The Distance Between Us

Chapter 2

"Oh, can I come?" Sidney piped excitedly as we returned to our new lockers. Out of my three friends, my locker is next to Sidney's. Camilla's locker is only down the hall, whereas Oliver's is all the way on the opposite side of the school. It's inconvenient compared to last year's set up; all of our lockers were in the same hallway.

I'm currently explaining the situation that I have to deal with later on today to my friend. My brother and his friends are going to be at my house at around five, which is when I planned on getting homework done. But obviously Sidney sees this as an opportunity to stare at the "cute boys!" But of course, she won't talk to them because she's just that shy.

"Do you honestly think your mother will let you?" I asked her and she shrugged before frowning.

"No, she's intent on getting the house ready for the baby and that means I can't leave," Sidney admitted sadly and I nodded in understanding. I'm the youngest in the household, so I don't understand.

"They're going to be in the basement, anyway. I'll be on the second floor. I think I'm good," I smiled.

"I'll pray for you," Sidney jokingly responded.

"Thanks," I muttered. "But you should pray for Axel."

"That's who the get-together is for, yeah?" she inquired from beside.

"Yeah, unfortunately," I responded. "I don't know why Dylan just pretends nothing happened between us. I bet he was the one who suggested our house for the gathering. He's inconsiderate like that."

"Well, the way he sees it is that you had a crush on Axel, he got a girlfriend, and you were jealous," Sidney explained and I sighed, shaking my head.

"That's not how it happened, though! He got a girlfriend and he basically abandoned me! And when I pointed it out to him, he called me jealous and said that I didn't understand the demands of a relationship. When I called his girlfriend clingy, he told me that we could be friends when I got over him, and then a few weeks later, he left to his stupid aunt's house for the summer. But not before letting every one of the guys know about what happened in a very wrong and biased explanation, despite the fact that we both agreed to not tell anyone our business not too long before that," I retorted angrily.

"I know that," Sid replied and I sighed, rubbing my eyes. "But you guys were best friends for a while. You're really not going to at least try to talk to him about it?"

"I wasn't the one who cut him off. He told me to get over him when I never even liked him," I told my friend who ducked her head as if she had other feelings. I glared at her. "I didn't like him! You know that!"

"You two were best friends for how long? Four years?" she asked, changing the subject.

"Yeah, but that means nothing!" I responded.

"And you've never had feelings for him? Not once?" she asked me slowly, as if talking with a child. Maybe. I don't know. But I don't like him now. I hate him. And that's all that matters.

"No!" I responded, crossing my arms. "I don't even know how he got that idea."

"Well, maybe he realized how stupid he was while he was away. Just talk to him," my friend responded, earning a snort from me.

"That's not going to happen," I told her. "If anything, I'll wring his neck."

"Will you at least hear him out if he tries to talk to you?" she asked and I shrugged.

"It depends on what he has to say," I answered. She sighed loudly as she pulled her crisp schedule from the inside of her folder.

"What class do you have first again?" she asked, changing the subject.

"Chemistry with Oliver," I answered. The same class I've had these last three days. "You have French, right?"

She sighed. "Yeah, unfortunately."

The sound of the bell ringing signaled the start of first period. Students all around us began walking towards their class. Sidney told me she'd see me later before turning and heading in the direction of English. I turned and approached Chemistry, which was all the way on the other side of the school.

"Lex!" a voice called before I could even round the corner.

At the sound of my name, I turned around, recognizing the blue eyed boy advancing towards me. Oliver bombarded me, encasing me in a hug. His brown hair was wet from the rain and I felt droplets dampen my face, potentially wrecking my makeup. "If you keep hugging me like this whenever you see me, girls are going to start thinking that you're dating me."

"Is it a crime to hug my friend?" Oliver remarked, pulling away from me

"Well, no," I answered. "But being late to class is, so we should probably get going."

We arrived at the lab and glanced at the board. Displayed on the screen was a seating chart, which earned a sigh from both me and Oliver. This always happens in the classes that I have with my friends. For the first few classes, we were allowed to sit wherever but of course Mr. Porter noticed the talkers and this is his way of separating them. My eyes scanned the chart and I came to the conclusion that I was seated alone right in the front. My eyes grazed over the rest of the chart, narrowing when they arrived at Axel B. He's in this class?

Oliver was seated next to a tall, tan girl who plays on the volleyball team and I could tell he was elated. The class filled up quite fast and I remained in the front with my textbook on my desk. With a sigh, I grabbed my notebook from my bag. This is definitely not going to be my favorite class.

+++

Lunch was the only time I got a break. And it was after four long hours, most of which was spent catching up with my friends and, against my will, talking to my brothers friends. Once I reached lunch, I sat down at the familiar table with a tray in my hands. Camilla and Sidney were already there, sitting in the same seats we sat in last year. I plopped down, receiving two greetings. I returned them before taking a large gulp of my juice.

Oliver was the last one to come to the table. He was complaining about some i***t who cut him in the lunch line, so he had to "take him out." I guess you can say he's affectionate and secretly violent...which isn't a very good mix now that I think about it. Sidney is the shy, girly-girl, if she needs a label. She wears dresses, despite the rain, and finds it difficult talking to new people, especially cute boys. That small fact earns her an innocent reputation. Camilla is the boy crazed one. It doesn't roll over well with Oliver, because he knows most of the boys that she talks about. She's also a bit over dramatic and is known to blow things out of proportion. I'm probably the only normal one in my group of friends.

Okay, that may have been a lie.