Homecoming, chapter 18
The next few days were really sad. I felt so bad for Riley. I really hope she doesnt do anything stupid....
We started school again, it was really lonely without Riley. I mean, I felt bad, because I wasnt the same without her. So I felt bad for Kelsea and Kylie and all the other friends I hung out with. It was the third day of school now, and I had band first. I played snare drum, and it was either I play snare or have two study halls in one day. Study halls were HORRIBLE at my school, so band wasnt looking to bad.
Especially because of Dylyn.
Believe it, my first real crush. His name was Dylyn Reynolds, and he was so funny, and cute. He was kind of perverted at times, but it didn't bother me. He started our school last year, and he's the best snare drummer out of the six we have.
I walked in to the band room and he was marching around in his long black suit jacket playing something with the drum sticks on the chairs. I started walking towards our section (percussion) but Mr. Ratmore stopped me.
"Grab a carrier, we're going outside to teach the 7th graders to march," he said grabbing Jay who was also a snare person and telling him the same thing.
I grabbed some sticks out of the case and walked back to grab a carrier and a drum. I reached out to grab a carrier and Dylyn jumped infront of me, so he wasnt facing towards me though.
He gasped and turned around, and said in a weird voice, "You touch my bootay!"
"What?"
"You." he said pointing to my hand that had the sticks in it, "Touched my bootay!"
I blushed a little, "You wish!"
His voice went back to normal, "Oh my god your blushing! Did you seriously touch my ass??"
I just smirked, "Yeh, I'm the kind of person that walks around grabbing peoples asses. Get a life," I said shoving him aside, and putting on the carrier.
"You know you want it!" he said bending over and rubbing his butt. I just laughed and kicked him and grabbed a drum. He did the same and we all stood in a line. Mr. Ratmore started talking.
Dylyn started talkin' to me of course. "Mr. Rat says that I need to be a good example for the little people," he whispered, referring to the seventh graders. They had band with us.
I couldnt help but laugh, "I think he thinks you'd be a good role model for other drummers. But you dont act human...I think thats what he's talkin about."
"Right, right," he said bobbing his head and turning back to Mr. 'Rat'.
"Alright, so lets go outside, percussion last," he said waving for all the flutes and clarinets and whatnot to follow him.
"RACIST," Dylyn and Jay yelled as Mr. Rat left.
We got outside and Mr. Rat told us where to stand. "Snare row. I want Jay on he end, then Dylyn, then Jill, then Codieh, Blake, then Ryan last." I went and stood next to Dylyn, then Codieh joined me. She was cool, she was in seventh grade, but she wasnt bad.
"Aye aye cappy!" Ryan yelled saluting and marching over to his spot on the end. Did I mention? Ryan, Dylyn and Jay were all close friends. Blake was really quite, they picked on him alot. And Codieh was a lot like me in some ways. She was just a little shy-er.
"Ryan shut up and stand there," Mr. Rat said rolling his eyes. We were all in band last year with him. He knew us well.
The percussion stood at the end of parade thingy, so Mr. Rat was way up ahead of us, and he was explaining what everything meant blah blah blah. All the eighth grade people knew it already.
Dylyn reached over to Jays drum, and used his drumstick to try and tap on it so it would get Jay in trouble. Jay was quick to smack his arm though and he quickly changed his mind.
Then he reached over and hit mine. It was really loud since no one else was playing and we were outside.
"GOD JILL, QUIT PLAYING YOUR DRUM. MR. RATMORE'S TRYING TO TALK!" Dylyn yelled with a smile. Mr. Rat just glared at the two of us.
Once Mr. Rat started his speel again about how you walk on your heel then roll to your toes, I reached over and pushed up on the bottom of Dylyns drum, which made it come off the carrier and go crashing to the ground. He fell, trying to catch it but didnt succeed, and him and the drum were both on the ground.
I strained from peeing myself. Everyone busted out laughing. Everyone except Mr. Rat who came strutting back, walking tons faster then normal.
"What is going on back here?" he said sharply.
Dylyn glanced up at me with a smile. He knew it was just a joke. "Your carriers are crap! My drum fell!"
"Nuh huh! He played her drum and she made his drum fall!" someone said from upfront.
"Is this true Ms. Armstrong? Mr. Reynolds?" Mr. Ratmore said questioningly, looking from me to Dylyn.
Dylyn was sitting with his legs crossed like a girl waiting for her picture now. He looked up at me, as in saying 'do you want me to cover for you?'
I looked around a bit, "Well, depends. Do we get out of band?"
Everyone started laughing again. Mr. Rat glared at me. "To the bench, the both of you!"
Now, the bench, is the wooden board that's infront of the office. You never know if the principals going to notice your there or not. Riley was there all day once because she broke one of the lockers and Mrs. Smith sent her for damaging school property. She didnt mean to break it, but she sat there all day until the last bell rang, and she just got her stuff and left, were what she got sent for was completely forgotten. But theres also days were you can sit there for three minutes and he'll call you in, you never know.
