The bell rings and Chris packs up his books and papers. The teacher tells the students not to forget the homework for tomorrow. Paul walks over to Chris and tells him like that’ll be hard.

  “Yeah, not hard. Just boring. Reading about ancient Rome…yippie.” Chris says getting up from his desk. Ironic since Rome is the name of the country back home. Not Italy, like it is here.

  Paul tugs on Chris‘ sleeve. “Come on. Time for lunch. I‘m hungry.”

  Lunch, finally. Chris takes a deep breath as he follows Paul. Lunch was when he was gonna ask Ivy out on a date. He hadn’t even told Paul about it yet. Would he get mad? Would he be gd? Chris was just a bundle of nerves, as him mom would say.

  The two friends drop their books off at their lockers and grab their lunches. Ivy meets them on the way to the cafeteria, excited.

  “Hey guys. Did you get to meet the new kids yet?”

  “New kids? Didn’t know there were any new kids.” Paul says.

  “We didn’t notice any. Our teachers didn’t announce anyone.” Chris tells them. “My dad did mention his new business partner had some kids. That's all I know.”

  They walk to the cafeteria.

  “Oh, okay. Well, the one is in my first period css. Jackson I believe his name is. Jackson Pr…Prow…Prowman.” She struggles with the name slowly. “That’s it.” Ivy smiles proudly.

  Chris forgot about the new kids at that moment. Her smile just did that to him. Framed by her blond hair. She made him want to just ask her now. But was it the right time? Damn it, this was tough.

  They sit down at their usual table and unload the contents of their lunch boxes. Chris keeps mentally trying to come up with the courage to ask Ivy out. But he feels awkward asking with her brother here next to him..

  As they chat Chris takes a deep breath and decides to go for it. “Hey, Ivy.”

  “Hmm?” She mumbles through a bite of her apple. She was scanning the cafeteria while she ate. Distracted by something.

  “Would you like…” He doesn’t get a chance to finish embarrassing himself.

  She points over Chris‘ shoulder. Ivy hums then quickly swallows and directs their attention behind them.

  Chris lets out a little sigh of relief and turns.

  “I think that’s them. I recognize Jackson.” Ivy points out two boys and a girl.

  The Jackson guy was about as tall as Chris was. With shoulder length brown hair, but I looked like it had a red tint to it. The other boy was a little shorter and a little stockier, with brown hair. But the girl catches Chris’ eye. She stood out from the other two. She had milk chocote skin, dark hair and the bluest eyes he’s ever saw in anyone before. Like the ocean. He felt like they glowed.

  “Chris?”

  Paul calls his name and Chris snaps out of his daze. Damn, was he staring.

  “Chris, is that them??” Ivy asks.

  “I don't know. I never got a description or how many there was.”

  “You looked like you knew them the way you were staring.”

  “I wasn’t staring.” Chris goes back to his sandwich.

  Okay, maybe a little. But he’s never seen such pure blue eyes.

  “They dress nice.” Ivy rambles. “Your neighborhood is the nicer end of town, you notice anyone move in?”

  “I don’t know. I didn’t notice anyone new moving in anywhere. Not like I so snooping around the neighborhood.”

  “Peeping Chris. Terror of Tailorton.” Paul jokes.

  Chris wanted smack him, but that was too good not to ugh at. “Shut up.”

  Chris looks back over his shoulder. The boys have their backs to them but the girl is facing them. A moment ter she catches his gaze, she gives him a little smile. He immediately turns, embarrassed.

  “Busted!” Ivy says giggling.

  “Shut up.” Chris says, feeling his face get warm.

  They continue with their lunch break, chatting and gossiping about goings-on at the school. Then finish with their lunches and head out early to their next csses Chris notices that the new kids left before they did.

  “See ya!” Ivy says as she runs off for her afternoon csses. Chris and Paul walk to gym css. After changing into their gym clothes, they sit with the other students on the bleachers for roll call.

  Chris confirms his presence then waits for the rest of the ‘here‘s’. A few names ter he hears the teacher announce, “Elle Prowman?”

  “Here.” She replies.

  “You’re new here, aren’t you?” Mr. Granger asks.

  “Yeah, first day.”

  “Welcome to Tailorton Middle School.”

  “Thanks.”

  Chris now had a name to those eyes. He also had an earful of giggling from the school bully, Rex and one of his cronies. He ignores them. Idiots.

