Through the point of view of Beatrix
Walking through my homeroom door the next day, I'm happy for a return to normalcy.
The class is mostly empty right now with only a couple students present, hanging around at each other's desk or or having simple chat.
To pass some time, I take out my phone and set a reminder to pick up a book from the campus library. After that's done with, I send a quick text to my mother and ask her how she's doing.
When I put my phone down, my eyes unconsciously glance over to the window. On the field, I see it's full to the max with the football players doing their morning drills.
I spot Anthony easily among the masses, standing off to the side with a man who, from his attire of a jacket and track pants, I presume is the coach.
The two seem to be having a normal conversation as Anthony points out across the field to something, or someone and the coach nods in agreement.
Opting to mind my business and stop staring, I turn back to my phone and wait for the text back from my mother.
Sad, I know.
The bell rings just as my mom responds, telling me she's been doing okay, and that's she's adopted a dog. Below the text, is another with a picture of the cutest golden retriever I've ever seen attached.
Say hi to Percy!
Immediately, I respond gushing over the puppy.l and telling her how cute it is. While I'm walking, I make sure to look up occasionally so I don't bump into anyone.
After sending the text, I open the door to my classroom and enter.
My day goes well, all throughout it my mom keeps sending me pictures of the puppy.
I check them on my way to lunch, and smile at one picture where Percy is surrounded by all his new toys and clothes.
Truthfully, I'm happy but surprised.
My mom always liked animals but we'd never committed to it before because both of us never really had the time to care for a pet.
But I was still excited for my mother and knew that puppy would surely be keeping her busy now.
Picking up a tray, I place my phone in the pocket of my jeans and look ahead.
Today I fill my plate with some strawberries, cut up bananas, a sandwich and a cup of cappuccino. Satisfied with my pick, I turn to the cafeteria.
As always, the tables are packed with students who are either eating, talking, laughing or pointing at the televisions as they play a romantic comedy from the 90's.
The environment is nice, but it's loud with so many people that it feels slightly overstimulating. It genuinely makes me wonder how anyone could eat in peace with so much noise around them.
I'm about to go up the steps to leave when I hear someone call my name.
"B! Come here," I turn and begin looking for the person who called my name. My eyes scan the crowd as I try to pinpoint where they are.
I see Anthony stand up and wave me over to a table, full of a couple people I recognize like Bailey, Leo and Hannah and some I don't.
Bracing myself, I walk over to the table slowly and wave at them shyly.
"Hi everyone," My greeting is soft as I place my tray down on the table before me, trying not to overthink how my greeting sounded.
I sit down next to Anthony, hoping that my nerves aren't too visible to the group.
Despite how I feel about my introduction, they all greet me warmly with a smile.
"I don't think we've met, I'm Ty." A guy with brown skin like mine extends his hand over the table. His hair is dyed pink, and he's got a pretty diamond nose piercing.
I shake his hand gently and introduce myself to him, and the rest of the people that I haven't met before.
There's another girl, Amber, who's got curly black hair and tanned skin, and another guy, Dean, who's got short black hair and olive colored skin.
After the introducing myself, Hannah starts the conversation with a question.
"So Bailey, I heard your brother was throwing a party tomorrow night." Hannah says, resting her chin on Bailey's shoulder.
"I told you not to start telling people yet! If you do that the party is gonna be so full it'll get shut down again." Bailey moves her shoulder so Hannah almost falls and the group laughs.
"Is it true though? Josh is throwing a party tomorrow?" Anthony inquires, rubbing his hands together like the menace that he is.
I can't help but laugh at the gesture and turn to Bailey, awaiting her answer.
"Yes. He's renting an airbnb on Melrose Avenue where we used to have the beach parties. It's gonna be sick you guys, he showed me a couple pictures yesterday .. and the place looks really cool." Bailey recounts, making everyone at the table break out into more chatter.
"Well, what else do we have to do other than get shit faced on a Tuesday night?" Ty asks out loud, making everyone laugh and even pulling a small smile out of me.
I guess that's one thing I can cross off my bucket list now: Getting drunk on a Tuesday night.
"What time is it going to be, Bailey?" Amber asks, taking a bite of an apple in her hand. Bailey checks her phone for a minute then speaks again.
"It's at 7:00, and you guys better not tell too many people. Last time we got shut down so quick.." She warns the group, and I pull the leaves off my strawberry as Bailey pauses.
"Oh and bring a bathing suit too, because the place has a pool in the back." She adds.
"Are you going?" Anthony asks, turning to me.
Truly, I don't know. A party does sound fun, and I haven't gone to one in so long..
And attending would be a perfect opportunity to see what parties are like on this campus.
All I can do shrug in response though, popping the fruit into my mouth.
"I don't even know where it is, and I have no one to even go with." I frown, unsure of whether I'm trying to convince him of that .. or myself.
"What do you mean? Am I not right in front of your face?" Anthony jokes, holding a hand up and waving it in front of me.
I slap his hand away with as my lips quirk upward into a smile.
He's so stupid sometimes..
"No but, seriously. Do you really want to go?" Anthony asks me, and I grab another fruit off of my tray as I really think of whether or not I do.
"I mean .." I hesitate and I just know it shows on my face when I look at him.
His expression is expectant, like he's hanging onto the words that I say, but he's also serious .. his brown eyes completely fixated on me as I try to talk.
"Yes .. I want to go." I tell him, placing my hands in my lap nervously.
"Then it's settled, I'll go with you." Anthony says, reaching over and taking a strawberry off of my plate.
The gesture makes me smile and I wave my fork as a warning to him in response.
"Do you drink?" He asks me a question before eating the strawberry, and I tell him sometimes I do .. but not very often.
Anthony's in the middle of teasing me for being a light weight and before I get the chance to respond, someone at the table speaks up with a question.
"Are you guys dating?" The question is blurted out of completely nowhere and I freeze in my seat.