He got up and grabbed his carrier and drum and I followed him back inside. Once we got in the band room, he said "You know, I would have covered for you. My record can't get much worse."
"Hey, I'm not a brat. I don't need someone to cover for me! I do my own stunts," I said with a laugh.
He just laughed to. "Well, I'd take a good book or magazine or something. Mr. Porter is in Greenville all day at a conference."
Yeah, we were gonna be on the bench all day, and it was first period.
"Wait, how would you know?" I said grabbing my notebook and pencil that I brought with me to class.
He grabbed my drumsticks and put them in the box, "I know people Jill, tons of people..."
"You got in trouble this morning didnt you," I said trying to hold in a laugh. Now we were walking in the hallway to the eighth grade locker bay.
"Alright, heres how it went. Kaylee was walking in front of me in the cafeteria today before class," he said, speaking of a total prep. "So, as a joke, I said 'hi sweetheart!' really loud. But then, of course, Mrs. Shaw happened to be standing right next to her. And Mrs. Shaw heard me, and Kaylee didnt. So Mrs. Shaw thought I was calling her sweetheart!"
"Oh my god I hate her!" I said stopping at my locker. The hallway was completely empty, and his was a good few away from mine. He kept talking though, it just echoed in the hallway.
"Yeah, I know, I have her for reading. She's a bitch. So she walked up to me and said 'I'm going to pretend you didnt say that, but if Mr. Porter wasnt in Greenville all day, I'd send you to the bench,'" he replied, taking off his jacket to reveal his Hurley shirt. His transition glasses had started to turn back to clear since we had gotten back inside. You wouldn't be able to notice though because his shaggy red/light brown hair was covering his brown eyes up. Well, unless you looked as close as I did.
I wonder if Riley had known that I had had a crush on him. I meen, she always said something random when she noticed I was looking at him. And everytime I said 'what?' because it was random, she would just laugh and say 'nuffin' and go back to what she was doing.
There I was, thinking about Riley again.
Dylyn was waving his hand in my face. "Heellloo," he said in an elf type voice.
"Sorry," I blushed and quickly grabbed my a book and my notebook, pencil, mathbook and jacket. Even the failing students have said they got so bored on the bench that they did an extra math lesson or two. That wouldn't hurt right now...
"You turned psyco on me there for a minute. You got all pale and was starin' off into space," he said looking at me strangely.
"Well, something reminded me of Riley-"
"Oh yeah, she's not at school. What happened?" Now we were at the bench and we sat down. I stuck my feet up to my chin and wrapped myself in a blanket.
"Her dad made her move," I said resting my chin on my knees. I felt horrible.
"Aww thats sad," he said in a little baby voice. "Atleast you still have your awesome band friends Dylyn, Jay, and Ryan."
My heart skipped a beat. I always thought he thought I was just one of those stupid people in band. It was good to know he considered me a friend. "Umm, thanks..I guess."
"Hey, thats a privelage!" he said with a smile. The sun gleamed in from the window, making his glasses a little darker.
I didn't say anything at first, he was getting a piece of paper out. "Oh yeah, to have the three stooges as friends..." I muttered with a smirk.
"Stoogettes!" he corrected, flipping his hair and throwing me a mean look. I couldnt help but laugh.
"Mr. Reynolds, move to the other bench." The secretary appeared from no where.
"Please let me stay. I'll be a good dog?" Dylyn begged in a whiny voice. She threw him a mean look, and pointed to the other bench across the hall.
"No. Talking." she said sharply. And turned on her heel and went back into the office.
I grabbed my notebook and was planning on doodleing something or whatever. Then I heard a loud, "PSSST," come from no where. I knew it was Dylyn.
He held up a little skateboard, it was probably two inches long, that had a folded up note paperclipped to it. He slid it across the floor. It read:
Dylyn: I don't know you very well. I take it ur last names armstrong cause these stupid teachers all have to be so high tech. did you go to skool here last year? were you in band? sry, but i didnt really notice you D'X
I wrote back: yeh, my last names armstrong, take it urs is reynolds, and yeh i went to skool here last year, and i played snare...im just a quite person sometimes
This went back and forth for an hour or so.
Dylyn: hmm, wait, were you the one that was adopted and have some brothers now?
Me: ahh,so u do remember me
Dylyn: yeah, i remember everyone making a big deal out of it, i was completely lost
me: that shouldnt be new though, do you like green day?
Dylyn: They aren't bad, they arent the cd glued to my cd player though
me: well, you no the lead vocalist and guitarist?
I watched him read it and start to write something, then his eyes got wide and he looked up at me. I just laughed and he continued writing.
