Chapter Six: The Others

Sometimes I wonder what I ever did to whoever runs the universe. Was it because I didn’t go to church? ‘Cause I didn’t pray? Didn’t collect the pokemon cards? No, no, don’t give me that strange look. You all know that no one human could have created something that big, that mind controlling. Anyways, here I am, in the middle of a basement…with shag carpet, old bar stools, and a big, ugly brown couch. Which I am currently occupying. It’s like the seventies threw up in here. There’s a wrap around bar to the left, outfitted with the big screen TV and a stereo system. There’s cards strewn on the scratched surface from when Kendall and Gavin played Egyptian Rat Screw a few moments earlier, the TV has Fuse playing all the latest rock videos. Behind the bar is a fridge full of soda and snacks. Gavin’s mom keeps it stocked for his friends. On the back wall is the door to the outside. I thought it was pretty strange, a basement with a door? Basements are underground. But apparently, his parents made a ramp going down to the basement so we didn’t have to go through the house. It’s pretty cool.

There’s the promised pool table there as well. Just to the right of the coat hanger beside the door. On the wall to the right is the stairs going to the actual house. It really is a nice house. Big and white and completely from a postcard, it’s just so…American. The basement is just like the house, bright and friendly. I never would have expected Kendall hanging out here everyday.

“Synthea! Come over here, I want you to meet the others.” I glanced up from the couch and raised an eyebrow at the motioning Kendall. He’s still being nice…why? Whatever, I have to remember to ask him about it later. The door opened and in came three other people. Two girls and a guy. I stood and went over to Kendall’s side. I’m not so good with people. I just…don’t really trust them. Before I really get to know someone, I’m quiet, polite, and generally invisible. I pretty much make them do all the initial friendship work, that way I know they want to be friends. I’ve had too many encounters with people faking it to get something out of me. The only people who’ve ‘passed’ are Tanya, Shawn, and Mitchell. Though I don’t believe Mitchell will be privy to that side of me anymore. God, even thinking about him gets my back up. Stupid insignificant, unbending, egotistical, pig-headed…

“Synthea? Synthea?” Kendall drew out my name as I jerked back to the present.

“What?” Kendall smiled at me and began introducing his friends.

I’d already met Gavin, the pastor’s son, who was currently setting up a fresh game of pool. There was Livy, the blond with purple tips and green eyes. She seemed really cool and waved and I was introduced back. She looked like that singer girl before she polished up. What was her name? Oh, Avril, Avril Lavinge. You know, the whole tomboy skater look. It worked for her. Then I met Jacob, her boyfriend. He looked very…uh…rockerish? I don’t quite know how to describe him. But he did have a Nickleback concert shirt on. I wonder who they are? Stop bugging out. I don’t listen to a lot of music, OK? He had blonde hair but a bit darker and messy. Like he’d just gotten out of bed. He winked at me and walked to Gavin and started chatting.

Then there was Abby. Abby scared me a bit. She had lots of eyeliner on and a very pale face. She wore tight jeans and a striped sweater. She looked like an emo. Really. She didn’t say hi or anything, just nodded and left for the bar. Antisocial much?

“Don’t worry about her. She’s not too fond of people outside our posse.” Kendall patted my head and left for the pool game.

“Yeah, but don’t worry! She’ll lighten up once you start hanging out with us more. Abby’s the really awesome one in our group. Promise.” Livy said. I guess she’s right.

“So…uh…what do you all do here?” I felt so awkward. I don’t know anyone but Kendall and even that’s a stretch. I don’t even fit in with these people. I’m not surprised though. I don’t fit in with Tanya and the others either. She’s preppy and popular, Shawn is surfer and cool, and Mitchell is a bit nerdy, yet still loveable and cute. Livy, Gavin and Jacob were all skater and rocker looking people, and Abby looked scene. Even Kendall was different, the badass look. I’m just a jeans and t-shirt kind of girl! I know it’s bad to stereotype these people and all, but c’mon! I’m in high school!

“Are you still here? Ok, well. We pretty much just hang out. Play pool, watch TV, dance to music, just chill. Sometimes Pastor Ford joins us, Gavin’s dad, and we have fun.” Wow, that sounds like a lot to do. When I’m with Tanya we just shop, OK, she shops, and I never go anywhere with other people. God, I need a social life. I’m a freak, really.

“Wow. Uh, yeah.” Great response Syn. Really.

