have great ideas in my mind, but can't relate them paper, also my grammar pushes me down too. How about you? You are an A student, I thought you would be with your friends." He questions again.
"I have always struggle with English. No one knows this besides my parents." She whispers not wanting anyone to hear.
"What do you tell your friends?" He whispers back.
"That there is no room for me in the class, so they had to put me here." She whispers back before sighing. She doesn't want her friends to tease her for not being as smart as them.
"Why can't you tell them they are your friends? I mean my friends don't care what class I am in." He assures her using his past experiences.
"I don't know, everyone is supposed to be smart and athletic in our group." She looks down.
"You are just not as smart in English. You are beautiful, smart, athletic, and cute in everything else. Not to mention you have beautiful, long legs." He compliments.
"You think I'm cute." She blushes not having such a polite compliment in awhile. Everyone usually compliments her outer appearance. Randy nods in agreement. "Well, I think you're cute too." She giggles as they look in each other's eyes until the teacher enters.
"Hello class, my name is Mr. Jones. Now today, since it is the first day, we are going to just introduce each other in groups. Put yourself into groups of three and get to know each other." He tells the class as he prepares for tomorrow class.
After sorting out the groups, Randy and Stacey are left without a third person. "Mr. Jones, we don't have enough people." He informs him being that the class has an odd number of people.
"That's okay you two just get to know each other." The teacher waves it off. They both scream yes in their minds as they have the whole class to bond.
"So, when are cheerleading tryouts?" He is a bit nervous going for a simple question. This is the first time they have this much to talk to each other.
"It is the same time as football tryouts." She responds. "Question Randy, if I can?"
"Shoot."
"What is your relationship with AJ?" She hopes they are just friends because she wants them to be a couple.
"What do you mean?"
"Are you two dating? Are AJ and John dating? Are you all just friends?" She is eager for the answer.
"Oh." He chuckles. "We are all just friends. AJ is my best friend with John very close to that. We have been friends since childhood. We did try to date, but it didn't work. It was like dating our sibling. Why do you ask about that?" He also hopes it is because they want to be a couple.
"I just saw how you two are together; all three of you. You seem to be a couple sometimes that's all." She tells him not wanting to expose her feelings yet.
"Oh, John thinks that to, but we are just close friends. Can I ask you a question?"
"Of course you can."
"Why do you hang out with them? You seem so different compare to them? May I ask?" He always has the same type questions seeing how she is with her friends.
"Well, Kourtney is my best friend from childhood. We have the same friendship like you do with AJ, well we used to. Every since she is dating the Quarterback now on the team, she has changed. She goes to bars, drink, and parties all the time. Yeah, she invites me however I don't like that scene. I don't want to dress like that or do any of that." She explains
"Why do you go then?" He is intrigue with her explanation.
"I guess I don't want to lose her as a friend." She shrugs.
"I see as John tells us that friends like we have don't come around to often. His best friend moved and it is not the same. They do call and talk, but it is not the same as have the friend in person."
"I just wish she was back to her old self." She looks at a picture of them at her eighth birthday party.
"Wow, you were even cute back as a kid." He looks at it with a smile. It looks like the friendship that him and AJ have. It is a picture of Stacey and Kourtney soaked after what he assume is a water fight.
"Stop, I had braces and a boy cut. I looked awful." She pushes him before putting the picture away.
"Oh really, I had bad BO, big glasses, and I was a bit clumsy." He lies to help her not feel bad.
"Really, were like that?" She amaze at him.
"Nope sorry, I was joking." She pushes him again a bit harder this time.
"That's mean, I actually believed you." She crosses her arms being mad at him.
Randy is reminded of AJ when she does that. How she looks so cute when she tries to be mad at him. "How about I make it up to you?" This peek her interest. "AJ and John always come to my house on Mondays, how about you come too?" He invites.
"I don't know. I don't want to interrupt tradition." Stacey really wants to go, but doesn't feel that welcomed to.
"It is okay, they are very accepting. If you come, we can go out for ice cream later. You can have anything you want my treat." He offers really wanting her to come.
"Mr. Randy, are you asking me on a date as well as meeting your parents?" She accuses him causally however screaming on the inside of excitement.
"Umm, yeah if you want." He rubs his neck nervously.
"I would love to. Just give me your address and I will be there." She plays it off cool once again.
"Here you go." He writes it on a paper before giving it to her. "At 7pm."
"I can't wait."
Lunch Time:
AJ and John find a table to eat as they wait for Randy.
"Where could he be?" AJ looks around the cafeteria.
"He will be here, don't worry." John sits down to start to eat.
"Okay." She sits down across from him.
John looks up to see her face to also see Randy. "There AJ, he is with Stacey. I guess they have the same English class." He points to the cafeteria entrance.
"Yup, Randy must be very happy." She chuckles eating her salad."
"I bet he invited her to dinner tonight." John jokes.
"You think so." A bit worried. She always thought they would keep it their tradition.
"Maybe, you know how Randy feels about her." He reminds her.
"Yeah, I thought it will always be our tradition." She now pokes at her half-eaten salad.
"Hey, noting is changing. Randy is not replacing you, he is just having a new girlfriend that's all." He comforts her.
"You're right John." She eats her salad again.
Randy joins them to tell them the good news.
"Hey guys, guess what?" He sits next to AJ with Stacey sitting with her friends.
"Stacey is coming for dinner." AJ jokingly responds not knowing that it is actually true.
"How did you know?" Randy shocked that they know already.
"Oh, she is really coming." He nods. "Well, we saw you with her at the entrance, so we joked that she is coming." AJ explains.
"And you are okay with that." He thinks that it might actually not okay with his best friend.
"I'm not excited like you are, but I've accepted it."
"John?" He asks him knowing she will spare her feelings for his.
"Really Randy it is completely fine with me." She confirms.
"Okay, so you know you have to help me look my best." He informs her. Every time they need to dress forma or semi-formal, they ask AJ to help.
"Of course, my parents know I'm not coming home until after dinner. They know that you two have football tryouts and I'm watching."
"Great, I need my lucky charm with me." He hugs her.
"I'm both your lucky charms." She corrects seeing John's face.
"That's right, she is my friend too." He does a stern nod.
The rest of the school day went great. Now it is time for football tryouts with AJ on the bleachers cheering his two friends on.
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