The double arrangement

2

The cafeteria is loud! I'm not even talking about crowded functions, kind of loud. I mean full-on club music rave kind of loud. Of course, that's just the way of the circle of life. In high school that is.

I grabbed my plastic food tray and headed over to my table. Everyone was eyeing me as I passed, specifically the cheerleading table. Quinn was off somewhere.

Probably some report she had to hand in. I sit down by my table; by that, I mean the only table that wasn't overtaken by the vultures in our school.

After this I had a new class the school added recently last year. I think it was called nature preservation or something. I watched everyone around me eating and going about their usual conversation. It was quite crazy how we all came together to the nightmare of this place.

I stared down at the plate, watching as my food drooped sadly. How depressing. Almost like those YouTube videos where they showed the difference between fake food and actual real food.

I was about to eat when Quinn soon approached me, placing her books in front of me.

"I hope you're planning on eating that. Since you want to be poisoned"

"Got a better idea smartass? "

She only smiles that grinch-like smile of hers and hands me a breakfast bagel and a coffee. I take them, taking a bite out of the bagel. If there's one thing my sister and I agreed on, it was definitely the disgusting allure of cafeteria food. I mean... It's great that they took time out of their daily lives to feed us. That was not the problem.

Cafeteria food was not a thing I trusted.

Quinn smiles and hands me a bag of fries. Not just any fries. Fries from the place nearby that served the best fries known to human existence. A place close to our school is known as Stellar Moon. It was known for being the best bar and grill.

The jocks always hung out there. After every game, they would spend time there, ordering anything with meat and tons of drinks. Of course, I've never been there. Too dangerous. If anyone from a school recognized you there, it would literally be the end of your life. Quinn, however,, is an exception. Since she's a cheerleader and all.

"Where do you even get these? I sigh as take a handful of fries.

" I have a network. Plus, I have to survive somehow if I'm not living off of the junk food in this place. "

"That's an insult to junk food -"

We were suddenly interrupted by the bell signaling the end of the break. Our conversation would have to wait another day. Quinn checked her bag, making sure that all her things were packed up before we headed out the door.

The jocks cut in front of us, their grins targeted at everyone around us but more specifically at me. I waited to let them pass. The last thing I wanted was to have a head-to-head confrontation with them. That would not end well for them. I was not worried about me.

Quinn's foot tapped impatiently as we waited. Once the jocks passed, we headed to the assembly hall for our new class. Why we had to go to the assembly Hall I had no idea. I hoped it wasn't another lecture about personal hygiene.

The assembly hall was packed with students, all chattering and moving to different seats. I watched as different people kept a distance from me. Some were curious about me, while others were probably just trying to keep a distance for their own safety.

I don't think Quinn really noticed that people kept their distance. She still went over to greet her friends. While I stood there like a motionless statue. The amount of staring was just overwhelming in the sense that I needed to find a seat and quickly sit down. A few girls from Quinn's friend group waved at me, although it was difficult to tell who exactly each person was. To me, each person looked the same. Same curled hair and thrift-store eyelashes. Also blonde. Very very blonde.

Quinn finds her seat, and I realize that it's time for me to find mine. I try to avoid spots that don't include jocks of any kind. Suddenly, I see it. It is a spot that's not too close to the jocks and also close to girls who would definitely not be considered the popular type. In other words not talk to me at all.

I head up to my desired spot, feeling a lot more eyes on me than before. I can feel my dizziness from my headache pounding into my skull from the amount of attention that's on me.

Just as I'm about to take a seat, one of the jocks places his foot behind mine, kicking my knee from behind, making me fall forward. Everything happens so fast that I try not to look everywhere at once.

I fall against something hard and rough, almost like concrete. Except ... Whatever I fell against is suddenly moving. No. Breathing.

I stand up hastily, suddenly aware that I fell face-first into the chest of surprise, surprise,e, another jock. Yet this one was new. He doesn't look angry or even remotely bothered. The one who pushed me is clearly enjoying himself, grabbing my neck to try and push me to the ground again. I brace myself for the impact, knowing that I would have a bruise to remember this glorious day.

The new jock glares up at me and the jock who's holding me by the neck. His eyes are blue, like the ocean except lighter. They pierce through me like a sword, looking through the deepest part of my soul. He waves his hand, and the jock reluctantly releases me in protest.

"Don't be a jerk, Will. Let him sit. Unless, of course, you want a few bruises of your own? Because trust me, that can be arranged."

The jock whose name I assume is Will, groans in protest but doesn't argue. He walks off to the other end of the stadium. I stay right where I am, and I am not sure if I should move or sit down in the new open space. The new jock stares at me and motions for me to sit.

I sit down on the plastic chair, not sure if I should thank him or feel like he's mocking me. I could feel his eyes on me even though I was turned around with my back to him. My thoughts kept pushing me, and I couldn't help but wonder. Why on earth would he go out of his way to help me. It had to be some joke.

"Something the matter? You look like you're about to sink into the plastic of that chair."

There it is! That same voice again. I don't dare look at him. I can't. He's definitely going to mock me. Here in a hall full of students. This is the moment when I lose the little bit of dignity I had left. This is all in the assembly hall of all places. I decide to turn around and face him, making sure to glare with malice.

"Why are you talking to me? Shouldn't you be with the other jocks doing other jock stuff or I don't know.. terrorizing children?"

Although I just had an outburst, I realize how ridiculous that just sounded. Of course, I had to say that in front of an annoyingly handsome jock. The new jock just stares at me dumbfounded. For a moment he looks like a computer with too many tabs opened all at once.

Then there's laughter. So melodic yet it sounds familiar. Too familiar. No. Impossible.

After a while, the laughter stops, and he just stares at me.

"You're funny. I'm Jona. Jona Newcrest. I believe you knew my brother."

Before I can say anything else, the teachers arrive and I release the breath I had no idea I was holding. I never thought the teacher would save me from sinking to the ground or, better yet, the chair, yet here we are.