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Chapter Two
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“Ican’t believe Ms. Jennings gave you a week’s worth of detention. What an ass sack.” Lucy picks up a carrot stick off her tray and drags it through ranch dressing before popping it into her mouth.
Lucy, or Lulu as I call her, has been my best friend since she moved here before sixth grade and I was assigned to be her guide for her first week. We bonded over our mutual love of all things scary and our shared obsession of the band Lincoln Heights, a small indie/alternative group that originated a couple of towns over.
“Honestly I’m just glad it wasn’t worse. I can handle five days of staying after school to help organize the media room.”
“You say that now. Have you been in that storage room?” She crinkles her nose. “There’s so much dust in there you’ll be lucky if you can breathe once you start moving things around.”
“How do you know? Why were you in the media storage room?” I quirk a brow at her. When she flashes me a smile I know all too well, I laugh. “Never mind. Don’t answer that.”
I guess it shouldn’t surprise me. Lulu always has boys falling at her feet, and rightfully so, but with parents as strict as hers, she has to find creative ways to be a normal seventeen-year-old girl. Hence, the media storage room.
“So who was it this time? Chad? Michael? Oh, don’t tell me, the guy you’ve been fawning over from the football team. What’s his name again? Bryan?”
“Ryan,” she corrects me, pushing her golden locks over her shoulders as she straightens her posture. “And...maybe.” She kneads her bottom lip between her perfectly straight, white teeth.
Lulu is a knockout. When I say she can have any guy she wants, that’s not an exaggeration. With big boobs, legs for days, the perfect sun kissed blonde hair, and eyes so blue they practically sparkle, you’d be hard pressed to find a guy that wouldn’t jump at the opportunity to date her.
Problem is, Lulu doesn’t really date. She prefers to just have fun. I think it stems from her home life. A form of rebellion.
I think it’s safe to say we’re on the exact opposite of the spectrum where this is concerned. Where Lulu is fun and adventurous, I usually play it safe. She’s loud and outgoing. I prefer to blend into the background. She’s all about living in the now. My focus is always ten steps ahead. And yet somehow we manage to balance each other out perfectly.
It’s not only our personalities that are vastly different. Our styles are as well. Lulu is all about sporting the latest fashions, wearing the trendiest makeup, and having her hair professionally done at the salon every couple of months. Me, I’m more of a skinny jeans and flip flops – even in the winter – kind of girl. Nine times out of ten, my dark hair is tied up in a messy bun and the most make-up you’ll ever catch me wearing is lip gloss and a light coating of mascara.
We’re both uniquely us, and while I sometimes envy Lulu’s standout beauty, I’m happy with who I am...mostly.
I glance toward the door for what feels like the hundredth time since I sat down across from Lulu five minutes ago. I wish I could say that I’m not looking for Alec, but that would not be the case. While we share two classes together, both are after lunch. Which means I haven’t seen him since this morning.
“Who are you looking for?” Lulu calls me out, clearly sensing that something is up.
“What?” My gaze goes back to hers. “No one.” I shake my head.
“Uh huh.” She eyes me disbelieving. “I know you, Hope. Now spill.”
“Have you met the new guy? Alec, I think his name is.” I try to come across as uninterested.
“The sexy as sin stud with the panty dropping dimples?” She grins.
“Of course that’s how you would describe him.” I roll my eyes at her. “So you have met him.”
“No. I heard about him from Janice Ian,” she says, popping another carrot into her mouth. “Why do you ask?”
“No reason. I ran into him in the hallway this morning. Like literally ran right into him.” I smile at the memory. “He asked for help with his schedule. I noticed he has the same lunch period, so I figured if I saw him come in I’d invite him to sit with us.”
“You crack me up.” Lulu waves a carrot stick at me.
“Why is that?”
“Because you’re always trying to take care of everyone. He’s a big boy, Hope. I’m sure he can find a place to sit.”
“I know that. I just thought it might be nice so he doesn’t have to sit alone.” I twist the cap off my water and take a small sip. “Besides, what’s wrong with trying to help people?”
“Nothing, I guess.”
“Nothing, you guess.” I hit her with a pointed look.
