As the next day came around, Allie found herself walking through the halls of school with her best friend Lola. Allie always envied her best friend Lola's dark long hair, dark eyes, petite figure, and instantly tanned from just the sun shining in the sky, skin. Allie always wished she could tan her fair skin like Lola instantly did, but she considered Lola apart of her family so there was no need for competition.
Friends did make school better because in between classes you could have sessions of venting what's on your mind, Allie reminded herself.
Allie: ...So he almost hit me and was a total jerk to me saying "are you blind or just stupid".
Allie said mocking Dustin's tone. Lola looked to Allie with an opened mouth, and made a noise as if she couldn't breathe because she was so shocked.
Lola: What an asshole!
Allie: I know!
That was the exact reaction Allie was hoping for from her friend, but then Allie was let down when Lola took the words and tone of voice straight from her mother.
Lola: But Allie, you really have to start looking while you cross the street, because one of these days I'm going to find you in a morgue.
Have you been talking to my mother? Allie thought as she became slightly annoyed.
Allie: People got to stop saying that; I don't even want to be in a morgue, they creep me out.
Allie shuttered to herself just thinking about it, Lola just shook her head and laughed at her friend.
Lola: Ok Allie, I'll see you at lunch.
Time to go already? Allie thought to herself as she didn't want to head to her next class, but inside she knew that they had to go because the bell was about to ring any second.
Allie: Bye.
Allie smiled and waved goodbye to Lola as they went their separate ways to class. As Allie walked down the very vacant hallway to her desired destination, she saw a face that could only belong to a God, start walking her way from a distance. As the face of a God came closer, Allie became disgusted because she could now see who it was.
Dustin: Beep, beep, coming through, don't want to hit you.
Dustin laughed as if his joke was funny, but Allie wasn't amused. Put on a smug disgusted face and speak with a snotty tone, Allie told herself as she turned to Dustin who had walked passed her with a grin.
Allie: Hey asshole?
Dustin turned back around sticking his hands defensively into his front pants pockets, as soon as he heard Allie's snotty tone of voice.
Allie: Do you really think that's the best way to start off in a new school?
Something about what Allie said angered Dustin and he didn't know why he spoke back with a defensive tone. Maybe it's because of the reason he's here, but he didn't want to think about that right now.
Dustin: Why should I care what this school thinks?
Allie: Ok then, I guess you're going to be a loser and have no friends.
Dustin: Just the way I like it.
Allie rolled her eyes as she turned away from Dustin. A part of her wanted to turn around and give Dustin one last glance, but she contained herself and just walked straight ahead. Even though Allie told herself not to turn around and look at Dustin one more time, she couldn't help herself from thinking; How can someone be so bitter to a complete stranger that they almost caused death upon?
**********
As the lunch bell rang, Allie found herself stressfully and sluggishly walking into the lunch room. Relief washed over her face as she saw Lola sitting at a circle lunch table. Not even noticing that there was someone else at the table, Allie threw her heavy feeling back pack on the floor, then plopped herself down in the opened chair that faced across from Lola.
Allie: Lola, I'm having the worst day ever, first I saw the asshole that almost hit me and he said some asshole things to me...
Lola: Allie...
Lola tried stopping her friend from going any further, but knew that when Allie started rambling she couldn't easily be stopped. Especially now that Allie was flailing her arms around as she spoke in an angered stressed-out like tone.
Allie: So, when I went into class I couldn't concentrate on my test and I failed.
Lola decided it was time to attempt getting Allie's attention again, so she raised her voice slightly and slammed her hand on the table this time around.
Lola: Allie...
Success, Allie looked over to Lola as if annoyed by the interruption.
Allie: What?
Lola: I want you to meet the new girl.
Lola motioned to the blonde haired, green eyed girl sitting next to her, but Allie already knew her.
Allie: Nicole?
Nicole smiled warmly as she realized that it was also someone she already knew. Lola was confused, so she looked to Allie curiously disappointed because she thought she was the only one that knew Nicole.
Lola: Wait, you already know her?
Allie: Yeah, she's my new neighbor with the asshole brother.
Allie reassured Lola, then looked to Nicole sheepishly a little afraid of what her reaction might be.
Allie: No offense.
To Allie's surprise, Nicole wasn't taken back at all, she looked more agreeable.
