and then i met you

6. PIZZA

The school bell rings, as the day concludes. Everyone in class shut their textbooks and raced for the door. Wright picks up his pad and pencil case. He stops to look at his phone, reading a text sent by his mother, not realizing he's the only one in class.

"Wright?" Ms. Tessa, the sub-teacher, sits behind her desk," is everything OK?"

"Yes," Wright puts his phone away, slowly making his way to the exit," everything is fine, thanks. I had best go."

"Good," she bites into an apple," very good. Be on your way now."

Wright, not entirely sure what to make of this encounter, walks out of the classroom. Getting to his locker, he sees Matilda and Jen talking right in the middle of the hallway.

Then Jen catches sight of Wright.

"Finally," she speeds walks to him and grabs him by the wrist," no running away this time."

She pulls him behind her and positions him in front of a rather slender boy, taller, with typical model facial features. He's almost the perfect looking boy with black hair, pink looks, well-defined jawline and blue eyes you will definitely get lost in.

"Theodopolis," Jen pushes Wright forward," this is my friend I was talking about, Wright."

"Hi," Wright looks at him, flinching Jen's hand off him. Wright puts his hand out," Im-"

Theodopolis wraps his arms around Wright and kisses him on the cheek. He reverts and continues to smile at Wright, who backs up and scratches the back of his neck.

"It's a French thing," Matilda broke the silence.

"Yeah," Wright turns around and goes to Jen's ears, whispering," what the hell are you doing?"

"Wright," Jen chuckles," he's hot and another thing...he's hot."

"You said hot twice," Matilda whispered into Jen's ear.

"Shut up Matilda," Jen cuts her out, turning back to Wright," listen here, you cannot pass up this chance. Ever since you and the one we dare not speak of, broke up, you have been boring and seriously depressing to be around."

"Jen-" Matilda cuts in again.

"Shut up Matilda," Jen moans.

"I wasn't depressed because of some guy," Wright clarifies," my parents divorced. I'm sorry you weren't a good friend to realize that."

Wright passes Jen and returns to Theodopolis.

"Auvoir masseur," he lastly says, before opening his locker, taking his backpack and walking down the hall.

"Damn," Matilda looks at Jen," some friend you are."

"Shut up Matilda," Jen sighs.

MOMENTS LATER

Wright stares at his phone while making his way out of the school gates, then a loud whistle catches his attention. He looks up, briefly looking at a white 4x4. Looking the second time, he sees the boy behind the wheel. Braylon's smile lights up, as he waves at a more than surprised Wright.

"So this is where the 1% sends their children," Braylon talks to Wright, as his window is rolled down," hey you want a lift?"

"I don't get into trucks with strangers," Wright stands by the door," besides how do you know I go here. I have to admit, that's kinda creepy."

"Your brother may have said something," Braylon unlocks his truck," so, in or out?"

"You dont know where I live," Wright shrugs his shoulders," well, where I mostly live."

"Credence Hill Crest," Braylon smirks," your brother may have mentioned that as well. I know everything about you, Wright."

"Then you'd run," Wright gushes," I should probably-"

"Wright!!!" Jen yells, stomping the concrete ground," I'm not done with you."

"Start the truck," Wright demanded and runs to the passenger seat," go, go, hurry!"

Wright slips into the truck and closes the door. The second he clips on his seat belt, Braylon hits the acceleration and drives away from the school building. Wright looks back and chuckles to himself. Finally, at ease, as he closes his eyes and sits back calmly.

"What was that all about?" Braylon keeps his eyes on the road," I hope I didn't assist you in criminal activity."

"My friend is trying to hook me up with the exchange student," Wright sighs, as he winds down the window," It seems they come up with dumb ideas day after day."

"How come you don't like this exchange student?" Braylon briefly looked at Wright," Look, you got eyes for another?"

"No," Wright moans at Braylon's assumption," being with someone is the last thing on my mind."

"Oh?" Braylon stops at a red light." What are you afraid of?"

"Afraid of?" Wright shakes his head , then looks out the window." Not afraid, just not bothered."

"Can't anyone get in your way?" Braylon drives when the lights turn green.

"It sounds harsh when you put it like that," Wright lets his hand out of the window, closing his eyes as the smooth breeze blows in his face. He thinks of what Braylon said and decides to give him an answer. Without looking at him, he softly murmurs," but yeah, people always get in the way."

Wright (15) paced back and forth in front of the school gates. It's already well passed 6PM. He constantly takes out his phone for notifications. He sat down and looked around him. There was nobody in close range of him. He leans against the gate and looks up at the grey sky, seconds away from erupting and letting out a storm of rain. Small drops began falling on his face, little by little becoming bigger and-

"We're here," Braylon stops the truck.

