The Art of Mending a Broken Heart

We sat back down at the same table, all three of us: Kale, Max, and I. The whole lunchroom was staring. I had just finished telling Kale a funny story about some girl I had dated back in Miami and he burst out laughing. Becky raised an eyebrow.

“So what is this now, the three musketeers?” she asked looking at us skeptically.

“What?” I asked slightly confused.

“Oh she’s not trying to be mean,” A girl with long red hair in a cheerleading outfit began to say, “It’s just that these two over here haven’t had a new friend since like Kindergarten.”

“That’s not true,” Max said, “What about Tyler?”

“Tyler moved away freshmen year,” Becky said rolling her eyes, “and he had always been your friend.”

“Well it’s not like you constantly have a new group of friends,” Max said.

“Yeah cause there’s so many cool people to hang out with around here,” Becky said sarcastically.

“What’s that suppose to mean?” Max asked pretending to be offended, “I’m not good enough for you?”

“Welcome to the posse,” Kale said looking around at everyone sitting at the table. “We’ve been stuck together since forever.”

“You say that like it’s a bad thing,” the redhead said.

“Hillary, I just think he means that we’re glad that there’s some fresh meat around here. Hopefully he’s someone who’s cool enough to handle us,” Becky said eyeing me. So, the redhead's name was Hillary.

“I’m pretty sure he can,” Max said laughing, “He was holding up the fort before Kale and I showed up. That’s some pretty challenging work with all you ladies.”

“Challenging?” I asked jokingly, “I could have done that when I was two.” Everyone laughed.

“Yuck, what is Sarah Holder wearing today?” Becky asked.

“Hey Sarah,” Hillary called. A girl who was walking past the table stopped and cautiously turned her head in our direction, as if she was surprised she heard her name.

“Ah yeah?” She asked.

“I really like your necklace,” Hillary said smiling sweetly.

“Um thanks,” she said looking around the table. When she saw me her eyebrows shot up in surprise and she looked away as a blush crept up onto her checks. “Well I guess I’ll see you later.” And then she hurried off.

“Guess I’ll see you later,” Max mocked in a girly voice. The whole table laughed. I laughed. I was at peace. These were my kind of people.

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I have never been a big believer in God, but there must have been someone upstairs looking out for me, because my day couldn’t have been better. After lunch I had French class, and when I walked in she was sitting right there in the front row book in hand.

“Bonjour.” I said as I slid into the seat next to her. The front row wasn't my normal choice of seating, but I would live. Rose looked up from her book to glance at me.

“Hello,” she said politely before turning back to her book.

“So what’s your name?” I asked her.

“Rose,” she told me never taking her eyes off the page.

“Don’t I get a last name?” I asked; it was normally something I didn’t have to do.

“Do you need a last name?” she asked back.

“Yes.” I told her, “I always have to know the names of the beautiful girls I sit next to in French class.”

“So you’ve sat next to other pretty girls in previous French classes?” she asked.

“Is that a trick question?” I said jokingly. Rose didn’t answer. Instead, she turned the page of her book and kept on reading.“How about this,” I said to her, “You tell me your last name, and I’ll leave you alone.” I already knew what she would say, but I wanted to hear it from her lips.

“Fine,” she said still not looking up, “It’s Hills.”

“See?” I asked teasing her; “was that so hard?” Once again she didn’t respond. “So, aren’t you going to ask me what my name is?” I asked.

“Jack Burner,” she responded. I smiled in pleasure. She already knew my name.

“Stalking me already?” I said laughing out loud.

“Don’t flatter yourself,” she sighed putting down her book, “You’re the only person anyone has been talking about today. So, of course I know your name.”