Show Me How

Chapter 6- Eastwood Academy

“That’s the end of class, make sure to hand in your essay by the end of the day.” 

Heaving my backpack over my shoulder I walk out of the classroom with Gabriel beside me. “Please tell me you understood the lesson,” I say, which Gabriel only hums at and looks up at the roof with his hand rubbing his chin like he was thinking.

“If you mean did I understand the part where she started speaking Algebra, then no?” Groaning, I run my finger through my hair. “I guess this means I’ll be spending my evening at the library tonight.” 

The last thing I wanted was to give my parents another reason to compare me to Samuel. Especially after remembering what he got, and what I anticipate I will get if I don’t start putting more hours into working than hanging out with friends. 

Taking a turn Gabriel gives me an amused look. “Really? I guess someone else will have to kick Oscar’s ass later at Isiah’s place.” Chuckling I push open the door to reveal the guys sitting at the cafeteria at our usual spot. As usual, the cafeteria was buzzing with students, however, it was easy to find the guys. 

“There you guys are.” Says Isiah as he places his phone down. Next to him, Oscar was slurping on a plate of pasta, too engrossed to notice us taking a seat. 

“How was Calculus?” Ask Isiah which I only sigh at. Not bothering to answer Gabriel jumps in with a whistle. “I found Calculus interesting, however, our boy Noah here was lost in the translation.” 

“You said you didn’t understand?” Shrugging he grabs one of the sandwiches I had packed for lunch. “True, but that's because I have my reasons, whereas you my friend decided to work early on your English piece than your homework.”

"It counts as 1/3 of my grade. Of course, I am going to work early on it." Shaking my head I glance around at the cafeteria. Eastwood Academy is something you could call a unicorn. It has people from all parts of the city, which is better considering I wouldn’t have met the guys when I transferred to the school. Yet the school does have it’s cliques, groups, and stereotypes. 

As usual, you do have the ‘popular’ group, which is actually just Sean, Elena, and the majority of jocks and cheerleaders. Then you have the stereotypical crackhead Gabriel who has pretty much tried everything and anything. Isiah is part of too many clubs and on the student council. Oscar is the one who doesn’t go along with those in his grade and hangs out with us, and I am of course the people’s people or folkets folk as it is said in Norwegian. 

Some girl from the international class called me that last year and meant that I give the people what they want. Almost like a people pleaser, but not in a negative way. I guess it was true in a sense, I do like making people happy, maybe because that in my eyes equals to them liking me or because I like to see people smile.

 Yet it was the part where she said that I would compromise myself for other's acceptance that took me off guard. Thinking about it I realize that perhaps it is true. Maybe I am this people-pleaser who would do anything so that people like me.

Does that make me shallow? Insecure? A no-personality faker who probably gets his stupid jokes from a show like The Office or Friends?

Taking a bite of my sandwich I look up to see the familiar face of Vastina coming over. “Hello there boys, hello babe.” Says Vastina and takes a seat next to Isiah who immediately smiles and kisses her cheek. 

“Oh my god, get a room.” Says Oscar in a high pitched voice, earning a glare from Isiah and a blushing Vastina hiding her face in his neck. Tucking her jet-black hair behind her ear he kisses the top of her head while grinning at Oscar. “Whatever you’re just mad that I have a beautiful girlfriend and you don’t.” 

Vastina Thakur. Cheerleader, an animal lover, does volunteer work and is overall likable. She and Isiah are practically the married couple at the school and had been together a long time before I moved here. The only thing people are waiting for now is when they’ll just run away and get married. 

Slapping Isiah playfully with a shake of her head, a girl shrieking interrupts as she takes a seat next to me. Flinching I look to see Robin with a devastating look groan loudly, scaring me as I almost drop my food. “What the f**k Robin, I almost dropped my sandwich!” Dropping her red purse on the table, she buries her face in her hand. 

“f**k your sandwich.”

