The weekend passed fairly uneventfully, and Monday morning had me driving to school with Cara and her friends. I was excited accept Layla's party invitation but knew I wouldn't likely see her until lunch. My zoned-out window gazing must've caught Cara's attention because her foot bumped mine.
"Hey, you okay?"
"Yeah," I responded with a quick smile.
She shrugged and went back to doing whatever she did on her small second-hand phone. The case was a simple black plastic snap, but with the amount of time she spent on it, I wondered if a window to an alien planet was hidden in one of the apps.
Turning back to the window, I fiddled with my shirt hem. Did Layla really want to invite me, or was she just being polite? How do I bring it up again naturally? Or should I just ask her outright?
I slugged through my morning classes, barely noticing my now normal social ostracization, trying to plan out the conversation.
"Miss Mason, do you have Friday's homework ready to hand back?" My math teacher, Ms Henry, asked.
Oops.
"Yes, here it is, sorry." I said, quickly rifling through my bag and handing the waiting teacher the promised papers with a properly repentant expression.
She smiled, "Please pay attention next time, please."
"Yes, sorry Ms Henry." I sighed.
As it turns out, I didn't have to worry about asking Layla about the party; she brought it up as soon as we all arrived at our lunch spot.
"So," she began, phone out, "it's at Oli's place and Jinn said he's coming, but Dee and Jules haven't said anything yet. You guys coming?"
"Obviously." Dee said, brushing breadcrumbs off her khaki pants, "What else is there to do on a Friday night?"
"And Jules? You didn't text me, so no?" She asked.
"I don't have your number," I explained awkwardly, "but I do want to come."
"Oh!" She said with a short exhalation of laughter, "Sorry, my bad. Here-" she shoved her phone my way and after a brief consultation with my plastic brick (I don't give out my number very often, partly because I'd only owned one for a few months, but mostly because I'd had no friends) I entered it in. She'd entered hers in mine in a blink and had passed it around to the others who dutifully entered their own in my contacts, which had effectively just doubled.
"So, it starts at eight at Oliver's house. Bring whatever you want, and just so you guys know, there'll be kids from other schools, that's right, Oli?" Layla continued.
"Yeah, I invited Kyle and his crew, so it'll be decent sized." Oliver said nonplussed. I, on the other hand, was getting a little nervous.
I thought this was just a small party, and it starts at eight? She didn't tell us an end time either. I hope it doesn't break curfew…what have I just agreed to?
Despite this, Layla and the rest seemed thrilled with the prospect, and their excitement was infectious. By the end of lunch, I was confident I could go, maybe chat a bit and eat some chips, then leave before anything got wild.
The drive home went as normal, and I quietly enjoyed the country songs Cassie put on her cassette player. There was something charming about vintage music players and every song seemed rarer for being a physical cassette rather than just a piece of data code.
I decided to turn on the news after finishing my homework. After all the discussions with Layla about recent happenings and the talk with Caitlin, I felt like it was probably a good idea to know what was going on. It's also might give me something interesting to contribute to the conversation.
I flicked through a couple of stories about the Arrow's activities in Star City, something weird in Gotham, which honestly wasn't new, and a world record before I got to anything interesting.
"CC Jitters in Central City has been broken into and vandalised by a group calling themselves 'The Pack'." I frowned, tapping my index finger against one leg. I glanced at the kitchen to make sure Aunty Lin wasn't watching. She'd be worried about me going out on my own if she knew.
"The windows were smashed, and their symbol was spray-painted on the floor, but nothing was stolen. Critics say-" I turned the tv off, ruefully remembering why I don't like to watch the news.
Cara came down the stairs, phone out, but staring right at me.
"You see any old movies?" she asked, "I haven't seen one in ages and I have no-one to watch them with. Not necessarily tonight, just sometime. It'd be nice to spend some time with you and all that."
"That doesn't sound too bad. What's your favourite?"
"I know it's cliché, but Breakfast at Tiffany's. Casa Blanca isn't half bad either. Yours?"
"Monty Python and the Holy Grail." I got out before I could think. Idjit. You won't be able to watch that without feeling awful. That's Dad's movie…
My thoughts were cut off by Cara's chuckle, "Never picked you as one for comedy, Freak- damn. I need to get you a new nickname." She finished, scowling.
"How's 'Jules'," I suggested, smiling softly because I knew she hadn't meant it – old habits just die hard.
"Hmm," She considered, "I don't know, how's Jewel? Or Jay?"
My finger tapped faster.
"Jay is fine." I choked out. Only Da called me Jewel.
"Jay it is." Cara smiled at me. Then her phone buzzed. "Oops, just got reminded that I have an assignment due. See ya Jay."
Author's Note:
So, sorry again that this is late - though I don't know why I'm apologising because some people takes years to post a chapter. Anyway, I do like to be consistent, so I guess I'm still sorry.
Please review! I'm getting zero feedback and it's killing me! I don't know if anyone's still reading or not so even just a friendly hello would just make my day :)
Wishing you a very merry...*thinks of closest holiday*...4th of July? idk I'm not even American but I hope everyone who is enjoys their independence!
BellatrixTheStar