AN: You, Missy Carolyn Klubber, have lived in the small town of Stillwater, MN almost all your life. Your best friends are very talented; talented to the point that they get a lot of publicity as a popular boy band. They lead normal teenage lives like you, but things can be complicated. Daniel Seavey moved to this city the same time you did in elementary school, and have been inseparable ever sense. Jonah is your jock-buddy, Jack is your skateboarding mentor, Corbyn is your math tudor and fellow nerd, and Zach is your friend who needs help with everything all the time. With high school drama, famous friends, and guy problems, you begin to wonder if you can make it out alive.
WARNINGS: light language; suggestive content
I was waiting for Zach by his fifth-period classroom. English got out early. I stood leaning on the lockers. I heard the song Uno playing from the room. I smirked and texted him.
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Zachary: are you outside the classroom lmao
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I shouted “UNO, DOS, TRES” against the door. Zach yelled back “SHE A THOT, THO” and opened the door. “Our teacher is out for the week and the subs are, too, so they had the class president teach for our period.” Daniel waved. “I can dip early if you want.” I raised a brow. “Oh my god, fine. DANIEL! WHAT’S THE HOMEWORK?” Danny nodded to the board. I read the blackboard that said “complete pages 53-56; essay due next week” while Zach grabbed his backpack.
We walked through the empty hall, shoulder to shoulder. “It’s crazy. I got my grades up, got into the ‘A’ team, and I get to write music. You know, I wouldn’t be able to do any of that without you.” I looked up at him. “What do you mean?” He shook his head. “I mean, you knew I was smart and brought that out. If I flunked I couldn’t play sports. My parents would make me drop music so I could get the grades. I just think that it’s pretty cool you chose to help me before you really knew me.” He grabbed my hand and swung our arms, us both taking big steps. “No, problem, bud. Besides, who else could I act like a child around?” We laughed.
Patty, the varsity co-captain of the cheer squad, bumped into me. “Cloutchaser,” she sneered, her friends snickering with her. Zach stopped walking. “What did you just say to her?” I tugged on his sleeve. “It’s fine. Let’s go.” He shook me off. “Sorry, Zachey. You should be hanging out with girls more…” she looked me up and down, “put together, your speed.” His brow furrowed. “What gives you the right to decide who I can and can’t hang out with?” She batted her eyelashes. He started to look like he was going to chew her up and spit her out. I grabbed his arm. His eyes turned soft again. “I don’t think it’s very nice to insult the blind,” I said, crossing my arms. “What’s that supposed to mean, spaz?” I pushed my hand on Zach’s chest before he acted on anything. “Oh, please. He doesn’t talk to girls who can’t see through their own makeup.” She tapped her foot. “Don’t you tap those last season Balenciaga shoes at me, honey. Don’t even think about batting those drugstore, glue-on lashes at him ever again. Because we see right through you.” He took my arm and we started walking away. “Oh, yeah. And girls? Try to stay out of the heat. Plastic melts.”
Zach looked at me, impressed. “I didn’t know you had it in you.” He opened the door to his car (which he left at school for some reason?) and motioned for me to get in. “Honestly, I didn’t either,” I asked him about the car and he had a reasonable answer. “The student council’s treasury department had to make decisions to help the homecoming court last night after practice. I was offered a ride and took it. I mean, I didn’t want to be rude or anything. Besides, the student government kids can be scary sometimes.” He turned on the stereo.
“I heard your new single on the radio the other day with Tate. I still think it’s cool you guys didn’t flake out on school for music.” He stopped at the stop sign, looking both ways twice before driving again. “We knew you’d hate us if we left you and the girls here.” He sighed, cautiously turning onto the empty street. “I wouldn’t hate you guys. I love my boys. I would be upset for a while, but I’d get over it. You guys are like brothers.” Zach stifled a laugh. “Incest, huh?”
I gave an annoyed glare. “What do you mean?” I asked. “You and Daniel. I think everybody knows it except for you two.” He looked down at me. “What’s that supposed to mean? ‘Everybody knows but you two?’” I fidgeted around, more than usual. “You two are, like, soulmates. And you know I don’t believe in that crap.” I rolled my eyes, but I felt giddy inside.
We walked inside the mom-and-pop deli. We ordered and took a seat in our normal booth. Zach’s phone started blowing up as soon as he opened it. The deli always has an Ipad to control the music for the restaurant that the customers can use. I typed in the new song and Zach started filming me. “Swipe up to download the new single today!” I said, picking up our plates from the counter and dancing to our seats.
After cleaning up and talking about nonsense for twenty minutes, we had to leave. “So. You excited for Thanksgiving break?" he asked. "I'm ready for it. Are you and your family going home?" He nodded. "I think it's gonna be fun. Two weeks in Texas with my family," he said, acting like it was normal. "You're leaving for two weeks?" He tensed up. "Uh, yeah. Jack and Corbyn are going home for two weeks, too. I think the girls might be also. They made me promise not to tell you. Please don't rat me out?" I shook my head. "Yeah, I'll keep quiet. So it's just Daniel, Jonah, and I?" He took the turn into the school. "Well, Jonah is actually going on vacation with his family, so it's just you and Daniel." I mean, it might not be that bad.
Zach took his normal parking spot. We still had five minutes left in the lunchroom before the bell rang, leaving us with three minutes to go to class. I sat on the table, startling Gabbie a little. "How was lunch with Zach?" Tate asked. "It was fine. Why?" She looked at me. “Come on! You two skip every week together, you tutor him for free, you two even act like a couple sometimes. When will you hook up already?" she said, resting her head on a fist, slyly elbowing my knee. "Woah, there, buddy. Slow your roll." I held my hands up. Daniel turned in his seat. "What is going on here? Hot tea?" he proposed. "Tate just made a good point," Gabbie said. "You two might as well bone," Christina shrugged. "Who's boning who now?" he asked. "Nobody. No need to get your panties in a bunch, Danny." Tate mumbled something. "What?" She cleared her throat. "I SAID IT'S YOUR PANTIES THAT'LL BE IN A BUNCH OVER IN A CORNER." I looked around to make sure no one heard. "Keep walking, buddy," Daniel said as he put his hands over my ears. I felt relieved. Gabbie nodded and smirked. "Maybe it's someone else who's gonna knot those undies."