Nicole: Oh none taken, he may be my twin brother...
Allie and Lola: He's your twin brother?
As soon as they both spoke the same words, they turned their heads to face each other, let out a little laugh, then looked back to Nicole all serious like.
Nicole: Yeah fraternal of course, so we're nothing alike. And, I also think he's an asshole.
Allie: *shaking her head in agreement* Nice.
Lola: So, why did you move here to Texas?
Nicole: Because my brother is into racing cars and Texas has the best junior division program or whatever.
Allie: So, basically you moved here because of your brother?
Nicole: Yeah basically.
Nicole's face suddenly became smug like as she answered Allie's question, Allie was both curious and afraid of why exactly that was.
Lola: That would piss me off!
Lola looked to Nicole with a look of shocked annoyance, Allie had to agree because a part of Allie knew how Nicole felt.
Nicole: Yeah it did, I had to leave all my friends.
Allie: Well, now you have us.
Allie reassured Nicole as she gestured to her and Lola, whom was smiling in agreement.
Nicole: Yeah, we should hang out today after school?
Nicole looked to Allie and Lola with hope shown inside her eyes. Allie couldn't help but feel herself cave inside, and almost feel sorry for Nicole.
Allie: Sounds like a plan.
That was the exact answer Nicole wished for because she felt like Allie and Lola were becoming two of her best friends. Maybe she will like Texas after all.
**********
After school Allie and Lola found themselves at Nicole's house getting a grand tour of the perimeter. Allie already knew the kitchen, but when she was over here the other night first meeting the family, she never got to see the other rooms; now she did. The last room that Nicole stopped at was her room, and as she opened the wood framed door, Lola looked to the wide opened room with a hint of jealousy hidden in her face.
Nicole's wide opened room had a carpeted floor that you could hardly see from all the unopened boxes scattered around. The only thing that looked put together in Nicole's room was her sheeted queen sized bed, with of course a pink quilt. What other color would it be? Allie thought.
Lola: Oh my god, I love your room, it's so big.
Nicole: And now, we get to fill it up.
Lola excitedly followed Nicole into her room, but just as Allie was about to start following behind, she looked to a closed wood door that was attached kiddy-corner to Nicole's room. Even though Allie had an idea of whose room it could be, she still asked anyway.
Allie: Whose room is that?
Nicole looked to where Allie pointed her right index finger, and her face instantly became smug like. By that look, Allie now knew that it belong to the exact person she had in her mind.
Nicole: *annoyed* That's just my brother's room.
Allie: We should go in and trash it.
As Allie took a step towards Dustin's closed door, she felt the touch of Lola's hand on her arm as a gesture to stop her from what she is thinking of doing.
Lola: Allie!!!
Nicole: I'll show it to you.
Nicole walked passed Allie and Lola, then she started to turn the door knob of Dustin's closed door. Allie looked back to Lola with a look as if she just proved her point.
Allie: See, she has the same idea.
Lola just shook her head at Allie as she followed behind into Dustin's room. As soon as Allie walked into Dustin's room, she examined it and felt like a little girl again because she was in a boy's room. Dustin's room was almost spotless because everything he owned seemed to be put away. It's like he stayed up all night putting his room together? Allie thought to herself as she saw his barely slept in sheeted king sized bed, shelving on the walls with what looked to be trophies on them or just prized possessions, a simple sized TV with a play station attached to it placed on a table, and a desk with a chair against the far wall.
What amazed Allie the most about Dustin's room was what she saw outside his window, there was a walk out balcony. Allie walked over to the window that faced on the far side of the room, she stared outside of it in admiration at the way the staircase attached to the balcony led all the way down to the grass of the backyard.
Allie: Oh my god! Your brother has a balcony?
Lola and Nicole joined Allie at the window, but didn't look out it with the same excited admiration as Allie did, they just observed.
Allie: If I had this I would sleep out here.
Lola: Yeah, I could see you doing that.
Suddenly all three girls heard a voice come from behind them; it was a deep melodic voice and the only voice that could make Allie feel like she just peed her pants.
Dustin: Too bad it's mine.
Nicole and Lola turned around sharply almost annoyingly, but Allie turned around slowly almost nervously, to see Dustin standing in the opened door way of his own room.
Allie: Hi umm... she let us in.