  Chris could do nothing but stare. Her voice was so light and cheerful. Though a little nervous, being the first day jitters, understandable.

  “You’re staring again.” Paul whispers, snickering.

  “Shut up.” Chris mumbles back.

  “At least we know her name now.” Paul says.

  Yes, but Chris catches himself staring again. And again she catches his gaze and smiles.

  Damn it, he has to stop doing that.

  “Okay, everyone I’m gonna call out teams for basketball.” The teacher announces.

  Chris and Paul get on one team while Elle gets on the other. After the first toss up Chris gets the ball and heads around a couple other students then passing it to Paul. He shoots but misses. On the way back, Chris gets the ball and gets face to face with the new girl. He was in trouble.

  After an awkward moment, Elle breaks the ice. “Hi. I‘m Elle.” She says nicely. Maybe she wasn’t mad that he was staring.

  “Hi. Chris.” Is all he can get out.

  She quickly snags the ball out of his hands in mid-bounce and moves toward the basket. Paul moves past him. He looks at him with wide eyes. He points to them.

  “Shut up!” Chris grumbles.

  He follows his friend to try and recover the ball, when Rex Jolson, the schools resident bully sms into Elle. Rex was a big boy, stocky and tall. Chris and Paul wondered just how many grades he’s failed. He sure didn’t fit in with the rest in the school.

  She nds hard onto the floor and she slides a bit from the impact. She lets out a yell then moves to hold her ankle.

  The teacher blows his whistle and runs over. He tells the rest of the css to move back a bit. The looks to Rex. “Rex, get to the office right now!”

  Rex huffs. “Whatever. Welcome to Tailorton, loser.”

  “Rex Jolson, I’ll see you suspended!”

  “Whatever. My dad works for the major. You can’t do anything to me.” His tone was real snotty.

  Chris suddenly feels his rage building. He sees Elle, sitting on the floor. Her face scrunched up in pain. He moves to block Rex as he walks away. His hands balling to fists.

  “What? You think you can take me Talvert? Come on!”

  “Both of you stop it!” Mr. Granger says.

  But Chris doesn’t stop. He goes to throw Rex a punch but he’s shoved hard, sending him back several feet. But as Chris nds he fres his air powers to help him bounce right back up to his feet.

  “Chris! No!” Paul cries out as he holds him back.

  “Come on, Talvert! Bring it on!”

  “Rex! To the office! Now!” Mr. Granger yells.

  Rex ughs and leaves, calling all of them losers as he exit’s the gym. His friend flips off the css and joins Rex.

  “Come on, man. Calm down.” Paul says looking at him.

  “You okay, Chris?” Mr. Granger asks, his own rage still in his voice.

  “Yeah, I’m okay.” Chris sounding disappointed.

  “Just be lucky you didn’t actually throw that punch I saw you about to throw.”

  Chris nods then looks over to Elle. Her face wasn’t in pain anymore, but one of confusion. Her eyes were bigger, like she just seen something amazing. It couldn't have been that much of an exciting encounter.

  The teacher helps Elle over to the bleachers and checks her leg. He orders the rest of the css to just py ‘whatever’ with the basketball. Paul and Chris go to py but stop to go check on the condition of Elle. Mr. Granger starts to tell them to go py, but then asks if they could help Elle to the nurse. They’re more than happy to oblige.

  Chris gets under her right arm, while Paul the left.

  “So is Rex always like that?” Elle asks.

  “Pretty much. What you saw back there is Rex in a nutshell.” Paul says.

  “Probably due to the nutshell of a brain.” Chris adds.

  They ugh. Chris couldn’t help but be mesmerized by her ugh. It was so sweet and light-hearted. He quickly turns away, for fear of being caught staring again.

  On the way, a boy runs up. It was one of the new kids.

  “What’d you do this time Elle? Kick yourself?” The boy says.

  “I’ll kick your butt here in a sec.” She says.

  He turns around. “Come on hoppy.” Tempting her.

  Chris and Paul look at each other, then lift Elle off her feet. She swings her good foot up and punts the boy in the butt.

  He jumps and turns around. “Oww!”

  “This is my brother, Jerry. Brain size…about the same as Rex’s.”

  Chris and Paul snicker.

  Brother? Chris thinks.

  They continue on to the nurse.

  “So, what happened?” Jerry asks.

  “Rex happened. The school bully. Give it time, you’ll know him soon enough.” Paul tells him.

