After lunch Austin, Ashlee, Heather, and I all had Government together. It was our last class before study hall that we also shared together. I always enjoyed these two classes. I normally spent most of my time in study hall trying to get Heather to promise to come to my house after school when my parents would be working for a little while. We never did anything after we got there. We both respected each other enough to know that sex wasn’t an important part in our lives at fourteen. We just had to convince to everyone else that it was. Ashlee and Austin was the same way, Austin would never admit to that, but he doesn’t know that Ashlee has told us otherwise.

“Are you going to football try-outs?” Austin asked we had both played football and basketball ever since the fourth grade.

“Of course, when are they again?” I asked forgetting.

“This weekend.” Austin answered then turned to look at Mr. Conley as he started walking towards us.

“I think you Casey has already been into some trouble once today I think you need to shut up before you make it twice.” Mr. Conley huffed. He was always disrespectful unlike all of the other teachers that fussed more politely. “As for you Austin your track record is almost as long as your partner in crime and you both need to shut up.” His little out burst caused everyone to snicker and it only amused him more to see us look around at everyone.

“Go teach Mr. Conley that’s what you’re paid to do.” Austin ordered pointing to the board. “I’m taking notes no reason for you to come back here.”

“Austin.” Ashlee whispered glaring. “Shut up before you have to hold hands with James Crockly or something.” James Crockly was a kid that had been in the same class as us since kindergarten and he never looked clean or kept. It wasn’t because he was poor or anything. That’s just how he wanted to look. He was also quiet and blushed with out reason. No one picked on him though. I hadn’t even given him any trouble. I felt sorry for him and he stayed out of my way. He also went to my church and I didn’t want to be counseled by my preacher more than I already was.

“I’ll let that one slide Austin.” Mr. Conley hissed then walked up to the board and began teaching again.

“Well I don’t see how you keep from getting into trouble.” I whispered lightly then turned to finish taking the notes down before the bell rang dismissing us to our study hall.

“Casey you’re going to have to learn when enough is enough.” Heather scolded as soon as we entered the hallway. “It’s ok to be funny, but you’ve spent more weekends in detention then you have with me.”

“I can’t help it baby.” I offered taking her hand.

“Don’t call me baby when I’m pissed off at you.” Heather countered, but was smiling when I glanced up at her on our way to study hall.

“I don’t have any detentions this weekend.” I responded.

“Then lets get through study hall with out you getting any and I’ll be happy.” Heather stated lightly. “I mean if that’s possible.”

“What do I get for being a good boy?” I asked causing Ashlee and Austin to laugh. She looked over at them and I saw her frown briefly. She hated to make it look like all we did once I got her home was have sex with her, but she knew that was better then looking like a prude. I’m pretty sure she’s told Ashlee that we really wasn’t, but Austin winked over at me so I knew he didn’t know.

“You’ll see.” She winked biting her lower lip like she always did. I had to hand it to her. She was a good liar.

“Ok then.” I responded then the bell rang and we walked into study hall. We never did pay any attention when we were all together and I never noticed who was in study hall with us until Colin walked up to where we were standing. I had thought my only escape from him was going to be classes and after school, but he had to have study hall where everyone could see me with him.

“Hey guys.” Colin greeted. Study hall was just a place where teachers kept students later in the day when they were tired of teaching. We were supposed to be studying and getting help, but they never enforced it.

“Hey Colin.” Ashlee greeted offering him a smile then looked over at me expectantly. I hadn’t even acknowledged him being there. “Um Casey your friend is here.”

“Oh really where I don’t think I see him?” I asked sarcastically. “Sometimes Ashlee I wonder if you really do have a brain.”

“Ouch.” She replied smiling. “At least I have some self control and not get my ass into all kinds of trouble.”

“You two knock it off.” Heather ordered then offered Colin a smile. “I’m sorry they act like this all the time.”

“Do you not want me here?” Colin asked me ignoring Ashlee and Heather.

“Don’t make me answer that.” I answered and he frowned. “I’m kidding.”

“Ok.” He shrugged awkwardly. We fell silent and I looked at the teacher as she stopped looking at the newspaper to peek over since it has obviously gotten quieter.

“Hey what are you doing talking to them loser?” Cameron asked he was someone that has been trying to become my friend ever since school started.

“Cameron piss off.” Heather ordered. “Colin has every right to be here.”

“When are you friends with people you prank Case?” Cameron asked like he knew me. I hated when people called me Case.

“Cameron don’t call me Case.” I ordered, “And since when do you care who I’m friends with?”

“I just know who all you hang out with.” He answered carefully.

“Oh I would think you’re weird.” I countered crossing my arms and smiling at him. “Now go mind your own fucking business.”

“Casey language!” Mrs. Steffin snapped from behind her newspaper. “Clean it up or you’ll have detention with me this weekend.”