Allie nervously pointed to Nicole. Dustin looked to Nicole smugly as she did the same, it made Allie wonder: Why do they hate each other so much? It has to be a bigger reason than just moving here?
Nicole: Yeah, I was giving them a grand tour.
Dustin: Cool, can you get out now?
Nicole: Fine. Come on, let's leave the drama queen be.
Nicole walked passed Dustin in the door way like she just made the ultimate come back, but she really didn't in Dustin or Allie's eyes. Lola followed after Nicole and didn't even bother looking at Dustin as she walked passed him, she figured why do anything?
Allie was the last person out of the room, but before she walked passed Dustin she told herself; don't make eye contact. That is exactly what she did until she felt Dustin's gentle touch on her arm as a gesture to stop her.
Dustin: Hey...
Allie: What?
Allie looked up into Dustin's eyes, just the kind of contact she was trying to avoid. She couldn't help herself, his eyes were like two beautiful blue oceans.
Dustin: I want to say I'm sorry, you're not as stupid as I thought you were.
Are you serious? This guy is unbelievable, Allie thought in her head as she looked disgustingly into Dustin's now no longer beautiful blue ocean eyes. She had to tell herself to start hating those beautiful eyes now, Note to Self.
Allie: Wow! If that was your idea of an apology, then you really need some work.
Allie released herself from Dustin's gentle grip, then walked back across the hallway towards Nicole's room. Dustin watched Allie walk into Nicole's room, while doing so he noticed the way her long chestnut brown hair fell passed her shoulders and down her back. He also saw how her once understanding blue eyes, now last looked at him in disgust. Why do I always ruin everything? Dustin asked himself as he closed his bedroom door behind him.
**********
As the next day at school came, Allie sat bored out of her mind in her last period art class trying to draw on a piece of white construction paper. Allie sat on her stool at her table with three girl students that never seemed to talk. Allie concentrated on her drawing even though she didn't want to, then as if God had read her prayers, entertainment had just walked in.
Dustin walked inside the door so smoothly, Allie thought, then walked over to the art teacher that sat in her desk at the front of the room looking at multiple sheets of paper. When Dustin approached the art teacher, she looked up from his papers as she exchanged a few words with Dustin that Allie couldn't make out.
After the art teacher had walked away and to the storage room that was behind her desk, Dustin waited almost awkwardly in the front of the art classroom. Opportunity presented itself, so Allie leaned her head passed the girl in the stool that was kiddy corner to her on her right, in order to get a better look at Dustin.
Allie: Beep, beep.
Allie got a few strange looks from the people around her, but she really didn't care because all she wanted was Dustin's attention. She didn't seem to be getting any of it, because Dustin just stood there as if he didn't hear anything.
Allie: JERK AT THE FRONT OF THE CLASS!!!
This time around, Allie raised her voice to a whispered scream so she wouldn't interrupt the class too much. As Dustin heard his name, he turned his head to the left and he saw Allie in the back of the room sitting at an art table, while poking her head out from behind the girl that sat kiddy corner to her right.
As Dustin walked himself over to Allie, praying to God that he doesn't trip and fall, Allie sat back up straight in her seat and waited for Dustin to approach her.
Dustin: Hey.
Allie: Hey, what are you doing in here?
Dustin: I was sent in here to get the projector for my class.
Allie: Yeah, our school is too poor to afford one for every class.
Allie made a face as if she was shameful, then looked down to the floor in slight embarrassment. Nice conversation skills, Allie! she screamed to herself in her head.
Dustin: What are you doing in here, isn't this a freshman class?
Allie made a face as if she was offended, even though the three other girls that sat at her art table were all freshmen.
Allie: No, it's a class for all grades... but, I needed an art credit.
Allie reassured Dustin as he laughed a little to himself because of the way Allie had spoken like trying to prove her point. Dustin looked at Allie's drawing that laid in front of her as he made a face like he was either playfully scared or disgusted.
Dustin: Your beaver looks like it has rabies.
Allie looked to her beaver drawing with a little shame and sadness shown on her face.
Allie: That's what I thought too, I'm not a very good drawer.
Dustin: What made you draw a beaver?
This time around, Allie wasn't playfully saddened; she looked like she might even cry.
Allie: Well, this morning on the way to school I ran over a beaver, so I'm giving it a memorial.