“So, what do you do when you hang out with friends? C’mon, tell me! I bet you guys go to the mall, like, everyday. I mean, since you’re Tanya and Shawn’s friend. They’re complete shopaholics from what I hear. So what all do you guys buy? Man, I bet you have a lot of cool stuff!” Oh, uh, wow. She really can talk with just one breath of air. We walked over to where Abby sat and grabbed a couple sodas before sitting down.

“Well, we do go to the mall a lot, but only Tanya buys anything. I don’t know, I just don’t see anything I like in those stores. Shawn doesn’t really hang out with me outside of school but we do talk on the phone or AIM sometimes, he mainly hangs out with Mitchell. I don’t really hang out much at all, with anyone.” Livy sighed a bit and Abby glanced at me before shooting up straight and pointing directly at me.

“You’re her. The roses girl.” Abby spoke to me for the first time. She was so quiet that I barely even caught the words. Roses girl?

“You mean the secret admirer stuff? Yeah. But…meh, nevermind. Yeah I’m her. I just don’t get why everyone’s talking about it. Is it really that amazing? Heck, I don’t even know why I’m getting stuff like that.” Abby stared at me like I’m crazy.

“Obviously it’s because he likes you. It’s so popular because it’s unexpected. No one thought that Tanya’s friend would get someone to like her that much, especially when Tanya overshadows her so much. No one knows anything about you either, there’s no gossip…anywhere. It’s the mysteriousness of it all that gets them.” OK…that was a lot. People really think that? About me? Cool.

“Anyways, now that you’re our friend, you’ll get to hang out a lot. Oh! I wanna go shopping with you! Let’s go now!” Livy ran over to the guys and began chattering away. Random much?

“Ignore her. She’s always been like that, off the charts and acting on impulse. Though, I wouldn’t mind hitting up the mall. I need new make up anyways. Hot topic has great eyeliner.” Abby got up and joined the others.

“Uh…what’s Hot Topic?” Be it known that you should never say that to these people.

The trip to the mall was quite an undertaking. After my blundering question and a shocked silence, it was decided that we would go to the mall. So Gavin, Livy, Jacob, and Abby piled into Gavin’s car and under the insistence of Livy, as did Kendall and I. Now, a small car is already crowded with five people, a sixth one would be impossible. Unless, of course, you were these people. They had the brilliant idea of me sitting in Kendall’s lap on the ride there. I had the horrible thought of squashing him. Hey, I’m a rather large lady, I don’t want to kill him. After voicing this though Kendall got mad.

“You aren’t going to kill me. The day I die from a girl sitting on my lap is the day I deserve to. How much do you weigh anyways?” I really don’t want to answer that. I mean I really don’t want to answer that.

“U-uh, a lot, that’s all you need to know. See? I’d squash you.” He said I wasn’t fat. I agreed. I refuse to be fat. I’m squishy, thank you very much. This had the car breaking out in laughter. Some serious laughter. Even Abby was gasping for breath.

“So, if you’re not fat, get in the car.” Why is he doing this to me? I don’t want to sit in his lap.

“Fine. I’ll let you have the seat, and I’ll sit in your lap.” Kendall got out and offered the seat with a sweeping gesture. I warily glanced at him and made towards the seat.

That boy is fast, I’ll give him that. He suddenly swooped down, sat and pulled me onto his lap. I gasped as the car door shut and the engine started.

“Hey Synthea, do you mind facing forward, your feet are in my shin.” Livy smiled as she said it and I nodded. I shifted around Kendall’s lap until I sat facing the passenger seat. Kendall sat stone still and as soon as I stopped moving he let out a shaky breath and lay his head on my shoulder. I glanced at him, surprised to feel him on me.

“You OK? I’m not smushing you?” He shifted his head and looked at me.

“Yeah, I’m good.” A shiver ran through me as I felt his breath hit my neck. His eyes glinted and he smirked. That’s the same look he always got before causing trouble at school. This couldn’t be good.

His arms went around me, lacing his fingers together in my lap. I was trapped. I looked towards Livy and Abby for help only to find Livy talking with Gavin and Jacob and Abby staring out the window with her ipod on. No help there. No help anywhere.

Kendall laughed a little and moved his head closer to my shoulder. The jerk knew I was looking for assistance! He began to nuzzle my neck and little puffs of air ran down the back of my neck.

