Disclaimer I do not own ATBG just my characters and story

Chapter 19

"Good afternoon Carl, Hoodsey." "Hey Blakey boy." Carl answered, walking into the cafeteria at lunch. Several people waved when they saw him. "How has your morning been so far?" "Slow." "Ah, already bored are you?" "I have photography next, so that'll make it less lame." "Yes, well, I must say my classes are somewhat dull as well. However, I have economics next and I welcome the thrill." "You're a wild one, Blakey boy." "You see Macie anywhere?" Hoodsey asked, looking around. Juniors and seniors had the same lunch and he was looking forward to seeing her. "Chill Hoods, she's over there." Carl pointed to where Ginger, Macie, and Dodie were already sitting. "Shall I let her know you'll join her as I pass?" Blake asked, his gourmet lunch in his hand. "Thanks Blake." "Yes, yes of course."

Carl and Hoodsey made their way through the line and grabbed their trays, and began weaving through the tables. It took a bit of time as all the students were working on claiming their tables, as the groups did every year. A few different tables called out to Carl as they walked by. "You can sit here?" One girl giggled. "Yo C, come on bro." Another guy called. He smiled at them but kept walking.

"Wow, he's gotten really popular." Macie commented, as she and Dodie watched the two boys walk. Dodie smiled, she knew they were coming over to sit with them because Hoodsey would want to sit with Macie. "Yeah, talk about strange." Ginger answered, waving to Darren who waved back with a smile before sitting with Miranda and Courtney's group.

"You see the commotion when Foutley came in?" Miranda asked Courtney. "He became extremely well liked, didn't he?" She replied, watching. "I'll say. I didn't realize Ginger's brother was such a hottie." Mipsey noticed. "He's really tall." Hope added. "Darren, did he go out for the team?" Another girl asked. "No." "He's into photography." Courtney announced. They all looked at her. "Blake purchased some of his work." She explained. "We should get him to sit with us." Mipsey said with a smile, watching him walk their way.

"Hey sis, how's the first day going?" Carl asked, walking up to his sister's table and Hoodsey sat down next to Macie. "Not bad. You?" "Same. Well Hoods, I will see you later." "You can sit with us..if you want." Dodie blurted out. "Appreciate the invite but I'll be dining elsewhere. Later all." He said, walking away. A couple girls waved and giggled when he passed by heading over to sit with Blake and Brandon.

"It's really weird seeing girls giggling over..Carl." Ginger commented, as they watched him sit down, before turning to their lunches. "Well, he's your brother. Obviously you don't see him that way." Ginger looked at Dodie with a weird expression. "Well look at me and Hoodsey. It's weird seeing him dating my best friend but to her it's not." She explained quickly. "I guess."

"Hey where's Chet?" Macie asked, taking a drink. Dodie rolled her eyes, "Lunch detention." "But it's the first day." Ginger said, surprised. "Tell me about it. He got caught throwing spitballs in second period." "Gross." Ginger said and Hoodsey laughed. "It's not funny, Hoodsey. We're seniors now." "Yeah that's something you and Carl would've done." "I'll have you know, Carl and I haven't done any pranks since, like, the eighth grade." "He's right Ginger," Macie defended kindly, "They've both matured." "Wish Chet would." Dodie grumbled.

"Why does he hang out with that weird boy? It can't be good for his image." Hope commented, as they watched Carl sit down with Blake and Brandon. "I don't think he cares." Darren answered. "He's so cool he doesn't even have to worry about it." Mipsey mentioned. "He is friends with a Gripling." Miranda reminded them. "That's right. Courtney, you should totally ask your brother about him. Get the 411." Mipsey said but didn't receive an answer.

After about ten minutes of eating, the conversation picked up again. "Hey, what class you got next?" Ginger asked. "Science." "Wood shop." "What about you Dod?" "Huh?" She looked at Ginger, as if she hadn't heard her. "What's your next class?" "Oh, uh, photography." "It sucks you couldn't get into home ec. or something." "Yeah, guess I got through the lines too late." She replied looking over a few tables down where Carl had stood up.

"This is ridiculous. What is going on with me?" Courtney thought, as she watched Carl go drop off his tray then headed to the vending machine and grab a soda. He took a drink, and looked over at her table, seeing her staring at him he winked. He walked over, said something to Blake and the other boy sitting there, then started heading towards her table, but stopped at the boy who had called him earlier.

Carl was aware of which girls were watching him from both sides of the cafeteria. They weren't as subtle as they thought. He stopped by a group of people sitting down still. "Dude why don't you try out for the team?" "Football's not my thing, Terrance." "Too bad man, the uniform is like a total babe magnet." "I don't think he needs help with that T." "Come on Joe. He's not that popular."

Joe grinned and turned to Carl. "Do the hair thing." Carl laughed and ran his hand through his hair. A few girls at the next table looked at him, and smiled flirtatiously. "Carl, looking good today." "Good? He's looking hot!" The boys laughed. "Dude, how do you do that?" Terrance asked, touching his own hair. A girl walked over and touched Carl's arm, "I'm free Friday. Call me." She said, slipping him her number.

Courtneys table watched as Carl ran his hand through his hair and the reaction he got from it. "That's hot!" "You think?" Mipsey asked, noticing him talking to the group of boys. "How old is he?" "Almost sixteen." Darren answered. "He looks so much older." "Is that Cindy?" "I think she just gave him her number." "Doesn't look like he's too interested. Look." Miranda said, and they looked over in time to see him crumple the paper in his hand.

"Do you think he already had a girlfriend?" Mipsey asked. Darren shook his head. "But I heard a few girls were trying to get Ginger to get him to ask them out." He answered, finishing his lunch. "Really?" "Yep. It's what Ginger told me." The girls watched as he threw the paper away and headed out of the cafeteria.