  Jerry suddenly gets serious. “What’s he look like?”

  “Jerry, no. Behave.” Elle tells him in a firm voice.

  Jerry just grumbles. “I was just gonna have a civilized discussion about the consequences of beating up my sister.” He pauses. “With my fists. They speak very eloquently when motivated.” He says, very eloquently himself.

  Wow. Even Chris could taste the bull shit from that one.

  “Sorry, he’s adopted. Given up, then adopted again. He's like re-fried beans.” Elle then sticks her tongue out at him, which he returns.

  These two were too funny, Chris had to get to know these two. Maybe these guys could join them for lunch tomorrow.

  The nurse takes them in and has Chris and Paul sit her down on one of the beds. While they tell her what happened. The nurse thanks them and tells them to get back to css,

  “Thanks guys. Thanks for helping me up here.” Elle says cheerfully. “Wanna hang out tomorrow at lunch?” She asks.

  “Of course. Plenty of room for you guys.” Paul says before Chris gets a chance to respond.

  But he does manage to wave and smile. She returns the wave and smile, charming as can be. They leave with Jerry, who mentions he should head back to css, his restroom break is over.

  “But you didn’t go.” Paul notes.

  “Oh, it was…nothing. Okay see ya.” He says oddly before running off.

  “Okay then.” Chris says then ughs.

  Chris and Paul head back to gym and change back into their regur clothes. Chris couldn’t help but think about, and visualize that smile of hers, and her eyes. He was intrigued, that’s for sure.

  “By the way, Chris?” Paul says looking over while he was tying his shoe ces.

  “Hmm?” Chris looks up and sees him smiling. He grumbles. “Shut up.”

  * * * * *

  End of the day and Chris gets up out of his desk and gathers with the other students as they all file out of the cssroom after the final bell of the day goes off. He hurries through the crowd to his locker. He wanted to catch Elle and her brothers before they left. Hopefully he was able to catch them in the hallway.

  He changes his books out and gets the ones he needed for homework, then shuts his locker and continues his search. The amount of students in the hallways made it hard to pick anyone out of the crowd. Then he thinks, the buses. They had to take one of the buses. He makes his way outside to the line of buses waiting for everyone. He strains his neck looking in all the bus windows for a sign of the trio, but to no avail.

  “Looking for some stare time, there buddy?” Paul says from behind Chris’ back.

  “Shut up. Have you seen the new kids?”

  “Told you Ivy. He’s in lo-o-ove.” Paul says snidely, drawing out the ‘love’.

  Ivy snickers.

  Chris just rolls his eyes and smacks him in the arm. “You guys are as bad as my parents. Come on. Let’s go.”

  “Hey, Paul said you invited them to lunch tomorrow right? We’ll see them then.” Ivy says.

  She was right, there was no reason in worrying about it now. They would talk at lunch.

  He says goodbye to Paul and Ivy as they get off the bus then its home for him. As he steps into the grass he remembers something he was gonna do, ask Ivy out on a date. He wanted to smack himself. He sat right next to the seat she was in too. Sigh. Oh well. He heads into the house and rex. His mind was about to fry or something.

  “Hey, honey.” Mom welcomes him back. “Your dad’s at the site, so he won’t be home for a while. How was school?” She was in the living room dusting with a feather duster.

  “Good, met some new kids.”

  “Really? That’s awesome. Where they from?”

  “I never got to ask. The new girl got hurt in gym though. Rex knocked her down and she hurt her ankle.” He says as he walks in and sits at the dinner table. Sitting his backpack on the floor next to the chair.

  “Aww. Was she all right?”

  Chris sits back in the chair. “Me and Paul helped her to the nurse’s office then was told to get back to css before we could figure out if she was or not. Did meet her brother though. Jerry’s his name. He’s a little weird but funny.” Chris snickers.

  “Well, that’s great to hear.” She comes over and runs her hand through his hair. “I’ll warm up some chicken for you…Oh. Your father is probably gonna ask you about it, but did you ask Ivy out?”

  Chris shrinks a bit in the chair. “I was, but the new kids and all.”

  “It’s okay sweetie. I’ll tell you father so he doesn’t bring it up tonight when he gets home.”

  “Thanks mom.”

  Chris gets up and goes to the bathroom. He washes his hands and thinks about Elle, and Ivy. He liked both of them. Now he was in a real predicament.