“I’m sorry.” I offered then glared at Cameron.

“I really don’t see how so many people actually like you.” Cameron snapped, but he was careful to keep his voice down.

“Cameron just go away.” Austin ordered stepping up to Cameron threateningly. “Or you’ll have a hard time making the football team this year.”

“Oh your dad is your bitch too?” Cameron asked then I had to grabbed Austin before he was able to swing at Cameron. Austin’s dad Steve was the football coach.

“You better leave.” Colin warned, as I still had to hold a now red-faced Austin. “I think he’s about to explode.”

“Well one of these days people will see just how big of losers your all actually are.” Cameron snapped looking at all of us before he walked off to go sit down with some of his friends.

“God I think I would be ok with you getting detention if you would’ve put him in his place.” Heather stated her arms crossed and she was tapping her foot impatiently. “Who does he think he is anyway coming over here and causing so much trouble?”

“Yeah, he has some things coming to him.” I responded looking over at Cameron.

“Well he has something coming to him right now.” Heather huffed then pushed past Austin and me. Ashlee shrugged and followed her and I watched as my girlfriend tapped him on the shoulder and slapped the shit out of him. “Now talk more shit and see what that gets you dumb ass.”

“Heather!” Mrs. Steffin yelled. “What do you think you’re doing?”

“Oh nothing he just insulted me and I didn’t think it was right.” She answered in her innocent voice that always got her out of trouble.

“Cameron you better learn how to treat a lady or that’s always going to happen.” Mrs. Steffin admonished, “But Heather I don’t want to hear you slapping him anymore in this classroom.”

“Ok sorry it won’t happen again.” Heather offered then flipped off Cameron before returning with Ashlee. I the whole time thought while I watched my girlfriend put Cameron in his place that she was better at it than I was and that scared me a little.

“Wow.” Colin stated. “You guys actually give a shit about all of this snobby ignorance don’t you?”

“He was being an ass to you and you decide to defend him?” I asked blinking slightly.

“Yeah he was being an ass, but you guys were even bigger ones.” Colin answered shaking his head. “School popularity doesn’t get you very far.”

“We’re not as bad as you think Colin.” Ashlee countered, “People put us on top we didn’t.”

“Oh really, but you still act like you’re better than everyone else regardless.” Colin snapped. “Like it matters how people see you in high school.”

“Go away.” I ordered frowning. “I thought you were cool.”

“If cool you mean making everyone else look stupid to protect your large assed ego then no I was never cool.” Colin snapped glaring at me for a little while. “I guess you can kiss it all goodbye when I tell on your ass.” Then Colin walked to the door as the bell rang dismissing us for the day.

“Go after him.” Heather ordered. “You need him remember.”

“I don’t want to be around that piece of shit.” I countered crossing my arms. “They can’t put me in alternative education if he doesn’t want to be my friend.”

“You had him believing it until you told him to go away man.” Austin responded, “That’s all he has to say to Gatson.”

“Didn’t you people hear what he said?” I asked looking around at all of them. “He insulted everyone of us.”

“Well not really insulted us.” Ashlee responded, “I mean we have been complete bitches.”

“Bitches?” I asked glaring as she nodded her head and looked away. “I’m not a bitch.”

“Could’ve fooled me.” Ashlee countered sticking out her tongue. “I mean we’re just freshmen we’re not important.”

“Maybe you’re not important.” I snapped leaving them. I had practice after school and didn’t need their weird shit to deal with.

“Hey wait up a minute.” Austin ordered running to catch up to me. “What’s got you all worked up?”

“All this being friends with a loser shit.” I snapped and kept walking causing Austin to nudge a few people out of his way to keep up with me.

“But you have to do it Casey.” Austin responded, “Or no sports or fun for this whole year and who knows what will happen after it.”

“Mr. Gatson is a fucking dick.” I groaned still in the hallway outside the gym.

“Don’t get yourself into trouble with that mouth of yours Casey I need you on the team this year.” Lee admonished from behind us.

“Well if you knew what he had me do you’d call him a dick too.” I countered stopping to turn to him.

“I might, but keep it down.” Lee responded looking around then walked into the gym asking for us to follow him in there. “Now what did the old fuck do this time?”

“He made him be friends with the new guy that he pushed out into the gym naked.” Austin answered for me and Lee’s eyes widened.

“No shit?” He asked surprised.

“No shit.” I offered frowning. “Get me out of this one Lee.”

“You know Gatson doesn’t like me. He didn’t like me when I was a student here.” Lee responded, “So are you friends with Colin Myers?”

“I was until he insulted us.” I answered shaking my head.

“Well then I guess you better get your ass down to Colin’s house and kiss ass and make up.” Lee remarked causing Austin to laugh until I smacked him on the back of the head.

“Shut it Austin. It’s not fucking funny.” I ordered, but it only made Austin start laughing harder.

