Chapter Fourteen

n.

"I'd first like to start off this assembly by welcoming all of the students who have joined us from Glendale. This past weekend was a wild ride, but I'm still happy to have all of you here. Saying that, I've noticed that the incoming students aren't used to having our particular rule set in place. Nor are you used to the standard of etiquette that keeps everything running smoothly in ICBS. Since most of these unspoken rules were created by students, I figured that I'd have one of them let you in on a couple. Come on up, Nastassia Petrov. If you don't know, she is the Cordelia HOH for the Alpha Dorms".

I flash a smile at the sea of students before me, accepting the microphone from Yarby. "I'm not going to be as nice to you as Dean Yarby was. That's a requirement of her job, unfortunately. What she means by unspoken rules, is actually just common sense. Like, for one, not sticking your chewed gum underneath the tables on campus. That's obviously disgusting. And, for two, not sitting on the back of a couch you don't own and polishing your toenails on it. That's also disgusting. And I'm talking to you, Lydia Mackrel".

"I've noticed other things as well. You guys seem to miss the garbage can a lot. If you're not going to respect yourselves, at least respect our staff enough to throw away your own trash. It's not that hard, at all. And if I see any of you do it, you'll be socially shunned. That's a promise. Also, if you take a book from a shelf, put it back on said shelf. Basically, just don't be a filthy human being".

"Another thing all of you can work on, is pulling those megaphones out of your throats. There's no reason for all of you to have to scream everything. And if your problems can't be solved with words, you don't know how to speak well enough. There's more than enough words in the dictionary to properly tell someone to pick something up they knocked down. There's no need to pull hair about it".

"I can only speak for the Alpha Dorm, since it's where I live, but none of us have been able to get any sleep. It's insane to me that you guys think screaming past nine o'clock when you live with other people is okay. I've been being nice about it, since you're new, but my niceties end today. You see, it's Monday, which means school for the week has started. I don't want to hear any of that tonight, or any night coming".

"And speaking of the Alpha Dorm, it's a privilege to get to live there. None of you had to earn it, because the space was needed. But that's changing. Dean Yarby has given us permission to switch out students who aren't fit for our dorm, and we're taking advantage of that opportunity. Starting yesterday, we've been watching ALL OF YOU. If you're fit for our dorm, you'll be in our dorm. And if you're not, you'll be out. It's very simple. Being a CA means having class, smarts, and talent. There's no room for average here. Tighten up".

***

School work was the last thing that I planned to focus on today. I had my folder under one arm, to look for any students in my class who were polite, well-spoken and answered questions. I'd file them under potentials. One eye would be out for them and the other one would be out for Rhys Arrowood, whose plane was delayed. I'd heard, from Elliana, that he'd gotten in at ten last night. She popped into my room last night just to tell me, since she heard me mention that he was cute at some point. I remember tearing up a little. I missed her more than I'd ever care to admit.

It was so weird seeing her and Kennedi around campus with a new group of people, laughing and joking in the hallways between classes. I walked past their group on my way to English class, and they were too busy talking about how Ambrose Manalo asked Elliana to go on a date with him on Saturday to notice me. I was supposed to know about that kind of thing. And yet, she didn't care to tell me.

I didn't have a plan in place for everything to change practically overnight. One day, everyone flocked to my group. Everyone wanted IN. They wanted a seat at my table. I had my main group of girl friends, and we ran the school together.

But now, there was only Peyton and I. And I realized that I didn't want it to be like that. Realized that I didn't keep myself as closed off to the twins as I thought I did. I actually wanted them as friends, and to be in my life. Yet, I was too scared to put myself out there and be rejected. Scared that, over the years, I'd done too much damage for our relationship to be reparable. That there would be no going back to normal. Because our normal was never good. My normal with them was talking behind their backs and using them to find out things about people. I was absolutely terrified that, in just a week, Selah had shown them what a real friend could be. And that it dawned on them that I wasn't it.

We were so off base with one another that I forgot the fact that we had this class together. They walked in with their group of friends- Selah, Damien, Grayson, Armani, Peony and Taylor. I instantly felt lonely, because Peyton didn't have this class with me.

"Stassi! It feels like I haven't seen you in forever" Kennedi says, throwing her arms around me. "I'm pretty sure we saw each other this morning" I say, smiling because she takes the seat next to me. Elliana sits on my other side and Selah sits in front of me. We three by three it, with Peony and Taylor on either side of her and the guys taking up the front.

"Did we, though. It was for two minutes max. Your speech at the assembly was so good. I can't believe you called out polish girl like that. Well, actually I can. That's something you'd do". Selah turns around to face me, flashing her phone screen. "I got something for you. Elliana said you wanted this so I went up and asked for it. He said you looked really pretty at the assembly". Seven digits listed under Rhys greeted me.

I don't think I've ever been more shocked by anything in my life. "That was...why?". She shrugs. "It's whatever, I guess. It only took five seconds of my time, so no big deal". "Right. Thank you" I say sincerely, quickly saving his number into my phone. "Sure".

She didn't speak to me again for the rest of the class. It's not like I wanted her to. It's just that I expected her to have some ulterior motive. I thought that, at the very least, she wanted to be my friend. That didn't seem to be the case. Upon the teacher's arrival, the class quieted down entirely, until we were given our assignments, and permission to talk. She ended up talking to everyone in the square EXCEPT for me.

Kennedi and Elliana were excited to be around me again, helping me scope out people in my folder since they'd forgotten theirs. I had so much fun people watching with them and laughing at Elliana's cringe jokes. I was sad when the class ended, and I had to say goodbye. But I didn't ask them to tag along, because my pride prohibited me from asking instead of being asked. And they didn't, forming back into their little posse and heading off to watch a movie in the theater.

Peyton is waiting for me outside of the classroom when I exit, a frown on her face. "What happened?". "Isn't it insane how quickly the twins switched up on us? They're just as fake as that glass diamond ring Kennedi loves to wear". I laugh, beginning to walk with her to the dorms. We were going to crush our homework first, and play later. "I'm surprised it hasn't chipped by now. She loves claiming that it's a family heirloom. What's an heirloom, if it's worth nothing? A hoarders attic trash".

We laugh about that all of the way into our dorm room, before seriously cracking down on our work. I didn't have to work hard for much, but getting a perfect report card took a lot out of me. I wasn't naturally gifted with a big brain. I've had to pull and tug on it for years to get it where it's at.

"Rhys has NONE of my classes, by the way. But Selah, of all people, got his number for me. I haven't texted him yet". She looks up from her math homework, giving me a duh look. "She just wants you to back off of Armani. Armani AND Cason, actually. I saw her riding piggy on his back in the quad earlier. Plus, I heard that she's going to babysit Armani's sister next weekend. And you know how protective he is of his family".

Of course that's what it is. I couldn't figure it out there, in the moment, but Peyton hit the nail on the head. THIS is why I needed her around me. She kept my head on straight and my eye on the goal. And she always looked out for me no matter what. That's what best friend's are for.

*I'm curious to know, who is your favorite person so far?