Was he teasing me? Why? God, this has me confused. He doesn’t talk to me at all our freshman year, even though we had a lot of classes together. He hasn’t even looked at me this year. Except today. No sign of wanting to be friends or anything and now he’s all but making out with my neck. How to stop this, how to stop this…did I even want it to stop? It really did feel good. No! I had to stop this, he’s just trying to rile me up. He’s just teasing me.

My hands dove for his, trying to untangle them. And untangle them I did, only to have mine captured and held down. Damn. OK, new strategy…moving! I moved my neck away from him, twisting to face him and order him to stop.

“Hey you too! Don’t get too cozy. This car is strictly PG-13!” Livy giggled and winked at me. Like I wanted this! I definitely didn’t! Just because he’s been nice to me doesn’t mean he gets to do all that! Man, but it felt good. Like someone actually cared, like he really liked me. Shaking my head, I resumed trying to get away. I refuse to let this affect me.

“Stay still Syn.” It was whispered on my skin. I could feel the heat melting down my neck. As commanded, I stopped, freezing every muscle in my body. Kendall’s lips were close enough that I could feel him smile.

“W-Why?” I managed to stutter. My head felt light.

“You’re falling off my lap.”

Oh. I cleared my throat and turned my head to gaze out the window. I was stupid for thinking he meant anything more than that. Like Kendall Greensling would ever like me. Why would I even want him to? I’m in love with his brother. His beautiful, kind, intelligent, albeit scary when angry brother. The better Greensling, I have to remember that.

I could feel Kendall staring at me. His gaze piercing into my very soul, as corny as that sounds. The car grew silent within moments, an almost hesitant quiet that made me shiver. Kendall wrapped his arms around me tighter, and I realized that my hands were still caught in his. I stared at our hands resting on my lap. They looked…different together.

Gavin coughed a little, obviously trying to fill the silence. One hand left the wheel and flicked on the radio. Blaring guitars and impossibly fast drum rhythms filled the car. Everyone smiled and Abby pulled out her earphones. Moments later they all began singing along.

“What is this?” I felt kind of left out. I didn’t even know what this song was, much less who sang it.

“We call it Abby’s Song, but it’s Girl of the Year by FM Static. It practically describes her. We all have our own songs, it’s just a thing we do. You know, like how some friends make up nicknames or buy clothes that match, or those friendship bracelets.” Livy grinned at me and resumed singing along. Kendall nodded and moved his head closer to mine.

“Yep. Gavin’s song is Life is Beautiful by Sixx AM because he’s always thinking about life and loves it, Jacob’s is Dear Maria, Count Me In by All Time Low because it was the song playing when he met Livy, and Livy’s is Here In Your Arms by Hellogoodbye because it reminds her of her first date with Jacob.”

“Wow, so all the songs have a special meaning. That’s cool. What’s yours?” Kendall smiled and just barely shook his head.

“Well, it’s Set Fire by Scenes from A Movie. It’s about a…friend of mine. He’s a liar and a player and the song’s a way for me to confront him.”

“Oh.” What are you supposed to say after that? Kendall untangled our hands to poke me in the cheek.

“I think Synthea should have a song too. As a welcome to our group. Yes?” He looked around the car and at everyone’s, even Abby’s, agreement they went to work picking a song for me.

“More than a Love Song!” Livy yelled.

“By Augustana or Fireflight?” From Jacob.

“Fireflight, of course. I think it’s perfect since she has that whole “secret admirer” thing going on.”

“No, it should be FNT by Semisonic, for the same reason.” Gavin looked at me via rear view mirror.

“Not Like the Other Girls by The Ramus!” We all stared at Jacob. Gavin reached over and hit him in the arm.

“That’s a depressing song.”

“Pretty Girl by Sugarcult.” Abby finally spoke up

“That’s a good one. But does it apply to her?” Gavin again.

“I should think so…at least it will once her guy confesses. What do you think, Kendall?”

“Hey Girl, Dashboard Confessional.” He glanced down at me before looking at Abby and Livy for confirmation. They nodded eagerly and Jacob agreed as well. Gavin stopped as the light beside the mall and turned to look at Kendall with a raised eyebrow. Is it just me or am I the only one that can’t do that?

“Really? Why?” Gavin smirked like he already knew.

“Well…actually I-“

“Guys! It’s green! Let’s go!” Livy pointed frantically at the light and with some reluctance, Gavin turned around and drove into the mall parking lot. Kendall looked the most excited out of all of us, though I think it was more from not having to answer the question than the mall.