Dylyn: yeh, Billie Joe Armstrong, HOLY SHIT
I just laughed again. Me: yep, thats my dad, and my brothers are Jacob and Joey. Joeys a couple years older than me though.
Dylyn: so then you know tre' and mike. rite?
me: yeh, theyre like, my uncles!
Dylyn: geesh lady!
me: well, it kinda sucks sometimes, because i dont no if pepel are my friend because of me or my dad. i kinda assumed ur my friend because of me, because you're my friend before u new my dad, if that makes sense...
Dylyn: perfect sense, and ur cool, ur dad could be a bum for all i care, i meen, im not like that.
me: yeh, thanks.
He waved the paper, as in asking if I still wanted to say something. I just shook my head and went back to my notebook.
They 'end of first period' bell rang and we were still sitting there. Dylyn stuck his foot out to trip somebody, and of course they did. Everyone was laughing, the boy just blushed though and quickly grabbed his stuff and ran off.
Second period was coming to an end, and I was bored out of my mind. But then the secretary, Mrs. Sours, walked out.
"Well children, he's not going to be back soon. And I'm not going to give you the privlege of missing more classes. So I'm just going to write down your names and first thing tomorrow he will see you in his office."
"Aww, but I was trying to hold reeeeeeaaaaaaal still so I could make a butt-print in the bench! Only legendary people achieve that Mrs. Sours," Dylyn whined, getting up. I put my jacket on and stood up to.
"Mr. Reynolds-"
"Dylyn. Please sir," Dylyn said rolling his eyes.
"Ma'am," I corrected, smiling from the look on her face.
"Ma'am," he said quickly smacking his face.
She just glared at him some more, and walked away.
He stuck his nose up in the air and turned on his heel, mimiking her and marching away. He looked so funny sticking his chest out that far so he could make it look like he had boobs.
By now it was the middle of fourth period. He was headed for gym, and I was going to math.
The hallways were empty again, and we were both walking to our lockers again, when his foot slipped on some water on the floor. He didn't fall over, but almost. He just muttered something about stupid janitors and started walking again. But once he took a step, his shoe squeaked. I watched him as he stopped and smiled, and ran back to get both of his shoes wet, then started dancing up and down the hallway! His shoes squeaking with every move! He did pretty much everything you could imagine, as long as his feet were moving. I almost died laughing. Not only because he was dancing, but because Coach Crespino was behind him video taping him from his classroom door!
As his ending, he felled to the floor and pretended to be dead. Like those dramatic soul singers do when they're onstage. I started clapping, but soon after Coach and his class did to! Dylyn shot up and looked at them. His face turned bright red, and he started laughing to.
"Umm, thanks..." he said turning to his locker holding in laughing.
"Dylyn, if I hadn't got that on tape for the '06'-07' Memories' video, you'd be on the bench," coach said with a laugh. "Can you do it again, except over there? The lightings tons better." His face turned so red I thought he would explode. He had a smile on, but only from humiliation. I couldn't stop laughing. For once, Dylyn Reynolds was embarrassed!
"No sirree, that one there was an original, can never be re-preformed," he said punching coaches arm on the way to the gym. "See ya Jill."
"See ya," I yelled shaking my head.
I was horribley lonely the rest of the day. It'd been better if I'd been on the bench with Dylyn! Kelsea had been gone almost all summer at a camp of somesort. Paige and Brooke were both gone because one was sick and the other was on vacation. I have no idea why Kylie wasnt there, the big slacker, and everyone else only had one or two classes with me.
Last period (8th) I have Enrichment Art. To be in Enrichment Art, you had to have signed something saying you did, and then been halfway good at it. I loved art, it always made a crappy day look good, and a good day look better. I dont know what I'd do if I didnt have art today.
I walked into class, pencil and sketchbook in hand, when I saw a girl sitting in my chair. I had never seen her before, so I figured she must be new.
I walked up behind her and tapped her on the shoulder. "Hey, I think your in my seat..."
She turned around quickly, then made her eyes all squinty, "Who says."
I was kinda shocked, I mean, I figured if someone was new, they'd be all shy and stuff and get up before I even finished the sentence. Since I hadn't answered immediately, she just got up, still glaring at me, and plopped her stuff down on the desk next to mine. "There, happy?"
"No, my friend Kylie sits there, but she's not here today," I said kinda confused. She must've had a bad day or something. She's lucky this was art, or she'd be on the ground.
Mrs. Riddle came out of her office, "Victoria-"
"ITS TORI!!" the new girl yelled from her desk. Well, Kylie's desk.
"Sorry, Tori, your desk is right over here, on the other side of Jill," Mrs. Riddle said pointing to the chair on my right, since she was sitting in the chair on my left.
She glared at me again, and got up walked over to the other desk, then plopped her stuff down again, all without taking her stare off me. "There, happy?" she said to me agian.
Alright, art or no art, that was getting annoying. "Ok, whats your problem? All I said was that you were sitting at my desk. What'd I do to you that makes you think you need to be another problem of the day?"
