SEPTEMBER 8TH, 2015

My mom always said that the craziest things always happens in threes. For my crazy Tuesday after a rather quiet Labor Day spent with my father fishing, it all happened in sevens, the final one landing yours truly in the school nurse’s infirmary. Bear with me, guys, because here we go.

It mainly began when I was walking alongside Carli in the school courtyard just minutes before classes began as we were discussing the results from the questionnaire I’d taken last week. “So, you’re definitely a swimmer, based on the results, so you have to try out for the swimming and diving team next Wednesday,” Carli said as she handed me a cup of coffee she scored from the café across the street. “And with your grades, joining the National Honor Society is a must, so see Mr. Landry in room 205 in the Science hall. Now unfortunately, we don’t have a book club, but you’ll fit right in with the art club hosted by Mr. Sandlow.”

I nodded. “I’ll get the applications during lunch,” I told, her taking a sip of my coffee. “Listen, we have four minutes until the bell rings, so we need to get going if we want to beat the crowd.”

“We can take you,” a smooth voice purred.

Carli and I whirled around to see two members of the Bellevue clan. The guy was dressed in the same way Alex was on Friday, except his outfit was in the shades of gray and his jacket was silver instead of red that totally matched his blonde hair and piercing gray eyes. The girl was totally dressed in a biker chick outfit decked out in a deep shade of violet that matched her hair dyed in a playful shade of pink and her deep blue eyes. “Uh, hello,” I said nervously. “You two must be from the Bellevue group.”

“That’s right, Xavier,” the guy said in a voice that calmed me down easily. “My name’s Zachary Kline and this is my lady Ava Storrs. He handed me a freshly baked cinnamon bun with the icing covering the gaps in the right places of the pastry. “We’ll escort you to your homeroom and SAT prep class. Lanier, right?”

I nodded. How the hell did the know that, I thought.

“Guys, it’s not necessary,” Carli interjected. “Xavier can hang with me for a while. Besides, one missed homeroom won’t kill him.”

The girl smiled, her dangerously perfect teeth out and bright. “Miss Eubanks, a blank slate like Xavier can’t afford to miss a class, especially when it looks like he has a lot going on for him,” she drawled. “Believe us when we say that he’ll be in good hands with the right people.” With that, the lovers both swept me in their arms and herded me away from a perplexed Carli as the bell began to ring. “A sweet guy like you needs the right entourage,” she added as we walked.

Ignoring the looks of shock from everyone we passed on our way too my homeroom, I knew that now was perfect to ask the million-dollar question. “Why are you guys so interested in me?”

“What do you mean?” Zach asked.

I took a deep breath, wanting to choose my next words very carefully. “There’s hundreds of students, most of them more talented and open than I am and yet you guys picked me, the new kid on the block. Why?”

We finally reached Ms. Lanier’s classroom as Zach stared at me intently, a smile forming on his perfectly crafted face. “Let’s just say that you look different, someone that we’re looking for to join our merry brood,” he explained. “You’re not too brash or too shy, just a right balance. But you look like you are holding back. You shouldn’t though.”

“Besides, if you don’t try, you won’t lose but you won’t win either,” Ava added. “Our lesson for the day to you, free of charge.”

I smirked. “Teachers and students too, huh?” I said. “You both sound like Alex and JR when we talked last Friday.”

“And you’re still cute,” piped Ava. “Have a great day, young Xavier.”

“Same to you two,” I said as I took my seat next to Trent who looked completely stunned. “Was that Zach and Ava from-“ he started to ask before I cut him off.

I nodded. “Yep,” I said. “This is getting too weird and it’s not even noon.”

“Tell me more later, okay?” Trent said as the teacher came in and the warning bell rang.

Number two happened as I was on my way to study hall with Rakeem who had informed me that Zach and Ava were opposites yet they complemented each other perfectly. Zach came from a military family while Ava was a trailer-park honey with a bright future and that she loved school as much as Zach did. “Surprisingly, they bring out the best in each other,” Rakeem said before his eyes bulged out. “Oh, man.”

I looked at his direction and saw two muscular Hispanic guys wearing green polo shirts and black jeans, their short black hair in ponytails. They grinned at my direction as they came towards us.

“Welcome, Xavier,” the first one on the left said excitedly. “My name’s Carlos Delgado and this is my brother Jose.”

“Hello,” I said.

“It’s time you learn how to be more open with others and branch out more. Look beyond what you see,” Jose added.

“Let me guess, it’s another lesson for me?” I asked. “And it’s free of charge?”

The twins smiled at me in glee. “You know it. It’s time to wake up and hear the news, amigo,” Carlos said.

“Uh, thanks,” I said. “Rakeem and I will keep that in mind. See you.” I motioned Rakeem to follow me to the library.

The twins disappeared to their class. Rakeem and I disappeared to the library. That was all.

The third moment happened during our thirty minute break in gym class. I had left my wallet at home so I couldn’t get a sports drink to quench my thirst after running laps so I opted for some stretching instead.

“Reeves!” Coach Ackerman boomed as he approached me and handed me a red Gatorade. Complements from those two boys from that Bellevue gang over there.”

Sure enough, I saw Alex and JR at the other side of the gym, grinning and sporting peace signs at me. “Tell them I said thanks,” I muttered, feeling grateful for the gift yet feeling confused.

“Looks like they’re really into you, kid. What’s your secret?”

I shrugged. “There’s not much to tell. I didn’t do anything really.”

“Whatever it is, keep it up.” Coach clapped me on the back. “Drink up.”

Sadly, the rest of the gang was absent from school so I didn’t see them at our usual table. Brad had strep throat, Maddie had a doctor and dentist’s appointment, and Jadalyn had to attend a funeral in the next county over. But event number four when Ava invited me to have lunch with two of her friends Clarissa Walcott and Yasmine Faulkner. Oh, boy.

“So, how are you liking JMHS so far, Xavier,” Clarissa, a striking blonde, purred after taking a bite of her salad.

“It’s great,” I replied, opening up my granola bar since I had forgotten my lunch card and I was held back by my English Lit teacher who wanted me to do a speech. “It’s hectic, but I’m learning the ropes of it all.”

“Zach told us that you’re from the rough side of Texas, but you could be a model if you wanted to,” Ava said. “You remind me of Matthew Terry, but dipped in chocolate.

I felt my cheeks warm. “I’ll tell my mom that,” I said sheepishly.

“Did you have any friends back home in Texas?” Yasmine, a leggy half-Korean, half-German junior, asked me before eating her chicken sandwich. “You look like the type who had many friends back home.”

“Nah, I was too much of a bookworm,” I said not wanting not go into too much detail for the real reason. “Everyone thought they were too cool for me.”

“Well, it’s their loss. You can have real friends here.”

“Wait, I already have new friends,” I pointed out. “They’re on the Pep Committee and on the football team.”

“Yeah, but you can use some friends to point you to a bright future,” Yasmine argued. “You got potential but you need guidance.”

“Ladies, let’s leave Xavier be,” Ava said gently. “You may be right, Yaz, but Xavier needs to choose for himself.

Thank you, Ava, I silently said.

“He does need some guidance, though. I’ll talk to the principal and see what he thinks.”

I deflated. Maybe not.

The bell rang. I frowned at my uneaten granola bar and hurriedly made my way back to class where Mrs. Clover’s US History lesson for the day was calling my name.

This was going to be a long day, I told myself. I could already tell.