Eventually, our duo became a trio. Our junior year of high school, my little brother started his freshmen year. In the past, I had a history of hating him while he adored me like a pearl on a black, sand beach. However, as we got older, I started to talk to him about the things that worried me in my life. Whenever I had no one to talk to, he was there to listen.
As time went on, it made more and more sense why he should meet Tesha. Both my brother and Tesha were important people in my life, so I would have to introduce them eventually. It didn't take very long for them to become friends. We were the Three Musketeers.
We did everything together and where one went, the others would follow. Student council became a big part of our lives and we were all in it so it made it easier to manage spending time together and getting things done. Most days, we would all spend our free time together: to the library before school and then lunches and after schools would be spent on planning for student government activities.
Maybe I had forced them together too fast but I started to feel left out. I noticed that my brother, Mandon, could hold a conversation with Tesha better than I could. After noticing that, our conversations became awkward and I would call Mandon to help smooth it out. I started to back away and just watch in the distance. That only made me feel worse but... what else could I do?
In October, I decided to take on the responsibility to be the chairperson of the Winter Ball. Tesha automatically took the liberty to help me plan it and I was happy because we finally had something to talk about.
We sat on opposite sides of the table, scrolling through various party planning and catering sites. I loud puff of air escapes through my teeth as I let out a sigh. We had been searching for a DJ for what felt like hours.
"Ugh," Tesha groaned. "Why are DJs so expensive?"
"I know right," I rolled my eyes. As more expenses and fees piled up, it started to look impossible to through a Winter Ball with our budet.
"Okay, so I was thinking," I said. "What if instead of getting a DJ, we just download the software on a computer and do it ourselves?"
"Ooh," Tesha perked up. "That would be pretty cool actually. But what about the speakers and the lights and stuff?"
"Um," I thought. "Oh! What if we used the speakers that they use at our rallies and just buy some lights?"
"Oh that sounds cute-"
"Hi guys," Mandon came walking in. "What're you doing?"
"Winter Ball stuff. Why are you so late? School ended like an hour ago," I replied.
Mandon rolled his eyes and sat down. "You ask like you don't already know." I laugh to myself as I think, I bet he got in trouble with a teacher again.
"Yo, Winston! Wanna play some chess," Mandon called. Winston was our student activities coordinator at our school but despite his age and the fact that he was a teacher, everyone thought of him as a friend rather than a superior. As you got to know him more, it started to get weirder to call him Mr. Lee because he looked nothing like... well a Mr. Lee. He was a tall, chubby guy with a mustache and a pair of Harry Potter glasses. There wasn't a day that he didn't smile but he was also very firm when he wanted something done. He always made you feel like a friend rather than a student, so we all eventually started calling him by his first name.
Winston got up from his desk and sat on the other side of Mandon's table. "Hoo hoo," he chuckled. "Yeah, can."
Tesha laughed and shook her head. "Okay, so I think I found a good program to use but we have to install our own music and I can only do it on my Macbook. Is that okay?"
"Yeah, as long as we can use your computer. Can we," I asked.
"Haha, yeah we can."
"Yay!"
"But I have a question, who's gonna be the DJ?" She looked at me, slightly puzzled.
I smile back at her. "We can be the DJs! We can call us DJ Three Musketeers." We both laugh at the idea.
"That would actually be pretty cool. I'm down," Tesha looked back at her computer. "And it's downloaded. We are officially the DJs of Winterball!"
"Ha, but we do have a big problem..."
"What is it?"
"Well," I scratched my head. "Neither of us are very good at picking 'popular' songs."
"Uh oh," Tesha whispered.
"Haha... maybe I can ask Reese for help? He can post on his insta for any recommendations. And then I can go watch some videos on Youtube about popular songs."
Tesha giggled. "I'll go post on my story too then."
"April," Mandon called. "Mom just texted me that she's here to pick us up."
"Oh ok," I shut my computer and started packing. "I'll see you tomorrow, k?"
"Ok, bye bye," Tesha waved.
"Bye bye," I waved back. "Bye Winston!"
I picked up my bag and dashed after my brother.