She just kept glaring at me for a second, then she smiled. "Nuffin, I was just bored, I was kiddin'. I'm Tori, your Jill?"
"Umm, yeah."
"Shweet, I just moved here from Sacramento," she said making a big smile, so her eyes were closed, but then stopped to show that it was fake. "I hate it. Nothing wrong with Oakland or anything, but I already miss my friends."
"Yeah, my best friend just moved away. But it was a whole lot farther than two hours..."
Her eyes got big, "Aww, that sucks. How far?"
I looked down at my paper, "36 hours and 1 minute."
"Woah," she said quietly.
"2476.46 miles," I said pulling out my copy I was trying to sketch of Hannah and Mom.
"God, she really was your best from wasnt she," she said pulling out a sheet of paper and flipping through a calendar so she could find a good picture to re-make.
"Well, you see, I was adopted, and she was the first friend I had once I got to my new house. I've known her since I was 7. And her dad is a total jerk, and her mom died when we were 9 and she pretty much had to survive by herself and her bike and I feel really bad," I said completely drawing random stuff on my picture. Meh, I'll fix it tomorrow.
"Why, cause you don't think you'll be able to help her anymore?"
I didnt say anything. I never thought of it like that. I mean, that was true, Riley was like, my sister. She'd be at a completely different world, all by herself. Just her and -wait- not even her bike. Just her!
"Yeah, I guess," I was still kind of confused though. How will she survive! But then again, I didn't want it to be like, 'how will she survive without me!' because that just seemed selfish.
"Something's bothering you, more then just Riley moving," Tori said from out of the blue.
"What do you mean?" How would she know that.
She just sighed, "For one thing, your sketch resembles nothing of your picture, because your not paying attention. Your thinking too much. Also, your only using purple, blue, black, and marroon, not the brightest happy colours. Aaaannnndddd, you've been drawing in the same spot the entire time, I'm surprised theres not a hole in your paper."
I looked down, and she was right. There was a big blueish, blackish, purple and reddish half moon lookin thing. I sighed and threw away the paper and grabbed another one and sat back down.
"Whats wrong?" she said flatly.
"Guess Ms. Counselour," I mumbled.
"Well, you didn't start acting like this until I said you couldnt help her anymore, so I figure you're sad because you dont think she can move on with life without you. That doesnt seem right though, probably to you..."
What am I, some patient?
"Yeah, sounds kinda selfish. So thats probably what your thinking-oh and if your not, dont worry, it is- but, dont worry. If shes really your friend, she'll call you before things get to bad. Unless she thinks she needs to get on with life by herself. That would be kind of stubborn, but meh, it could happen..."
"Riley, is not, stubborn," I said in her defense. Well, ok, maybe every now and then, but what did this new girl have to say about it?
"Good, no problems then! She'll call if it gets to bad," she said flatly.
I looked down at my blank sheet of paper. I knew Tori was trying to help. I needed to quit being a bitch just because Riley moved. "Well, ok, shes a little stubborn."
"I was waiting for that."
What the hell?? "What are you, a counselour?"
"You've said that twice now. Pretty much, but in that case, I ask the questions. Was she a good friend?"
"Yeah. Like I said, I've known her since she we were 7," I said drawing the rim of Hannah's little face again.
"Well, just call her a lot. You probably know her well enough to know if somethings really bothering her, if she doesnt just come right out and tell you," she said. She seemed to be drawing a picture of the bay or something. Whatever it was, she was copying it really well.
"She probably won't tell me. I mean, I told her she could come over for food once, and she just said 'no thats ok' and went to mini stop to get some nachos and a slushy. I think shes pretty confident by herself," I muttered, drawing the small, fine lines of moms hair.
"Hmm, well then. Just call her a lot. It'll be ok," she said, just as the bell rang. "See ya tomorrow?"
"Yeah, see ya."
I grabbed my stuff from my locker and went outside to where dad was waiting.
"Jill was on the bench all day," Jake sang as I got in front.
Dad just laughed, "What for?"
"Ah, nothin, just Mr. Ratmore being his gay self. They didn't give me a DR or anything, so it's nothing to worry about," I mumbled looking out the window.
We pulled into the driveway and we all went inside. I was about to walk upstairs to my room when dad stopped me.
"Jill, go get the mail," he yelled from the kitchen, quickly snagging some cheez-its before mom came downstairs.
"Why me?"
"Because theres a window in our bedroom, and if she sees me with the cheez-its she steals the box. And that means, no, more, cheez-its," he said in a scared voice. Joey gasped in shock, and Jakob just laughed. I rolled my eyes and walked out side to get the mail. There was bill or two, but then there was a big envelope that read: To The Parent/Guardian of Jill Marie. Then in big red letters across the side, it said: CONFIDENTIAL.
