A War in My Head

“Why were you talking to them?” Taylor asked for the millionth time. I have no idea why it matters so much to her, it’s not like she can’t still talk to me. She always acted immature whenever I became friends with someone else. She’s too clingy in that way.

“What difference does it make?” I shrugged, unsure how to deal with the situation. Taylor flicked her hair over her shoulder and put her books into her locker.

“You missed a really good game last night, it was one of the best yet” She boasted. I don’t think she realises that I honestly don’t care about her damn cheerleading or football. I’m not even slightly into sports. Music is my speciality.

“Oh, well I’m glad it was good” I said softly. She can’t just keep making me feel awful about things. I looked behind me and suddenly saw Vic walking towards us. A small smile played on my lips as he approached.

“Hi ladies, how are you today?” He said, a huge beaming smile across his face. Taylor rolled her eyes and looked down at her phone that was now glued to her hand.

“I’m good Vic thanks for asking, yourself?” I said as nicely as possible.

“I am great today” He grinned. He looked at Taylor waiting for a reply, we both looked at her. She must have felt the tension because she finally looked up and gave us both an odd look. “What?” She asked as if she hadn’t been listening to us.

“Vic asked how you are” I nudged her.

“Oh, great” She mumbled and looked back down at her phone.

“Anyway” Vic started. “We just wanted to know if you’d like to join us for lunch today?” Vic asked politely. I could feel my cheeks flush red.

“She sits with me at lunches” Taylor said without looking up. She just couldn’t help being horrible to someone she didn’t even know.

“No she sits on the bleachers and watches you dance around in a ridiculous outfit and making a fool of yourslef” Vic smirked at Taylor. She looked up and furrowed her eyebrows at him with fury.

“Excuse you, no one asked for your in put” I felt awkward, she was of course going to make this a difficult decision for me.

“Look, what difference does it make if she sits with my friends? You’re practicing anyway” Vic shrugged at her. Taylor laughed sarcastically.

“Yeah but why would she want to sit with you losers?” Taylor has now turned on bitch mode.

“Anyway who says she wants to sit with you guys?” She couldn’t help herself.

“Well actually I-” I began but got cut off.

“You didn’t even ask her what she wants” Vic butt in. I looked at him and then Taylor.

“Listen I just-” I began again.

“No, she doesn’t even need to answer. I know she will say no” Taylor said with confidence.

“How do you know?” Vic rolled his eyes, obviously fed up with her crap. I was beginning to get
fed up of both of them.

“Guys shut up!” I shouted. They both looked at me confused. “I’ll do what I want okay. Taylor it makes no difference if I’m sitting on the bleachers or with Vic and his friends okay. So I’m going to sit with them” I sighed. She just groaned and walked off into the crowd of people. I simply don’t care enough to have her annoyed at me anymore.

“Thank you” Vic mumbled, a small smirk beginning to form.

I watched as people began to disappear into classes. “What do you have first?” I asked.

“Music” He smiled happily.

“Awe, that’s awesome. I’ll see you at lunch then?” I asked. He just nodded and began walking away.

He was an odd one but something about him made me very curious, unusual for me to even care. I don’t tend to care much about my peers. Most people really frustrate me but something about Vic made me want to be interested in other people, or even just him?

I walked off to my first class of the day and realised it was Spanish. I walked into the class and noticed Jaime sitting at the back, swinging on his chair and balancing a pencil above his lip pretending it was a moustache. Is this who I just agreed to be friends with? I slowly walked through the rows of desks, people ignoring me as usual but instead of sitting at the front myself

I walked over towards Jaime, suddenly his chair lost balance and he fell backwards and crashed onto the floor. The pencil went flying across the room and he cried out as he thudded to the ground. I held back a laugh as he quickly clambered to his feet and pulled his chair back up. He looked up and noticed me standing there. “Oh hi Lynn” He was embarassed at the fact I was watching the whole thing.

“Jaime, you know you’re not meant to swing on your chair. It can cause accidents and make you look like a fool” I smirked at him.

“Well, everyone knows I’m a fool anyway” He laughed nervously. I walked over to the chair next to him and sat down. He sat down quietly and pulled his books out as I did.

“This is going to be much less deathly with someone to actually do tasks with” I laughed. He cocked his head to the side.

“Did Miss Heller just ignore you?” He was confused. I nodded and laughed slightly.

“Yeah pretty much” I looked down at my books and fiddled with the pages.

----

I walked towards the spot where Vic had taken me yesterday, hoping someone would already be there but my hopes weren’t answered. I kicked the grass nervously, hoping that I was being subjected to some sad joke. I mean it would make sense really, I don’t even understand why they’d want to be friends with me anyway.

