“So, we going to do this?” he asked.

“I’d rather not,” I answered honestly, turning to the brick building in front of me.

“At least I’m here with you every step of the way, if you ever need anything I’d be in the same class as you.”

“That’s true.”

Derrick, my best friend since I could remember, knew exactly what to say and when to say it.

“Come on now, and let’s go to our lockers before we’re late for our first class,” Derrick urged me.

Putting his arm around me he led me to the school. This was my senior year in high school, and I’d just begun a new school. Derrick had begged me to come to his school since the very beginning, and now the dream had become reality. Now that I’d seen it with my own eyes I didn’t like it.

He and I were pure opposites. It’s as if fate took a day off the day we’d met. There was Derrick, with grey-blue eyes, and shaggy blonde hair, charming, and popular and then there was me: long black hair that fell messily to my sides, hazel eyes, clumsy, and intelligent. He was the best of the best and I was the lowest of the low; him the soccer captain and me, well let’s just say sports wasn’t my “thing”.

“Promise me one thing,” I compromised, “If I walk through that door we remain friends, and we won’t go our separate ways no matter what befalls us.”

“I couldn’t imagine anything more perfect.”

“Then let’s get a move on already!”

We soared through those doors like we would’ve the last day of school. This was my new adventure with the best guy friend a girl could have.

Gently, he led me towards our lockers which were directly beside each other. The bell rang loudly announcing the first day of school, the day students dread most, especially if you were the new football everyone wanted to test.

“What’s first on the schedule?” I asked.

“English, but Ms. Thorn never makes us bring our things to class on the first day,” he answered.

“Well then I suppose coming to our lockers wasn’t called for?”

“Exactly.”

As everyone hurried into the hallways, I caught a few blank stares as they passed. I even caught some evil glares from some heavily-powdered juniors. I never bothered to cast them back; instead I let Derrick lead me to our next class.

Then there we were, in the center of a crowded classroom, while students hastily chose their seats. We took our seats, impatiently waiting for the teacher to finally arrive.

“Excuse me, but I believe you’re in my seat,” a tall, brunette boy came to Derrick had said.

“Sorry, but this is where you are wrong Eric, I’m not in your seat. We’ve switched places so I can sit with my friend who recently switched schools,” he casually replied, his eyes still kind.

Grumbling, Eric picked up his things, and then slammed them onto a desk a few rows away from us. Every once in a while he’d glance back at us scowling.

“What’s his problem?” I questioned.

“Well, he has the reputation of somebody interested in the newer students of our school, so I suppose he’s disappointed he didn’t officially meet you,” Derrick explained, looking back towards Eric who now wore a mischievous grin.

“Should I trust him to be subtle about it?”

“No, definitely not. Three of the new students that came to our school last year transferred out half-way because of him. Once the new girl’s meet him their practically open to doing anything to bring them up in social status, and he’s a popular kid so they date him for approximately two months, realize he’s obsessive and crazy, forcing them to move to get away from him. You might be in for a bigger adventure than expected.”

“Adventure? That doesn’t sound like an adventure to me, it sounds horrible!”

“It’s ok, just stay close to me, maybe by some stroke of luck he’ll think you have enough friends that you won’t consider dating him.”

“What if he does talk to me about it?”

“Hope to God that he doesn’t is all I can say; steer away from all conversations that could go there. He’s never been rejected before, who knows how he would take it?”

Class passed quickly after that, seeing as we watched the play ‘Hamlet’ by Shakespeare to refresh our memories for the short quiz we had the next day.

Finally the bell rang, allowing us to leave. In-between classes we had approximately fifteen minutes to prepare for the next so I was in no rush. Halfway to our lockers Derrick excused himself for a few minutes and promised to meet me at my locker.

Sitting down at one of the benches I rested my face in my hands, I was literally exhausted. It’d been the first day of waking up at six in the past two months.

“We never properly introduced.” I heard a soft voice call.

Lifting my head up I saw Eric's pale face looking down at me, his eyes sparkling.

“Yeah, I guess we didn’t,” I mumbled, wishing he’d take the hint and leave.

“The name’s Eric.”

“Lindsay.”

“Nice to meet you Lindsay.”

“Same.”

“You busy at lunch I could help show you around?”

This boy just didn’t take a hint. It was apparently clear by my expression I wasn’t interested in talking to him, yet there he stood consistently trying to start a conversation.

“Sorry man, she’s hanging out with me at lunch,” Derrick interrupted, almost territorial.

Looking disappointed Eric walked away with a slight drag to his steps, glancing back at us every few seconds.

“Perfect timing,” I whispered, leaning my head on his arm, practically snoring.

“Indeed, but Lindsay you have to wake up. You can sleep during lunch and then spare directly afterwards okay?” he whispered back, shaking me off slightly.

“Fine.”

Putting his hand on my arm, he tugged me up. I felt like my body was throbbing from exhaustion, and that my nerves twitched vigorously. Derricks arm was around me for support so I didn’t fall over. All I could think about was sleeping; thankfully I could in approximately 80 minutes.

I don’t even remember what happened after that. I knew I was awake, but it felt like the lights were on with nobody home. The next class didn’t even appear to have happened; it wasn’t until lunch that I’d begun to come to my senses. Whether it was because I could sleep or if I’d have some food in my stomach, my mind had returned to its normal state.

“So what did Eric talk to you about?” Derrick interrupted the silence.

“He just said that we’d never been properly introduced, told me his name, and then asked whether I had something to do at lunch. That’s where you came in,” I answered, nibbling on some grapes in-between sentences.

“Wow, he’s really acting fast. This is irregular for him; I thought he would’ve waited at least a week to ask to spend lunch with you.”

“I guess we just have to be more aware of him, and you need to spend more time with me.”

“Sorry am I interrupting something?” I heard Eric ask from behind me, sitting down without an invitation.

“No not at all,” Derrick responded, his eyes narrowing.

“I was just wondering if I could talk to Lindsay for a minute.”

“I’ll be waiting.”

Eric stood up again, waiting for me to follow his lead. I could see this conversation going wrong extremely quickly, and I wanted to delay it as much as possible. Eventually I did stand up, following him back inside the school where it would be slightly more private on such a sunny summer day.

Leaning against a locker, he crossed his arms and watched my every move. Leaning against a locker a little farther away I waited for him to attempt to strike up a conversation, but I just couldn’t see that happening. Uncrossing his arms, he leaned on his left arm now, sighing deeply.

This was probably the most awkward moment I’d ever felt next to when I learned boys had cooties. It soon became so quiet I counted the tiles that were in proximity to my feet.

“I just wanted to get you away from Derrick so I could warn you about him,” he finally said.

It was hard to listen to him without bursting out laughing; that was probably the most pathetic thing I’d ever heard. What could I possibly have to know about Derrick? Did this guy know that we’d been best friends since forever?

“And what do I need to know?” I asked.

“He likes to play girls…” he grumbled.

Looking at his feet, he uncomfortably twisted his ankles back and forth. What he’d just said was so ridiculous I had to “cough” into my shoulder to get it out of my system.

“…but I’m different…” he suddenly declared.

This was the type of thing that Derrick and I were trying to avoid from Eric, yet he’d got his chance to say what he needed to say. Who knows what this player would tell me next; maybe Derrick had attempted to murder me without even knowing it. The stories I’d hear from him would have no limits.

“…I know it’s crazy but I think I’m starting to fall for you…” he rambled on as I would pick up every few words he’d say.

Then he leaned in to kiss me. I panicked.