Jill Marie. The only place I didnt have a last name was the orphanage.
We started school again, it was really lonely without Riley. I mean, I felt bad, because I wasnt the same without her. So I felt bad for Kelsea and Kylie and all the other friends I hung out with. It was the third day of school now, and I had band first. I played snare drum, and it was either I play snare or have two study halls in one day. Study halls were HORRIBLE at my school, so band wasnt looking to bad.
Especially because of Dylyn.
Believe it, my first real crush. His name was Dylyn Reynolds, and he was so funny, and cute. He was kind of perverted at times, but it didn't bother me. He started our school last year, and he's the best snare drummer out of the six we have.
I walked in to the band room and he was marching around in his long black suit jacket playing something with the drum sticks on the chairs. I started walking towards our section (percussion) but Mr. Ratmore stopped me.
"Grab a carrier, we're going outside to teach the 7th graders to march," he said grabbing Jay who was also a snare person and telling him the same thing.
I grabbed some sticks out of the case and walked back to grab a carrier and a drum. I reached out to grab a carrier and Dylyn jumped infront of me, so he wasnt facing towards me though.
He gasped and turned around, and said in a weird voice, "You touch my bootay!"
"What?"
"You." he said pointing to my hand that had the sticks in it, "Touched my bootay!"
I blushed a little, "You wish!"
His voice went back to normal, "Oh my god your blushing! Did you seriously touch my ass??"
I just smirked, "Yeh, I'm the kind of person that walks around grabbing peoples asses. Get a life," I said shoving him aside, and putting on the carrier.
"You know you want it!" he said bending over and rubbing his butt. I just laughed and kicked him and grabbed a drum. He did the same and we all stood in a line. Mr. Ratmore started talking.
Dylyn started talkin' to me of course. "Mr. Rat says that I need to be a good example for the little people," he whispered, referring to the seventh graders. They had band with us.
I couldnt help but laugh, "I think he thinks you'd be a good role model for other drummers. But you dont act human...I think thats what he's talkin about."
"Right, right," he said bobbing his head and turning back to Mr. 'Rat'.
"Alright, so lets go outside, percussion last," he said waving for all the flutes and clarinets and whatnot to follow him.
"RACIST," Dylyn and Jay yelled as Mr. Rat left.
We got outside and Mr. Rat told us where to stand. "Snare row. I want Jay on he end, then Dylyn, then Jill, then Codieh, Blake, then Ryan last." I went and stood next to Dylyn, then Codieh joined me. She was cool, she was in seventh grade, but she wasnt bad.
"Aye aye cappy!" Ryan yelled saluting and marching over to his spot on the end. Did I mention? Ryan, Dylyn and Jay were all close friends. Blake was really quite, they picked on him alot. And Codieh was a lot like me in some ways. She was just a little shy-er.
"Ryan shut up and stand there," Mr. Rat said rolling his eyes. We were all in band last year with him. He knew us well.
The percussion stood at the end of parade thingy, so Mr. Rat was way up ahead of us, and he was explaining what everything meant blah blah blah. All the eighth grade people knew it already.
Dylyn reached over to Jays drum, and used his drumstick to try and tap on it so it would get Jay in trouble. Jay was quick to smack his arm though and he quickly changed his mind.
Then he reached over and hit mine. It was really loud since no one else was playing and we were outside.
"GOD JILL, QUIT PLAYING YOUR DRUM. MR. RATMORE'S TRYING TO TALK!" Dylyn yelled with a smile. Mr. Rat just glared at the two of us.
Once Mr. Rat started his speel again about how you walk on your heel then roll to your toes, I reached over and pushed up on the bottom of Dylyns drum, which made it come off the carrier and go crashing to the ground. He fell, trying to catch it but didnt succeed, and him and the drum were both on the ground.
I strained from peeing myself. Everyone busted out laughing. Everyone except Mr. Rat who came strutting back, walking tons faster then normal.
"What is going on back here?" he said sharply.
Dylyn glanced up at me with a smile. He knew it was just a joke. "Your carriers are crap! My drum fell!"
"Nuh huh! He played her drum and she made his drum fall!" someone said from upfront.
"Is this true Ms. Armstrong? Mr. Reynolds?" Mr. Ratmore said questioningly, looking from me to Dylyn.
Dylyn was sitting with his legs crossed like a girl waiting for her picture now. He looked up at me, as in saying 'do you want me to cover for you?'
I looked around a bit, "Well, depends. Do we get out of band?"
Everyone started laughing again. Mr. Rat glared at me. "To the bench, the both of you!"
Now, the bench, is the wooden board that's infront of the office. You never know if the principals going to notice your there or not. Riley was there all day once because she broke one of the lockers and Mrs. Smith sent her for damaging school property. She didnt mean to break it, but she sat there all day until the last bell rang, and she just got her stuff and left, were what she got sent for was completely forgotten. But theres also days were you can sit there for three minutes and he'll call you in, you never know.