Wright opens his eyes and looks at Braylon, then looks ahead as he sits up. He can see the ocean in front of him, then he looks at Braylon, who is already half way out of the car.

"This isn't where I live," Wright said, but Braylon had already closed the door. Wright unbuckles himself and has no choice but to follow after Braylon. He gets out of the car." Braylon, I don't live here."

"I know," Braylon walks to what seems to be a beach restaurant" This is where I live. Want a bite to eat?"

"Not like you're giving me a choice," Wright grumbled under his breath.

"What was that?" Braylon opened the door, awaiting for Wright to walk through.

"Ye-yeah sure," Wright said more clearly," I got some time."

YUANITA'S BEACH OVEN PIZZA, the sign read. Walking in, Wright could smell the freshness. He looks at the guests diving into the heavenly-looking pizza. Braylon walks to the counter and leans against it, looking up at the menu board.

"Mama!!!" Braylon yells.

"Braylon," Wright says in a hushed tone and points out the bell." You can't be shouting that out."

"I forgot," Braylon smiles at Wright and brushes his finger against Wright's cheek," I forgot how cute you are."

Wright slaps his hand away, causing Braylon to chuckle.

"Braylon, you're here." A young girl stands behind the counter," are you looking for your mom? tia Yuanita!!!"

"Mom?" Wright wonders.

Yuanita, a short Mexican woman, walks to the counter, wearing an apron full of flour. She has a big smile when she sees Braylon and an even bigger one when she looks at Wright. She's no older than 40 and has friendly features.

"Mama," Braylon puts his arms around Wright," this is my friend Wright, mi amigo."

"Tu amiga es flaca," Yuanita carefully studies Wright's face.

"What did she say?" Wright leaned closer to Braylon's ear.

"Mama," Braylon said," ingles."

"You are very skinny," Yuanita translates for Wright," we must feed him."

"Oh I'm-"

"Are you Malcolm's brother?" Yuanita wonders," you look like him but prettier."

"Yes," Wright smiles," does he come here often."

"Yes," Yuanita chuckles," he comes here for a free pizza. So what is your name?"

"Wright," he reaches out for a hand shake," nice to meet you-"

"Ms. Fernendez," Braylon whispered in Wright's ear.

"No," Yuanita exclaims," call me Yuanita dear."

"Yuanita," Wright felt her paper thin hands and looked into her kind eyes.

"Tell me Wright," Yuanita has a notepad and pen, ready and smiles at Wright" what is your favorite pizza?"

MOMENTS LATER

"Wow," Wright bites into the pizza made for him by Yuanita, while he sits on the beach sand." Your mom makes a good pizza."

"She seems to like you," Braylon sits next to Wright and strokes a strand of his hair," I guess like mother like son."

"She is a very sweet person," Wright's eyes met Braylon's," I guess that's where you get it."

Braylon lies down, back on the sand and facing towards the sky, with his eyes closed. No doubt a proud of himself smile. Wright looks at him for a brief second and then looks at his mini pizza that had five slices left.

"Here," he puts the pizza box on Braylon's stomach," I had enough to eat at break time."

"You sure?" Braylon sat up and already attacked the pizza as if there was no tomorrow. Then he gazed into Wright's eyes," You know what would make this day better."

His eyes switched from Wright's lips to his eyes. Braylon moves his lips closer to Wright's, only for Wright to get up to his feet.

"I got garlic breath," Wright shrugs," and I told you I couldn't do this because-"

"No," Braylon groans," you said he couldn't know that we knew each other, but now that we know each other, again-"

"No," Wright rolls his eyes," just-no. We can't-"

Wright's phone pings.

"One moment," he puts up his finger and looks at his phone and lets out an annoyed sigh," s**t, my mom wants me home."

"Ooh," Braylon lit up," do I get to meet her?"

"Depends," Wright snarks," do you cherish your life. Thanks for the pizza, but I must go."

"Cool," Braylon remains calm and rests on the beach sand, while Wright walks away in a hurry. Braylon rests his head on his hands." 1,2,3-"

"Braylon," Wright calls out to him," could I get a lift home?"

"I've got you," Braylon puts out his hand," if you got me."

"Is this the scene where you pull me down and r****h me?" Wright stands in front of Braylon, but walks away soon after," cause that's not going to happen."

"Fine," Braylon stayed down and sighs," you won this round."

MOMENTS LATER

Wright unbuckles the seat belt as soon as Braylon stops the car. He rushes to collect all his things and opens the door. He bolts out of the car and looks at Braylon, who seems to be gazing into Wright's soul.

"Goodbye, I guess," Wright says," and thank your mom for me, will ya."

"No need to say goodbye," Braylon winks," I'll be seeing you real soon."

"'til then," Wright closes the door and watched Braylon drive away and disappear.