CHAPTER TWO
Josie McMillan
THE SCHOOL TEAM had reached the State finals for the first time and Josie was the main cheerleader.
This is my moment of glory and I will enjoy every moment...
— I passed... I passed — she appeared screaming when Mark and Anthony were in the cafeteria cutting class discussing how the game had been, one of the rare subjects they both liked to discuss, as Mark loved music and Tony cinema.
— Congratulations — Anthony said, not knowing what he was talking about.
In fact, Anthony was never interested in anything she said, or any other girl, would pretend to be interested in the subject, get a few kisses and make out, and follow the boat as if nothing had happened. He discovered early on that women liked attention, didn't like opinion and didn't like to be rejected, it was just agreeing with what they were saying that he would get along.
— What passed? — Mark asked with the most absolute honesty and interest, characteristic of him, which made him almost a best friend of Josie, which generated severe criticism from Anthony telling him to stop it, as it forced him to listen to her talk non-stop.
— I'm the new cheerleader at school, I told you guys, don't you remember?
Anthony looked at Mark and there was a question mark between them, of course they would never say that in front of her, but they had no idea what she was talking about.
— Of course... — Tony said with the greatest brazenness in the world.
Mark nodded with his friend.
— Since you guys are fake, one day you'll win an Oscar, Tony.
Mark shrugged his shoulders, making a confused face.
— I can't remember everything we talked about, I'm sorry.
— It doesn't matter... I'm a Cheerleader now...
The three embraced.
— Looks like things started well this year for you, congratulations, we need to celebrate. — Anthony said.
— Don't even talk to me, I needed to hear some good news, sometimes it seemed that my time would never come to smile a little in my life, it's not possible that at least one day I won't be happy.
— And at your house, have things improved?
Tony glared at Mark again behind Josie's back and spoke silently...
Mark just lip — reading.
Now she won't stop talking and will cry, man, see if she wakes up...
— Worse every day.
Tony put his hand on his forehead, shook his head, annoyed with the direction the conversation was taking.
We were supposed to be celebrating and not crying...
— Just like at my house — Mark said helpfully.
— Can we talk about good things? — Tony intervened — We're not going to be disputing who has the worst life, are we? Today is the day to celebrate.
Tony is right, today is the day to celebrate, I don't want to spoil everything... — thought Mark
Anthony pulled Josie into his arms and said smiling as if that conversation had never happened.
— Play the music, maestro.
Mark nodded, picked up the violin and began to play as the two danced together.
— Let's celebrate, Baby, in a life full of adversity, every good news, no matter how small, should be celebrated, this is how I want to live, from good to good news forever, preferably hugging you with our friend doing the sound.
— I agree.
Josie laid her face on Tony's chest feeling comforted and let the music flow between them, she knew that as much as Tony wanted to be an actor, he couldn't deny that he was also an excellent dancer.
— I wish moments like this never ended — she said — the three of us always together, enjoying unique moments, you two make me so good, I don't know what my life would be without you.
— It's just up to us to keep having moments like this, babe.
Tony led her towards Mark, pulling him too and the three of them hugged in a circle as they danced.
— Let's make a pact — Tony began excitedly as if he had the biggest and best idea ever.
— Like this? asked Mark.
— Regardless of what happens in our lives, we will be friends until the end, I know we have different paths to follow, however, no matter where we are, we will always be what we are now, three people who dream big, but above all, we dream together. That's what we must do.
— I agree — Josie said — you changed my life, I want to take this for my whole life as a good sign that everything will work out in the end, especially if we are together.
Tony released his right hand from the hug and extended it to the center of the circle, the two followed suit and assembled a hand sandwich.
— Friends forever.
— Forever friends — they said in unison.
The bell rang announcing the start of the break, fifteen seconds later the cafeteria was invaded by a crowd of students.
SEVERAL GIRLS surrounded Josie and Tony while Mark stood aside looking, feeling lucky to have them as friends, at no time was he jealous of their fame, he didn't care a damn about it, his joy was the friendship he had with them.
Tony always disguised himself when he had to ice him to get along with girls, he wanted him to be more cool, so he could go out with several girls at the same time, many of them wanted to go out with him and asked if he had any friends to accompany them. friend, but the first experience was disastrous, Mark only talked about music and harmonic scales.
When they left the girls at home, Tony exploded:
— What's on your mind, Mark?
— What are you talking about, man? — It was a super fun night.
— Just for you who kept talking Greek, didn't you realize that the girl didn't understand what she was talking about? It 's time to get out of this musical cocoon, see if I keep talking about acting and literature, at most a little Shakespeare quote to soften the cat, and not blablabla.
— I don't know where you want to take this conversation, I didn't ask out, you invited me, forgot? I should know that I'm like that.
— Man… I just wish it were the way it is with me and Josie with other people, it's just that you're such a weirdo when you leave our circle, I say that because I like you, you know that.
— I know, that's why I accepted.
— Then do what I'm asking.
— Sometimes you ask for too much, you know?
— I only ask for what people can give, and I know you can give more.