DAMIEN'S POV
"Which high school are you finally going to?" Delia asked, her tone laced with curiosity as we walked down the bustling street towards the arcade with Fred.
"Definitely not Ridgewood Academy," I replied, trying to mask the unease in my voice.
"Your dad is still hell-bent on making you go there, though," Jake said, his voice thick with skepticism.
"Yeah, but that's not the worst part. I actually got admitted into the school," I confessed, bracing myself for their reaction.
"What the hell?!" Both of them exclaimed, their voices rising in shock.
"I got the letter three days ago," I added, my tone barely above a whisper.
"Your dad knows about this?" Jake's question wasn't quite a question, more a statement of disbelief.
"Not yet, but I know he will find out sooner or later, even if I don't tell him," I said, the inevitability of the situation weighing heavily on me.
"It's such a pity you're going to that hellhole of a school," Delia said, her expression turning somber.
"What's with the sad face, Delia?" I asked as we continued walking through the thrumming chaos of the city streets.
"We're gonna miss you. What about all our plans for high school?" She asked, her voice tinged with genuine sadness.
"We can still do those things, just at different schools," I said, trying to sound optimistic.
"But it won't be the same without you," Jake said, his voice carrying a note of finality.
We reminisced, our laughter mingling with the noise of the arcade. We talked about the good and bad times of middle school, remembering the chaos and camaraderie. Those moments, though they felt like nightmares at the time, now seemed like bittersweet memories.
Middle school had been a paradox—both the best and the worst years of my life. With my antisocial tendencies and overactive imagination, it was a struggle. My friends had been my lifeline, helping me navigate a world where I felt like a misfit.
As we entered the arcade, we made a beeline for our favorite game machine, determined to outscore each other. Hours slipped by as we laughed and competed, our scores climbing higher with each turn.
Eventually, we moved to the park, buying ice cream and watching the chaos of kids playing and parents trying to corral them. We sprawled on the grass, discussing our plans for high school.
"I'm going to step up my game and expand my social circle," Jake said, a determined edge to his voice.
"What?!" I whispered urgently, startled by his revelation.
"Don't act so surprised, we were at the bottom of the social ladder in middle school—nerds, freaks, weirdos. High school is a fresh start, and I don't want to be stuck in that same old role. It's a big deal, and it can stick with you well into college and beyond." Jake said, his tone serious.
"Did you prepare this speech ahead of time?" Delia asked, a mixture of surprise and amusement in her voice.
"Yeah, kind of," Jake admitted.
"Well, that was quite the speech," I said, laughing. "I thought I was the one who overthought everything."
"Sometimes you need a plan if you want things to go smoothly," Jake replied.
"Wow, look at you, Mr. Motivational Speaker," Delia teased, giving me a high-five as we all burst into laughter.
"Oh, I see today is the day for speeches, huh? You're really channeling Damien now," Delia said after our laughter died down, her tone light but edged with mockery.
"None taken," I said, smiling.
"Okay, enough with the 'Jake speech debate.' Let's talk about something else," I suggested, adding air quotes to 'Jake speech debate,' which made us all laugh again.
"I want to go to lots of parties, have fun, maybe even get drunk—just no getting laid," Delia declared, her enthusiasm palpable.
Jake and I burst into laughter at the mention of getting laid.
"Yeah, me too—minus the getting laid part," Jake agreed, air quoting the phrase as we laughed again.
"I'm not ready for that yet," Delia said, defending her stance.
"But you're definitely ready for a relationship," I teased.
"Sure, but not a committed one," Delia clarified.
"Do you mean an open relationship?" Jake asked, his eyebrows raised in confusion.
"No, you idiot," Delia shot back, her disgust evident. "I'm not into open relationships. What I mean is no intercourse until I'm emotionally and mentally ready."
"Did you really have to use that word? It sounds so cringe." I said, grimacing.
"Yeah, well, it's a serious situation," she replied.
"It's now a 'situation'?" Jake asked, teasing.
"What do you want me to call it?" Delia snapped back.
"Hey, guys, let's dial it down a notch," I said, trying to defuse the escalating tension. "We don't need to blow things out of proportion."
"Right, let's get back to our original discussion before the—" I started, doing air quotes around 'Jake speech debate.'
"Yeah, we get it," Delia said, cutting me off with a smirk.
"So, Damien, what's your take on parties?" Jake asked, redirecting the conversation.
"Parties are out for me. I'll be at a boarding school," I said, feeling a pang of disappointment.
"Hey, you could sneak out at night," Jake suggested, but his tone was teasing.
"No way. I can't risk my academic record." I said, horrified at the thought. "I'm aiming for an Ivy League school, remember?"
"You can still go to tons of colleges. Does it have to be an Ivy League?* Jake pressed.
"Yes, if not them, then no one," I replied firmly.
"You're really obsessed with that," Delia said, shaking her head.
"Yeah, Dad expects me to get into an Ivy League just like Desmond," I admitted.
"Still trying to please Dad, huh?" Delia said, her tone incredulous.
"Okay, enough about me and Ivy League schools. Let's talk about something else, or better—"
"Shit! I have to get home. See you guys later!" Jake swore, glancing at his watch.
"Wow, we really lost track of time," I said as I stood up, along with Jake who was ready to leave.
"Hey, don't leave me behind!" Delia shrieked, scrambling to catch up as Jake and I walked towards the road.
We each hailed different taxis, exchanging goodbyes as we parted ways.
The day had flown by, and I couldn't believe school would start in just a few weeks. I stared out the taxi window, lost in thought as the orange sun dipped below the horizon. My mind wandered to the new chapter of my life at HBHS, filled with uncertainty and anticipation.
"We're here," the driver's voice pulled me from my reverie.
"Uh, sorry," I mumbled, flustered as I paid him and stepped out, heading towards the house.
As I walked through the gates and up to the front door, Laura, our housekeeper, greeted me.
"Hi, Laura," I said, barely registering her presence as I headed upstairs.
"How was your day with your friends?" she asked, her tone friendly.
"It was fine," I replied.
"Did you have fun?" she inquired further.
"Yeah," I said, my mind still occupied with the events of the day.