“As for you Austin you can start running.” Lee stated pointing for him to start running.

“Alright.” Austin huffed then jogged into the locker room to change first.

“Are you seriously making me miss practice to go hunt down Colin?” I asked trying to read Lee’s expression.

“Well what you did was mean to him. It was funny, but it was still a dick thing to do.” Lee answered. “At least try and find him to make up you’re way too good to be kicked into AE.”

“Ok.” I offered knowing what I had to do. “Do you know is address from his student files?”

“Yeah, here I have it in my medical release forms.” Lee answered as he flipped to the back of his grade book where a bunch of ruffled papers were. “He lives well, he lives two houses down from you, 221 Plunkton Drive.”

“Alright see you tomorrow I guess.” I stated and he patted me on the back when I left the gym dialing my mom’s number. She was going to hear it when she came to pick me up. I couldn’t understand what the problem was that she had to stick her nosey ass into my life and mess up everything. “Mom come and get me I have some errand to run before I get kicked into AE.”

“Alright honey.” She responded then I hung up and went outside to wait on her. A few minutes later she was at the school waving stupidly at me trying to get my attention even though I was already walking towards the car anyway.

“Mom why did you have to go and call Mr. Gatson on me for?” I asked coldly after getting into the car and shutting my door.

“Well I don’t know about you hanging out with Austin anymore Casey.” She answered in a tone that was hard to read from her. She was always soft spoken even when she was about to have one of her pissy fits.

“Austin mom?” I asked shaking my head. “You’ve known him since we were in diapers and you think I should stop being his friend?”

“Well he is a bad influence.” She answered then she started driving. “You said you had an errand.”

“I need to go to 122 Plunkton Drive.” I responded and she looked thoughtful.

“That’s where the new neighbors live, why do you have to go there?” She asked as we turned down a short cut to our house.

“Because I have to kiss some boy’s ass to get him to like me so that he won’t go tell Mr. Gatson that I’ve been a dick to him and get my ass thrown in Alternative Education.” I answered rudely. “All because of you too.”

“Watch your mouth or you’ll be grounded Casey.” She warned, “And it’s not all because of me. I didn’t get you into trouble you did that on your own.”

“Fine but you was the one that suggested new friends to Gatson and he chose the one that I had already made as ass out of myself with.” I snapped.

“Casey if you speak to me like that one more time you’re grounded for three months and that means no football or basketball too.”

“Well if I can’t get Colin to be my friend then there won’t be anything anyway.” I countered calmly and she looked over at me.

“I’m sorry, but you put all of this on yourself Casey,” She countered. “You just have to learn some self control.”

“Ok.” I offered shrugging. I didn’t want to argue with her anymore and I knew that this was my fault. I just didn’t want to think that it was.

“Here we are.” She announced as I looked around. The houses were pretty much the same on the outside. Two stories and dull they were knew though and Colin’s mom had already planted baby trees and flowers everywhere to make it look homely. “I can come in and get his parents on your side.”

“I don’t think I need you mom, but you can come in and talk this may take awhile if he’s even here.” I responded and we got out and walked to the front door. Mom knocked and then straightened my shirt out a little. “Why did you have to wear that shirt?”

“What’s wrong with my shirt?” I asked, but then the door opened. It was a blonde about my age. She would be around Colin’s age as well.

“Hello?” She greeted awkwardly. She had a phone pressed against her chest and had put who ever she was talking to on hold to answer the door.

“Does Colin Myers live here?” I asked and she smiled briefly.

“Colin someone is here to see you!” She yelled then stepped aside letting us in.

“Cassidy don’t yell.” Colin’s mom ordered as she stepped up at the door. “Hello I’m Susan Myers.”

“Hello Susan.” Mom greeted. “This is my son Casey and I’m Kathy.”

“Well please come in.” She responded politely then motioned us into the house. I walked in and smelt the faint smell of Italian cooking and I become instantly hungry. Susan was pregnant that was obvious by looking at her. “Colin hurry up and get down here we have guests here.”

“I’m coming I just took a shower.” Colin responded and I instantly got a mental image of him naked and wet and I had to shake it out of my mind before it freaked me out. It wasn’t very difficult to picture it since I had already seen him in the locker room, but it still freaked me out that I’d be thinking about him like that now.

“Ya’ll can stay for dinner I always fix way too much food.” Susan invited smiling.

“Oh that’s ok we wouldn’t want to be a bother.” Mom politely turned the offer down and I smiled inwardly thinking her for it. It was already going to be bad enough when Colin gets down here and sees just who it was that came to see him.

“So are Colin and Cassidy twins?” Mom asked after I noticed her looking at a family portrait.

“Yes they are.” She answered, “And Cass would have black hair like everyone else if she didn’t always have it dyed.”

“Mom!” Cassidy groaned then left the room.

