“So Leigh how long have you known Shorty?”
“Since we were fourteen.”
“Wow. Ten years and this is the first time you’ve seen each other?”
“Weird huh?”
“Oh crap! Have you seen my phone?”
“Well, Lethi had it last.”
“Yeah I know, but today is my 16th birthday and I was kind of hoping someone would call.”
“Oh… a girl perhaps?”
“She’s um, my best friend.”
“Well you could check your backpack. I think she might have put it in there.”
Aaron ran out of the room and came back a few minutes later with the phone to his ear and a horrified look on his face.
“Is it her?”
“It was a message from her…” he practically fell into the chair he had been sitting in before.
“Are you okay?”
Tears began to well in his eyes, “She got a boyfriend. I was going to ask her out when I got home.”
“Don’t cry. When people cry it makes me cry. Oh forget it! Tell me everything.”
Aaron told her all about the first night they met and their first kiss… the awkward situation, everything. “…We broke up to be friends and it’s really working but I see her everyday and all I can seem to think about is kissing her again, like the first time. I mean sure I’ve kissed and been kissed before but something happened that day. I just felt right. Maybe I’m just making something out of nothing but..” he stopped to wipe the tears off his face but more followed right behind them.
“Hey Aaron! It’s Nick, I’m coming in,” Nick opened the door and walked in followed by Erica and the rest of the crew. “Bro are you okay?” Nick ran over to Aaron and knelt down in front of him.
“Jess got a boyfriend,” Leigh whispered wiping away tears.
“Oh Aaron,” Elise pulled A.J. over with her and Aaron set his head in his hands. “Is it that new kid?”
“Yeah it’s that jerk-off Jason! Why can’t she see it? I hate him!” Aaron stood up and paced across the room wiping away his tears as fast as they rolled down his cheeks.
“Aaron that’s your cell,” Erica whispered when she heard a faint ringing.
“Oh,” he picked it up and took a breath. “Hello?” He knew exactly who it was.
“Hey Carter. How are you?”
“I’m fine,” he lied.
“Did you get my message?”
“No,” he lied again.
“Oh Aaron! Guess what?”
“What?”
“Jason, the new kid, asked me out!”
“You know I really don’t trust him Jess.”
“Oh come on Aaron you don’t even know him.”
“Neither do you!”
“Don’t yell at me!”
“Fine. Thanks for the pictures Jess it was sweet. I’ll talk to you later. Bye.”
“Aaron! Please don’t!”
“Jess, I can’t talk now. Everyone is here,” he hung up before she could stop him. “What are you all staring at? Let’s eat.” He walked to the door and opened it putting his arm out for Leigh to take before everyone walked out the door.