After 5 minutes passed I heard a voice behind me. I turned around and smiled to see Vic walking over towards me with his brother Mike. They were laughing and talking loudly. Harley suddenly jumped onto Vic's back and kissed his cheek. A small pang of jealously shot through me, are they a couple? If they are then why didn’t Vic mention it?

“Hey Lynn, what’s up?” Vic sat down next to where I was standing. I sat down next to him and
Mike sat at the other side of me.

“Not much. How are you?” I replied. He smiled at me and looked at Mike.

“Ten bucks says Jaime is last because he’s flirting with the Spanish teacher” Mike nodded and shook Vic’s hand.

“We were in Spanish first, why would he be back to speak to her?” I asked with confusion.

“Well, Jaime thinks speaking in Spanish makes him sexy so he does he pretends he needs extra help before lunch which is a ploy to try and hook up with her. It’s never going to happen.
He lives in a totally delusional scenario that will never happen. He is convinced she flirts back but she clearly doesn't care. It’s hilarious” Vic explained.

“He thinks he is shit hot basically” Harley pitched in. She was sitting next to Vic, kinda leaning into him.

“That’s cute” I laughed. Tony walked over and sat down next to us.

“Hey guys, where’s Hime?” He asked looking around.

“It’s Spanish day” Mike mumbled through a bite of his sandwich.

I pulled my sandwich out my bag and ate it quietly as everyone began engaging in conversations about their lives.

“Hey do you guys wanna go to the park after school?” Mike suggested. Vic nodded, Tony gave a thumbs up and Harley said yeah. Everyone slowly looked over to me waiting on an answer.

“What?” I asked with confusion.

“Do you wanna come?” Harley threw in.

“Oh I’m invited?” I was kinda shocked.

“Yeah why wouldn’t you be?” Vic smirked at me, his smile was so nice.

“I just wasn’t sure, yeah what park?” I haven’t really been to any parks for a long time.

“It’s just down the street, near the Wal-Mart” Tony chimed in.

“Yeah that’s fine. What time?” I asked.

“7?” Mike suggested and everyone nodded.

Jaime suddenly plunked down in front of me, next to Tony and Harley. “Well that’s is, she lost her chance with Hime-Time” He huffed. I laughed out loud, causing everyone to look at me.

“What happened Jaime?” Harley giggled.

“She said my actions are inappropriate and that I no longer need extra tutoring as I’m getting A’s like what the hell? I still need the tutoring!” He was really upset about this.

“It was never going to work out” Mike rolled his eyes at Jaime.

“Yeah the second she acted upon your hints she’d be fired into jail for pedophilia, do you want that?” Vic told him sternly.

“No I don’t but she’s so hot” Jaime whined loudly.

Everyone just looked at each other, laughing slightly. “No she isn’t Jaime” Mike shrugged.

“Yeah she’s like at least ten years older than you” Tony said softly. His voice was always so small.

“Age doesn’t matter though” Jaime groaned. “That’s it I’m becoming gay, Tony will you be my
boyfriend?” Jaime launched himself onto Tony who dropped his sandwich into his backpack.

“Get off me Jaime” He cried out as Jaime tackled him to the ground.

“You can’t just become gay Jaime” Harley rolled her eyes at them.

“Well fuck everyone” He rolled off Tony and lay on his back.

“You made me get mayo all over my math book” Tony groaned loudly.

“You can’t fight love” Jaime winked at Tony.

“Do you wanna go for a walk?” Vic asked me suddenly. I looked at him, should I? I mean I’m here to hang with his friends, not go off just us two.

“Sure” I smiled at him. He stood up and held his hand out for me, I took it and he pulled me up.

When I was on my feet I put my backpack on my back and we began walking slowly around the field.

“So how are you?” He asked. I looked at him and smiled.

“I’m actually really good” I nodded, looking off into the distance.

“I’m glad that you are. I think we could be really good friends you know” He smirked at me. His eyes were really inviting. Like he made me want to be around him, find out what his life story is.
He had something special about him that he just didn’t express on the surface. You have to dig deep for it.

“Do you think Harley likes me?” He asked after a few minutes of silence. I looked at my feet, biting my lip.

“I don’t know” I shrugged. He nodded.

“I understand. You’ve only really seen her today” He looked away. I watched over him until his eyes met mine again. What the hell is my problem? I avoided eye contact with him again.

“Do you like her?” I asked, instantly regretting it.

“I don’t know. We hooked up a few times but I’m not sure if it’s something I want to pursue as a relationship. We are really good friends and if it didn’t work out then it would make the group really awkward. I dunno” He shook his head in confusion.

“Maybe just take it slow. If you feel anything then go for it. She could be really special! If it doesn’t work out then just tell her you want to be friends” I explained. He nodded as he listened,
obviously considering it.

“Thanks, I’m glad we’re friends now Lynn” He smiled at me.

His smile gave me butterflies.

Notes