“Teenagers.” Susan shrugged, but I saw her eyes narrow when she looked at the doorway that Cassidy walked out of.

“Oh I know what you mean this one right here has given me a few gray hairs.” My mom responded and both of them started laughing. They were becoming friends and that’s just what I needed. Mom’s seal of approval would mean that I’m stuck with mom’s social get together with the Myers family from here on out.

“Mom!” I groaned which caused more laughter as I matched Cassidy’s earlier outcry of embarrassment. I only wished I could actually leave mine.

“So one more on the way?” Mom asked and Susan rubbed her stomach.

“Two actually.” Susan responded

“Twins again?” Mom asked gasping.

“Yep, boy and a girl just like Colin and Cass.” Susan answered, “Here I’ll show you their sonogram.”

“Well congratulations.” Mom yelled as Susan disappeared to get the pictures. “Four kids she’s a brave woman.”

“You need to have some more mom so you’d get off my back.” I stated lightly causing her to elbow me.

“Maybe I will.” She countered, “So it will give you a reason to stay home and babysitt when you’re older.”

“Never mind,” I responded rolling my eyes. “I need my freedom.”

“What are you doing here?” Colin asked as he finally appeared from upstairs.

“I’m here to talk to you.” I answered as nicely as I could.

“Well sorry I don’t really want to talk.” Colin countered but the gasp of Susan made everyone turn to see her glaring at Colin.

“We do not treat guests like this in this house Colin.” Susan chided. “Now you show Casey your room and you boys be nice until dinner.”

“They’re staying for dinner?” Colin asked shaking his head.

“Yes!” Susan responded her voice rising. “No do what I said.”

“But you do realize this is the boy that I told you about.” Colin countered crossing his arms.

“Yes I figured that out.” Susan responded. “And I think you two just got off on the wrong foot.”

“He shoved me naked in a trashcan out into the gym floor mom.” Colin snapped. “That’s more than a mistake.”

“You did what Casey?” Mom asked standing up. “You are grounded when we get home.”

“Ok.” I said sighing. “Let’s just go mom.”

“No, I insist that you stay.” Susan pushed politely. “Besides Colin isn’t good at making friends so this will be good for him.”

“I don’t…” Colin started but stopped when Susan pointed up the stairs. “Fine.”

“Look Kathy these sonograms are really clear these days.” Susan stated holding out the pictures to my mom who accepted them and then started gushing over how cute they looked already. That was enough for me to turn and start walking up the stairs. I didn’t care if he followed or not.

“Let’s get this straight right now.” Colin snapped and passed me on the stairs and pointed for me to enter his room. “I don’t like you. I think you’re an ass so after this is all through you can leave me the hell alone.”

“I know I come off as a jerk…” I started, but he silenced me.

“Jerk, Casey.” He mocked almost lightly, but looked like he was about to punch me. “A jerk was Jordan beating me up in the bathroom all because of what you did to me in gym class. He was a jerk you’re just nasty and low and you deserve what ever shit comes to you.”

“Your mom is really nice.” I offered trying to get him to stop looking at me like he was about to jump on me and beat me senseless.

“Don’t.” He ordered sitting down on his bed. “I thought I was going to like it here.”

“You will like it here.” I responded. “I’m sorry I ruined the image of this place for you.”

“You’re fake you know that.” He snapped glaring at me. “You don’t know who the hell you are, do you?”

“What do you mean?” I asked confused.

“You parade around school like your hot shit and now you come here and try to make me like you all over again.” Colin answered. “Fake.”

“Look Colin what if I said that I’d try to change.” I countered and he laughed slightly.

“Change.” He mocked, “You’ll never change Casey. You’ll leave high school with barely any gained education. You’ll find that sports got you no where and you’ll maybe enroll into some shitty college or not go at all and get some job at a fast food place and serve everyone that you thought was beneath you.”

“Excuse me.” I snapped, “You don’t know me at all.”

“Oh and I’m supposed to?” Colin asked still glaring at me. “When you’re always changing to fit everyone and make yourself look good.”

“You’re wrong about me.” I responded thinking that I sounded like an idiot the whole time.

“I don’t think I am.” Colin countered, “I’m not willing to find out either.”

“Look I know I was an ass to you what can I do to make it up to you?” I asked frowning as soon as I said what I did.

“Nothing.” He answered, “Just when I sit with you at lunch tomorrow you better be convincing that you can change.”

“Ok.” I smiled. “I can change.”

“I’ll believe that when I see it.” Colin responded then Susan yelled for us to come to dinner. Eating dinner with the Myers was nice. Tim Myers wasn’t home yet. He worked as a cop and transferred to a quiet town like this to give Susan comfort. My father would be at home after his stressful law practice wondering where the hell we were. I wasn’t going to change though not for Colin. I am who I am and I love it I just had to pretend until Gatson was satisfied.