He got up and grabbed his carrier and drum and I followed him back inside. Once we got in the band room, he said "You know, I would have covered for you. My record can't get much worse."
"Hey, I'm not a brat. I don't need someone to cover for me! I do my own stunts," I said with a laugh.
He just laughed to. "Well, I'd take a good book or magazine or something. Mr. Porter is in Greenville all day at a conference."
Yeah, we were gonna be on the bench all day, and it was first period.
"Wait, how would you know?" I said grabbing my notebook and pencil that I brought with me to class.
He grabbed my drumsticks and put them in the box, "I know people Jill, tons of people..."
"You got in trouble this morning didnt you," I said trying to hold in a laugh. Now we were walking in the hallway to the eighth grade locker bay.
"Alright, heres how it went. Kaylee was walking in front of me in the cafeteria today before class," he said, speaking of a total prep. "So, as a joke, I said 'hi sweetheart!' really loud. But then, of course, Mrs. Shaw happened to be standing right next to her. And Mrs. Shaw heard me, and Kaylee didnt. So Mrs. Shaw thought I was calling her sweetheart!"
"Oh my god I hate her!" I said stopping at my locker. The hallway was completely empty, and his was a good few away from mine. He kept talking though, it just echoed in the hallway.
"Yeah, I know, I have her for reading. She's a bitch. So she walked up to me and said 'I'm going to pretend you didnt say that, but if Mr. Porter wasnt in Greenville all day, I'd send you to the bench,'" he replied, taking off his jacket to reveal his Hurley shirt. His transition glasses had started to turn back to clear since we had gotten back inside. You wouldn't be able to notice though because his shaggy red/light brown hair was covering his brown eyes up. Well, unless you looked as close as I did.
I wonder if Riley had known that I had had a crush on him. I meen, she always said something random when she noticed I was looking at him. And everytime I said 'what?' because it was random, she would just laugh and say 'nuffin' and go back to what she was doing.
There I was, thinking about Riley again.
Dylyn was waving his hand in my face. "Heellloo," he said in an elf type voice.
"Sorry," I blushed and quickly grabbed my a book and my notebook, pencil, mathbook and jacket. Even the failing students have said they got so bored on the bench that they did an extra math lesson or two. That wouldn't hurt right now...
"You turned psyco on me there for a minute. You got all pale and was starin' off into space," he said looking at me strangely.
"Well, something reminded me of Riley-"
"Oh yeah, she's not at school. What happened?" Now we were at the bench and we sat down. I stuck my feet up to my chin and wrapped myself in a blanket.
"Her dad made her move," I said resting my chin on my knees. I felt horrible.
"Aww thats sad," he said in a little baby voice. "Atleast you still have your awesome band friends Dylyn, Jay, and Ryan."
My heart skipped a beat. I always thought he thought I was just one of those stupid people in band. It was good to know he considered me a friend. "Umm, thanks..I guess."
"Hey, thats a privelage!" he said with a smile. The sun gleamed in from the window, making his glasses a little darker.
I didn't say anything at first, he was getting a piece of paper out. "Oh yeah, to have the three stooges as friends..." I muttered with a smirk.
"Stoogettes!" he corrected, flipping his hair and throwing me a mean look. I couldnt help but laugh.
"Mr. Reynolds, move to the other bench." The secretary appeared from no where.
"Please let me stay. I'll be a good dog?" Dylyn begged in a whiny voice. She threw him a mean look, and pointed to the other bench across the hall.
"No. Talking." she said sharply. And turned on her heel and went back into the office.
I grabbed my notebook and was planning on doodleing something or whatever. Then I heard a loud, "PSSST," come from no where. I knew it was Dylyn.
He held up a little skateboard, it was probably two inches long, that had a folded up note paperclipped to it. He slid it across the floor. It read:
Dylyn: I don't know you very well. I take it ur last names armstrong cause these stupid teachers all have to be so high tech. did you go to skool here last year? were you in band? sry, but i didnt really notice you D'X
I wrote back: yeh, my last names armstrong, take it urs is reynolds, and yeh i went to skool here last year, and i played snare...im just a quite person sometimes
This went back and forth for an hour or so.
Dylyn: hmm, wait, were you the one that was adopted and have some brothers now?
Me: ahh,so u do remember me
Dylyn: yeah, i remember everyone making a big deal out of it, i was completely lost
me: that shouldnt be new though, do you like green day?
Dylyn: They aren't bad, they arent the cd glued to my cd player though
me: well, you no the lead vocalist and guitarist?
I watched him read it and start to write something, then his eyes got wide and he looked up at me. I just laughed and he continued writing.
Dylyn: yeh, Billie Joe Armstrong, HOLY SHIT
I just laughed again. Me: yep, thats my dad, and my brothers are Jacob and Joey. Joeys a couple years older than me though.
