Rising Up

Three

    When we arrived at the doors of the cafeteria my hands were already starting to shake. I was already to turn around and walk back but knew if I did I would always regret it.  I knew that even if I didn't make friends with Brian or any of his friends then I would be okay so talking to them wouldn't hurt anything. The worst that can happen is I embarrass myself. Not like that would be the first or last time. I take a deep breath then head inside behind Brian toward a table in the back of the room. The cafeteria is filled with students which is not helping my nerves at all.  Brian ends up stopping at the end of the table. All of his friends go quiet for a moment. 

    "Hey, everyone sorry I am late. I got a bit held up." Brian said to them. 

    "No problem" one of the guys said. Brian begins to sit down at the end of the table. He gestures for me to sit to the right of him by the guy who was just speaking. I go ahead and take a seat making sure to stay far enough away from the other guy. 

    "So, Brian who is this?" the guy says.    

    "This here is Aubrey." he says and then looks at me."Aubrey, these are my friends. He is Tyler." Brian says gesturing to the guy sitting next to me. Then turns to introduce the other to me,"And this is Mason, Jade, and Lauren." 

    "Nice to meet you all." I respond. 

    "What grade are you in? I haven't seen you around before." Jade asks me. 

    "I am a junior. What about you?" I respond. 

    "That is great! We all are too." she says. I smile back at her.  Jade seems like a nice person. I am thankful she spoke to me because it makes everything less awkward.  "So Aubrey are you going to go to the football game this Friday?" she asks me. 

    "No I am not." 

    "Why not? It will be fun. We go to every home game. Well, the boys have to be there." 

    "I don't know anything about football so it makes no sense for me to go. Why do they have to be there?" I respond. Jade looks taken back a second. She is about to answer but the girl next to her who I believe Brian said is Lauren responds instead. 

    "Aren't you Brian's friend? How would you not know he is a football player?" she says in snarky attitude. I am not sure what I said that was offending. 

    "I wouldn't know because I am not really his friend. I just met him literally ten minutes ago." I respond in a voice that is stronger then I expected. I didn't realize before but the others are now staring at me. 

    "I see. What are you doing here sitting with us then?" Lauren asks. 

    "You know honestly I don't even know." I say then start to get up again. 

    "Wait Aubrey don't go. Lauren leave her alone. I asked her to sit with us." Brian says. I can hear the frustration in his voice. 

    "It's alright Brian. She is right. I am going to go. Again it was nice meeting you all." I say to him. I grab my backpack that is now on the ground and start walking toward the exit. When I get out of the cafeteria. I realize that it was wrong of me to leave like that. I start to regret leave. I feel a tap on my shoulder. Wondering who that could be I look over toward the person. I find Jade standing in front of me. 

    "Aubrey, I am sorry for how Lauren was acting. I would really like to be friends with you. Do you want to go to the football game with me? I promise Jade won't be with us. She is a cheerleader so she is going to be with them."    

    "It is alright. I don't know if I should go. I won't know anyone there and I am not really good with people. I am sure you would rather go with someone else." I told her. 

    "No, I wouldn't. Most of the people I go with just want to go with me to get closer to the guys. It would be nice having someone else to go with. Plus, I know a lot about football. I can explain the game to you." she said. Jade's eyes were big. I could tell she did want me to go with her.  

    "Okay fine you win." I smiled and said to her. 

    "YES! Now give me your number so I can text you when I get there. I can pick you up from your house if you want? That way we don't have to take two cars." 

    "Here put your phone number in and I will text you. I am not sure about getting a ride with you yet but I will text you later on and let you know." I say as I give her my phone. She puts her number in quickly and hands me back the phone. I quickly make sure to text her so she gets my number."Okay, there you go. I am going to go ahead and head to my next class it's all the way across campus so if I don't leave now I won't make it in time." 

    "No problem. I will see you later some time." She says.   

    I turn then begin to walk away but before I get to far I turn back around call out to her. "Jade, thanks for everything." Jade smiles and waves to me then turns around to walk back the way we came from. 

    As I walk to my next class I find myself smiling.  I can't believe what just happened. Maybe things will be different from here on out.