The New Kid - Chapter 4: Single Again... and It's Weird

The next morning, I ran into Mike before school… even though I tried everything I could to avoid him.

"Hey, Air, can I please talk to you?"
"Stop calling me air, and talk fast Mike."
"I’m sorry about what happened, and what you saw, Air- Ariel."
"No your not, Mike, I can see it in your eyes! I’m not that gullible… I was a popularity stunt to you! Nothing more! I even found steroids in your bag and you want me to believe what you say!?" I was furious… I felt like I was going to explode.
"So what… I’m not lying!!"
"Yes you are, Mike!! I’m done! Stay away from me, and my friends, and out of my life!" I walked on through the front doors and he continued to stand outside. I was tired of all the guy’s I’ve dated giving me crap and treating me as a popularity stunt alone… I wish I could find a guy who liked me for me. I wish it was Blake… but he’s got to have a girlfriend he’s so amazing I can’t see why he wouldn’t. I heard a call from behind me, I knew it was him.

"Hey, Ariel!!"
"Hey, What’s up?" Blake somehow always put a smile on my face
"Nothing, I wanted to come see if you were ok… yesterday you seemed upset."
"Oh yeah I’m fine, really. Hey you’re sitting with us at lunch today right?"
"From now on!"
"Really? How come you’re not sitting at the football table."
"Some of they guys are just straight up jerks and players, do you mind if James sits with us?"
"Not at all!"
"Ok awesome, I’ll see you at lunch!"

"Sweetness! See ya then, Blake." I felt a huge smile on my face and I realized had been there the whole time we were talking. Blake will be sitting with us this whole year. At least I hope so! Man I really like him, but I doubt he feels the same way.
"Ariel!" Summer stopped me on my way to English, I thought I’d see her… I mean her class IS right next door and all…
"Hey there, Summer!"
"Hey I just wanted to give you a hug and say good morning, I saw you running down the halls before lunch yesterday."
"Oh, thanks… yeah Mike and I are over."
"Finally!"
I felt a little offended by what she said I guess… "What do you mean?" I crossed my arms when I said this…
"Well, I really didn’t wanna tell you this the other day… but I didn’t think he was right for you, I mean he was always yelling and I thought it was wrong how he treated you. I’m just glad your out of that mess now."

"You know what, Summer? Me too!" I smiled and gave her a hug before I walked into class. She was right, and I wasn’t paying enough attention to realize that my self… My classes continued on one after the other until lunch rolled around. I was dragged across the cafeteria, through the lunch line, and back to that table in no time by Claire… What was her problem? I guess she was as excited as me that Blake was sitting at our table. I laughed quietly to my self and asked, "What were you in such a rush for?"

"The faster you get through the line the longer you get to sit with -" she stopped when she saw Blake walking over to the table. I smiled, and looked up at Blake… I saw him looking back and I quickly switched my glance to the plate of food in front of me hoping he hadn’t noticed. I knew he smiled because Claire elbowed me in her "Awww look!" way. I shook my head and shoved a bite of my Chicken Caesar Salad in my mouth.

"Hey, Ariel, thanks for letting us sit here."
‘Us?’ I thought to myself… Oh yeah! I forgot I told Blake that James could sit with us too. I looked up and saw James and Blake sitting across from me and Claire, I continued to swallow my food and answered. "Sure! No biggie, glad you guys wanted to."
"Yeah, I couldn’t stand to hang around Mike anymore, and Blake was ticked off at him too." James told me, He never cussed, that’s one of the things I liked about James when we were dating.
"Oh" I replied.
Claire changed the subject randomly but just in time… "Ariel!! Did you see that your picture won the digital photo competition!? It’s marked 1st place out of all the periods!"
"No way!"
"Yes way!"
"That’s awesome! Oh my gosh!"
Blake chimed in our convo "I wonder what you won."
I laughed and continued "Me too!"