Dylyn: so then you know tre' and mike. rite?
me: yeh, theyre like, my uncles!
Dylyn: geesh lady!
me: well, it kinda sucks sometimes, because i dont no if pepel are my friend because of me or my dad. i kinda assumed ur my friend because of me, because you're my friend before u new my dad, if that makes sense...
Dylyn: perfect sense, and ur cool, ur dad could be a bum for all i care, i meen, im not like that.
me: yeh, thanks.
He waved the paper, as in asking if I still wanted to say something. I just shook my head and went back to my notebook.
They 'end of first period' bell rang and we were still sitting there. Dylyn stuck his foot out to trip somebody, and of course they did. Everyone was laughing, the boy just blushed though and quickly grabbed his stuff and ran off.
Second period was coming to an end, and I was bored out of my mind. But then the secretary, Mrs. Sours, walked out.
"Well children, he's not going to be back soon. And I'm not going to give you the privlege of missing more classes. So I'm just going to write down your names and first thing tomorrow he will see you in his office."
"Aww, but I was trying to hold reeeeeeaaaaaaal still so I could make a butt-print in the bench! Only legendary people achieve that Mrs. Sours," Dylyn whined, getting up. I put my jacket on and stood up to.
"Mr. Reynolds-"
"Dylyn. Please sir," Dylyn said rolling his eyes.
"Ma'am," I corrected, smiling from the look on her face.
"Ma'am," he said quickly smacking his face.
She just glared at him some more, and walked away.
He stuck his nose up in the air and turned on his heel, mimiking her and marching away. He looked so funny sticking his chest out that far so he could make it look like he had boobs.
By now it was the middle of fourth period. He was headed for gym, and I was going to math.
The hallways were empty again, and we were both walking to our lockers again, when his foot slipped on some water on the floor. He didn't fall over, but almost. He just muttered something about stupid janitors and started walking again. But once he took a step, his shoe squeaked. I watched him as he stopped and smiled, and ran back to get both of his shoes wet, then started dancing up and down the hallway! His shoes squeaking with every move! He did pretty much everything you could imagine, as long as his feet were moving. I almost died laughing. Not only because he was dancing, but because Coach Crespino was behind him video taping him from his classroom door!
As his ending, he felled to the floor and pretended to be dead. Like those dramatic soul singers do when they're onstage. I started clapping, but soon after Coach and his class did to! Dylyn shot up and looked at them. His face turned bright red, and he started laughing to.
"Umm, thanks..." he said turning to his locker holding in laughing.
"Dylyn, if I hadn't got that on tape for the '06'-07' Memories' video, you'd be on the bench," coach said with a laugh. "Can you do it again, except over there? The lightings tons better." His face turned so red I thought he would explode. He had a smile on, but only from humiliation. I couldn't stop laughing. For once, Dylyn Reynolds was embarrassed!
"No sirree, that one there was an original, can never be re-preformed," he said punching coaches arm on the way to the gym. "See ya Jill."
"See ya," I yelled shaking my head.
I was horribley lonely the rest of the day. It'd been better if I'd been on the bench with Dylyn! Kelsea had been gone almost all summer at a camp of somesort. Paige and Brooke were both gone because one was sick and the other was on vacation. I have no idea why Kylie wasnt there, the big slacker, and everyone else only had one or two classes with me.
Last period (8th) I have Enrichment Art. To be in Enrichment Art, you had to have signed something saying you did, and then been halfway good at it. I loved art, it always made a crappy day look good, and a good day look better. I dont know what I'd do if I didnt have art today.
I walked into class, pencil and sketchbook in hand, when I saw a girl sitting in my chair. I had never seen her before, so I figured she must be new.
I walked up behind her and tapped her on the shoulder. "Hey, I think your in my seat..."
She turned around quickly, then made her eyes all squinty, "Who says."
I was kinda shocked, I mean, I figured if someone was new, they'd be all shy and stuff and get up before I even finished the sentence. Since I hadn't answered immediately, she just got up, still glaring at me, and plopped her stuff down on the desk next to mine. "There, happy?"
"No, my friend Kylie sits there, but she's not here today," I said kinda confused. She must've had a bad day or something. She's lucky this was art, or she'd be on the ground.
Mrs. Riddle came out of her office, "Victoria-"
"ITS TORI!!" the new girl yelled from her desk. Well, Kylie's desk.
"Sorry, Tori, your desk is right over here, on the other side of Jill," Mrs. Riddle said pointing to the chair on my right, since she was sitting in the chair on my left.
She glared at me again, and got up walked over to the other desk, then plopped her stuff down again, all without taking her stare off me. "There, happy?" she said to me agian.
Alright, art or no art, that was getting annoying. "Ok, whats your problem? All I said was that you were sitting at my desk. What'd I do to you that makes you think you need to be another problem of the day?"
