Luck Isn't Everything.

We had dropped by the town’s local breakfast shop and ate while making small talk. Originally, I did want to grub down on some food, as Justin had said it, but once we got there, all I wanted was a mango smoothie and a fruit salad which consisted of strawberries, apples, oranges, mango, pineapple, and watermelon. Justin on the other hand had ordered everything else I had originally wanted.

“So are you nervous about today?” He asked as he munched down on some bacon.

“Kinda, I mean no, well, yeah, kinda. I just don’t want to run into Trey.”

“Really? Trey’s what you’re worried about?”

I bit down on some pieces of mango and apple before answering him back. “I just don’t wanna deal with all of that, y’kno?”

“Fiona, seriously? The guy’s a total douche and you knew this from the get-go. I mean let’s face it, all guys are the same, ok? They’re only after one thing.”

“Are you?” I asked placing my fork down and taking a drink of my smoothie. He stopped what he was doing and instantly answered.

“No.” He sighed and thought it out for a few seconds before continuing, “I mean, no? I try not to. This isn’t about me!” After his outburst we ate in silence.

After a good ten minutes of an uncomfortable moment, we decided we should just head to school. We left a tip and made our way to the car, with more silence growing between us. The entire ride there was awkward in itself. The radio was off and we were both lost in our thoughts. I hadn’t even noticed we were at the school until he started parking and broke the silence. “We’re here,” he said lightly. We got out and crossed the parking lot to the school front doors. I was hoping I could see some of my friends, but knowing them, they wouldn’t show up until two to three minutes before class so I decided it’d be best to just get my things from my locker and wait in class. “So, um, do you want me to walk you to class?”

“Um, no, but thank you. You go ahead.” I replied. I noticed him eyeing his friends who were at a short distance from us. They were the guys in his band, Jesse Lawson, Kellin Quinn, Gabe Barham, and Jack Fowler. Pretty soon a tall, slim girl with brown hair with a purple/blue ombre joined them and focused her attention to us.

“Are you sure? I know you don’t wanna run into Trey and I just, I wanna make sure you make it to class okay.” He glanced back his friends, definitely noticing the girl whom I’d never seen before today. She had to be his girlfriend.

“I got it, thanks though. Besides, she looks like she’s waiting for you,” I mentioned as I bopped my head in her direction.

“What? Willow? Nah, she’s new here. Sort of. She showed up around the first week you were absent. I think Liam’s into her. He’s been giving her rides to school.”

“Ew, okay, I’m done with this conversation. And seriously? He can give her rides to school, but not his own sister?”

“Let’s face it, he’s trying to get lucky. He can’t exactly do that with you because that would be incest,” he laughed and I joined him.

“Alright then, let’s walk.” We linked arms and headed to my first class, Creative Writing. Before he headed to his own class, he told me he’d be outside the door to walk me to the next one. It was sweet how protective of me he was, but it was also annoying because no guy even tried talking to me in fear of Justin throwing down with them. He didn’t exactly have a nice guy reputation, but it was different with me. Sometimes he would lash out and take out his anger on me, but he never did on purpose.
I sat down and pretty soon I was joined by Gabe and Jack. They had taken this class because they were best friends and liked hanging out, and because it was also a blow-off class.

“So, I heard you and Trey broke up?” Jack said as he sat down and wiggled his eyebrows at me. Gabe laughed and patted me on the back.

“Eh.”

“So, when’s our first date?”

“Give it up, Jack. Justin would cream you if he heard you, right now.”

“I’m just messing around with her,” Jack answered him. “I’m sorry, I’ll stop,” He added.
When the teacher walked in she assigned us a topic and told us to fire up our pencils. She went to her desk and focused on her laptop and never once spoke again during the class period. Several kids decided to ditch and walked out of class slowly and quietly. By the time the bell rang, Justin was already outside waiting for me, Gabe, and Jack.

“Let’s dip,” they all said in unison.

“Guys, it’s only my first day back.”

“You have gym next,” Gabe mentioned

“Just kidding, dip away.” Justin grabbed my hand and we bolted through the hallways into the back hallway that no students were allowed in. The exit of the hall led to a small reserved park just outside of the school that the gardening club tended to on Saturdays. When we got there, Kellin, Jesse, and Willow were already there. Jesse was sitting on the bench and Willow was sitting in Indian style on the ground, with Kellin’s head in her lap. Her attention was fully directed at Justin and then at our hands which were intertwined.

“About time guys.” Kellin sighed.

“We were about to go in there and kidnap you!” Jesse shouted.

“Relax guys, we just had to convince Fee.” Jack said.

I sat down and took my laptop out of my bag so I could play some music. We would be here for about an hour or so, so I may as well enjoy it. “Sorry to keep you guys waiting, but I was only hesitant to dip because it’s my first day back.”

“Right! Yeah, how was first hour?” Jessie asked.

“Yeah, and how have you been? We’ve missed you,” Kellin added.

“I’ve been alright, just missed being here with you little shits. When’s tour?” I asked and smiled. Gabe and Jack took a seat next to Jesse and Justin leaned on me, resting his head on my lap as I went through my music list, finally settling with Motley Crue.
They all rolled their eyes except for Willow who looked like she had no idea what we were talking about. “Not for another 2 and a half years. The record label basically told us that they’re not signing us until we graduate and that no other label in their right mind would sign sophomores in high school.” Kellin answered.

“Wait, you guys are in a band?” Willow asked. Even her voice sounded as pretty as she looked.

“Yah.” Justin answered annoyed. She rolled her eyes and everyone kinda just ignored it and changed the topic. What the heck had I missed?

“So, are you going to the Fall Ball?” Jesse asked, trying to change the topic.

“Uhh, I don’t know? I mean, I was supposed to go with Trey, but we all know how that turned out…” I answered awkwardly. Justin had been right during breakfast. When Trey and I had first started seeing each other, I knew he was bad news, but that’s what had attracted me to him in the first place… Until I caught him cheating on me.

“Go with me,” Justin stated. “We’re gonna be playing on stage that night anyways and this way I don’t have to look for a date.” I gulped before looking up at Willow who looked equally shocked and upset about the situation, but then started playing with Kellin’s hair.

“Alright, sure. Can you take me dress shopping tonight?” I asked and shot a glance at Willow who looked very annoyed, but somehow satisfied me. I didn’t even know her, but I could already tell we weren’t going to get along. I was momentarily sad because I did wish I had more girl friends that would hang out with me and the boys, but my most of my girl friends weren’t into the stuff the guys liked, and it made it difficult for me to have some girl time. This was the very reason Justin was always stuck doing girly stuff with me, but he never minded. I would get my nails done or my hair and he always kept me company, as well as he’d always go shopping with me. He was a constant in my life. There wasn’t a day I didn’t see him. Even the past few weeks I had missed school, he had walked to my house every afternoon so we could hang out.

“Sure. I’m picking the color this time, though,” he answered and I laughed. Last time we had attended an event together, which had been our freshman year Spring Fling Dance, I had decided to go with a lilac dress and it made it impossible for him to find a shirt or tie in that color so ultimately he went in black and white.

“Fine.”

We heard the bell go off, and looked at our phones. We hadn’t even noticed the time so we all got up and bolted for the building.

“Meet up later! My house!” Kellin said as we all made it to the main hallway and parted in our own directions. “We’ll discuss it at lunch!” was the last thing we all heard.

Notes