Dustin didn't know whether Allie was being serious or not. She didn't look like she could be kidding, so he said the only thing he could think of.
Dustin: Oh...
Allie started laughing to herself as she saw Dustin's serious taken back face.
Allie: Dustin, I'm totally kidding.
Dustin looked up to Allie's already laughing face, so he started to laugh with her. Almost as if to ruin this perfect friendly moment, the art teacher came up to Dustin with the projector wheeled in front of her and spoke with her official sounding teacher voice of hers.
Teacher: Dustin... the projector.
Dustin turned to the teacher almost embarrassed as if startled, then he took the projector out from the teacher's hands. Once in his own hands, Dustin started to walk to the classroom door to leave. But then, turned back to Allie as if he just remembered something he came in here to say.
Dustin: Oh before I forget, I was working on my apologizing skills and this is what I came up with.
Dustin cleared his throat like a person giving a speech would do, his face all the sudden became apologetically serious.
Dustin: I'm sorry I almost hit you with my car and called you stupid, when clearly you're the farthest thing from.
Allie couldn't help but feel herself become giddy inside as Dustin flashed her a triple threat apologetic smile. Despite what he made her feel inside, she told herself to be playful in order to play it off cool.
Allie: Wow! Impressive, you just might be forgiven.
Dustin: Well I can only hope!
Allie: Yes, now go and leave me with my beaver drawing.
Dustin laughed to himself at what Allie said as he wheeled the projector towards the door. Before walking out of the door, Dustin gave Allie a goodbye wave with a smile.
Again Allie found herself getting lost in Dustin's beautiful blue ocean eyes, then told herself to snap out of it and get back on track. Blowing her concentration, Allie heard a very noticeably loud, young girl's voice.
Michelle: You know Dustin?
Allie turned her head to the left to see a freshman girl with an appearance that screamed for attention with her caked on black makeup, and dyed hair that was way too dark for her pale skin. She looks like she's trying too hard! Allie thought, but then told herself stop judging someone that you don't know or haven't even spoken one word to, and answered the girl's question.
Allie: Yeah, he's my friend's brother.
Michelle: I'm so jealous.
The ninth grade girl made a pouting face, Allie felt like it was just a little pathetic and over the top.
Allie: Why?
Michelle: Because he's so amazingly cute.
Allie: Feel free to have him because I think he's an asshole.
Michelle: Really? I don't see it.
The ninth grade girl spoke with a slight snotty tone in her voice, and the word Brat popped into Allie's head.
Allie: Well as you heard, he almost hit me with his car and called me stupid. So yeah kind of an asshole, but you're a ninth grade so you'll learn.
The ninth grader became not just slightly offended, but completely offended by Allie's choice of words.
Michelle: So what if I am a ninth grader?
What is this girl's problem? Allie thought as she didn't know how to process this girl's behavior.
Allie: I'm just saying you're a ninth grader and he's a senior, so you probably don't know him that well.
Michelle: How well do you know him?
Crazy defensive, Allie thought to herself as she scratched her head and looked away awkwardly, not knowing what to do.
Allie: Ok, I'm just going to stop talking now.
Allie looked away from the ninth grader who needed some serious help, and to her failed drawing of a beaver that had rabies, as Dustin said. Ugh! Dustin. That's the subject that got Allie into this awkward situation with a girl that was twice as small as her.
The ninth grader got up from her stool at the art table with a few colored pencils in her hand, very loudly -as if she wanted everyone to turned their heads and look at her- and went to the front of the room where the pencil sharpener was nailed against the wall.
Ninth grader: Don't worry about Michelle.
Allie looked up from her drawing and to the other ninth grade girl that sat straight across from her. Now this is a girl that looks her age, Allie thought as she looked to the girl who had fair skin, light colored wavy hair, and hardly any makeup at all, but at the same time she looked very put together.
Allie: Oh, I'm not afraid of a little ninth grader.
Ninth grader: She has a history of being obsessed over guys, so you can just ignore her, everyone else does in our grade.
Allie: Sad!
Allie became sympathetic as she looked over to Michelle who still stood at the pencil sharpener, then back to the ninth grader that Allie was now holding a conversation with.
Allie: But, I can see why.
Allie didn't care if she was being judgmental; the girl was weird and needed some help.