She just kept glaring at me for a second, then she smiled. "Nuffin, I was just bored, I was kiddin'. I'm Tori, your Jill?"
"Umm, yeah."
"Shweet, I just moved here from Sacramento," she said making a big smile, so her eyes were closed, but then stopped to show that it was fake. "I hate it. Nothing wrong with Oakland or anything, but I already miss my friends."
"Yeah, my best friend just moved away. But it was a whole lot farther than two hours..."
Her eyes got big, "Aww, that sucks. How far?"
I looked down at my paper, "36 hours and 1 minute."
"Woah," she said quietly.
"2476.46 miles," I said pulling out my copy I was trying to sketch of Hannah and Mom.
"God, she really was your best from wasnt she," she said pulling out a sheet of paper and flipping through a calendar so she could find a good picture to re-make.
"Well, you see, I was adopted, and she was the first friend I had once I got to my new house. I've known her since I was 7. And her dad is a total jerk, and her mom died when we were 9 and she pretty much had to survive by herself and her bike and I feel really bad," I said completely drawing random stuff on my picture. Meh, I'll fix it tomorrow.
"Why, cause you don't think you'll be able to help her anymore?"
I didnt say anything. I never thought of it like that. I mean, that was true, Riley was like, my sister. She'd be at a completely different world, all by herself. Just her and -wait- not even her bike. Just her!
"Yeah, I guess," I was still kind of confused though. How will she survive! But then again, I didn't want it to be like, 'how will she survive without me!' because that just seemed selfish.
"Something's bothering you, more then just Riley moving," Tori said from out of the blue.
"What do you mean?" How would she know that.
She just sighed, "For one thing, your sketch resembles nothing of your picture, because your not paying attention. Your thinking too much. Also, your only using purple, blue, black, and marroon, not the brightest happy colours. Aaaannnndddd, you've been drawing in the same spot the entire time, I'm surprised theres not a hole in your paper."
I looked down, and she was right. There was a big blueish, blackish, purple and reddish half moon lookin thing. I sighed and threw away the paper and grabbed another one and sat back down.
"Whats wrong?" she said flatly.
"Guess Ms. Counselour," I mumbled.
"Well, you didn't start acting like this until I said you couldnt help her anymore, so I figure you're sad because you dont think she can move on with life without you. That doesnt seem right though, probably to you..."
What am I, some patient?
"Yeah, sounds kinda selfish. So thats probably what your thinking-oh and if your not, dont worry, it is- but, dont worry. If shes really your friend, she'll call you before things get to bad. Unless she thinks she needs to get on with life by herself. That would be kind of stubborn, but meh, it could happen..."
"Riley, is not, stubborn," I said in her defense. Well, ok, maybe every now and then, but what did this new girl have to say about it?
"Good, no problems then! She'll call if it gets to bad," she said flatly.
I looked down at my blank sheet of paper. I knew Tori was trying to help. I needed to quit being a bitch just because Riley moved. "Well, ok, shes a little stubborn."
"I was waiting for that."
What the hell?? "What are you, a counselour?"
"You've said that twice now. Pretty much, but in that case, I ask the questions. Was she a good friend?"
"Yeah. Like I said, I've known her since she we were 7," I said drawing the rim of Hannah's little face again.
"Well, just call her a lot. You probably know her well enough to know if somethings really bothering her, if she doesnt just come right out and tell you," she said. She seemed to be drawing a picture of the bay or something. Whatever it was, she was copying it really well.
"She probably won't tell me. I mean, I told her she could come over for food once, and she just said 'no thats ok' and went to mini stop to get some nachos and a slushy. I think shes pretty confident by herself," I muttered, drawing the small, fine lines of moms hair.
"Hmm, well then. Just call her a lot. It'll be ok," she said, just as the bell rang. "See ya tomorrow?"
"Yeah, see ya."
I grabbed my stuff from my locker and went outside to where dad was waiting.
"Jill was on the bench all day," Jake sang as I got in front.
Dad just laughed, "What for?"
"Ah, nothin, just Mr. Ratmore being his gay self. They didn't give me a DR or anything, so it's nothing to worry about," I mumbled looking out the window.
We pulled into the driveway and we all went inside. I was about to walk upstairs to my room when dad stopped me.
"Jill, go get the mail," he yelled from the kitchen, quickly snagging some cheez-its before mom came downstairs.
"Why me?"
"Because theres a window in our bedroom, and if she sees me with the cheez-its she steals the box. And that means, no, more, cheez-its," he said in a scared voice. Joey gasped in shock, and Jakob just laughed. I rolled my eyes and walked out side to get the mail. There was bill or two, but then there was a big envelope that read: To The Parent/Guardian of Jill Marie. Then in big red letters across the side, it said: CONFIDENTIAL.
Jill Marie. The only place I didnt have a last name was the orphanage.