Robin is what I call a bag of candy. She is bubbly, funny, and is fun to have when sipping off your mother’s glass of wine at Christmas without her knowing. However, too much of her could give you a sugar shock, or get too sour if you anger her. 

“Can any of you please break your leg so I can bail out of cheer practice?”Groaning, she hides her face further in her hand. muffling her voice, but still understandable for me to hear. Laughing, I raise my brow at her. “How would one of us breaking our leg help you?”

 Looking up she looks at me blankly. “Well, obviously you would do it close to the football field so that when you break your leg, you will scream out my name which will drive me away from doing 500 situps and breaking my bubbly spirit.” 

“And why would you be doing 500 situps and break your so-called bubbly spirit?” Asks Oscar, which Robin rolls her eyes and looks at something behind him. 

“Because of her.” 

Following her eyes, I look behind him where no one other than Elena Marks sat with her friends. Like any school you have cliques, and one of them happens to be led by the principal daughter and cheer captain. Despite having interacted with her shortly, it is no exaggeration that she can be intense. 

“Apparently Sean can’t drive her home so she is deciding to unleash her disappointment onto us.” Explains Vastina. “Disappointment? More like her acting like her bitchy self.” Adds Robin.

Like I said, intense. 

“Has she always been like that?” Snorting Robin gives me a look that I can only understand her way of saying, “yes you f*****g moron.”  

“Maybe it has anything to do with the new girl moving in with Sean.” All of our turns immediately to look at Gabriel who furrowed his brows. “Why are you guys looking at me like that?” 

“Shrugging I grin at him. “Figured you either was too high to notice anything.” 

“Except miss.Ariana’s ass. You do love staring at it don’t you?” Adds Oscar. Rolling his eyes he throws the middle finger at Oscar.  «A )I don’t look at Ariana’s ass. B) I  don’t remember her name, but she is related to the Millers.» 

“I think you're talking about Sean’s sister.” Grimacing at what Vastina said, Isiah shakes his head. “Sean’s sister?”

“Sean got a sister?” I ask. Nodding her head Vastina nods her head to where Elena and Sean were seated. 

Like Elena, he comes from what would be considered a good family. His father is a lawyer and his mother works within marketing. Despite not sharing any resemblance to his mother, Sean is a mama's boy. Which has resulted in him being the captain of the swimming team and excelling in his academics. 

I’d think I know if he had a sister considering how my mother runs in the same circles as his parents and both of us being on the same swimming team. 

”Stepsister actually and the same age. According to some girls at the team, she used to come over every summer but stopped a couple of years ago. You grew up next to Sean, do you remember her?” On cue, the bell started ringing signalizing the end of lunch. Packing my bag we all start walking out of the cafeteria and out to the hallway.

Snapping his fingers Isiah’s face sparks with realization. “Yeah, I remember her now. African, curly hair, and spoke another language on top of English. She’s from Sean’s dad’s side.” 

“I’m going to make a bold assumption she was like Elena and the others?” I ask as I start walking with Vastina and Isiah. Snorting she shakes her head. “God no. Thinking about it she reminds of you thinking about it. She hung out with everyone, but then again we were like 10 back then.” 

“Well, what happened to her?”  Shrugging her shoulder she furrows her brows as she looks off in the distance. “I don’t know, heard she moved one day with her mother. However if Gabriel saw what he saw, she might be back in town.” Squeezing Vastina’s shoulder Isiah turns to me with a smile.

“Don’t burn out your head thinking about it too much. Especially since you will be helping beat Oscar at his get-together at his place.” Says Isiah. Letting out a whistle I give him an apologetic smile. “Damn can’t tonight. Gotta work with homework at the library.” 

“You’re joking with me.” Shaking my head he groans with his head thrown back. “Do me a favor and order a pizza with pineapple. It throws him off his game since he will be having a debate with himself while playing.” 

“I guess this makes up for you ditching me. As long as it works.” Grinning I wink at him and turn with a sigh. I might miss out on yet another get-together, but if I want to have any chance of scoring making my parents proud I need to work harder. Even if it is the last thing I want to work on.