Bad Apple

Intro

"...I wanna be offended but Ex-Wives is playing in my head right now- just- 'Divorced! Beheaded! Died! Dun-dun-dun-"

Almost immediately all of my friends overlap my voice, yelling at me to stop. "No!" "Nope!" "None of that!" "Come on, guys!" "No!" "Stop!" "Immediately, please!" "Okay, damn. Consider me stopped." "Go sign up!" "Fine!" I quickly text my aunt, asking if she could give me a ride tomorrow and then run up to the board to sign up. The line wasn't very long and so I assume the amount of people who ride the float isn't gonna be very big either.

"Also, take note that if you don't go to at least two meetings and actually help with the float at these meetings, you will not be allowed to ride on the float," Mrs. Workman states. We all nod and agree that that's fair as I make my way to my seat.

"Let's do this, I guess," Layton says. "Let's not. Do not address me, peasant," I laugh out. "Okay, damn," Layton says, putting his hand up to his heart. "Eh, you'll get over it." "Why are you so mean?!," Alicia asks. "Correction, 'Why are you so mean to Lay?,' is the question we should be asking," Fay corrects.

...I'm totally not into him if that's what anyone's thinking. Because he's an idiot and that would be idiotic, for me to be into him. I don't find him attractive. At all. Okay, maybe a little. His voice is nice. What if someone is thinking that? Oh god, what if they know? Of course no one was thinking that! No one would ever be thinking that. Stupid fucking anxiety, I swear to god-

"So, are we all gonna meet here and then head to Alanna's house?," Jade offers. "I can drive us!" "How long was I spaced out?," I ask my friends. They all stare at me and then Moe laughs, "Bestie, you were out for like 5 minutes. Jade has the car this week so she's giving us a ride. Tell your aunt that you're good," she says between laughter. "Fuck off, dude." I stand up, "The bell's about to ring. I'm gonna ask to leave early so I can use the bathroom."

Tuesday - Riding To The First Hoco Float Meeting

"Move, fothermuckers, the greatest is here!," I shout at my friends as I walk up to the car. "We're still waiting on Moe," Layton states from the passenger seat. "Unh-uh, Jade, tell your boyfriend to get out of my seat," I say, looking over at my friend. Layton places his hands on his temples, sighing and Jade facepalms. Alicia looks up from her phone, "You always manage to get one by everyone but not this time." "What?," Jade asks as I open the passenger door. "Well, I always make those jokes. You guys just never notice. Lay, get out of my seat." "Uh, no. I was here first." "So? Jade likes me more." "I do have a preference of Marie over everyone," Jade agrees. "Mhm, see? Move." "Just sit on his lap," Moe jokes as she walks up to us. "I have a better idea. Moe, Marie and Layton; all of you in the back," Alicia suggests.

"Hey! No fair! I just got here," Moe whines. "Yeah, I also have an issue with this," I object. "What's your issue with it?," Alicia asks. "Sorry, mom, but I'm the shortest of us three which means that I'd have to be in the middle. You have to be back here with me." "Nope, I agree with Alicia. You three in the back, she's in the front," Jade demands. I groan in annoyance as I climb into the car. I cross my arms and huff like a toddler before mumbling, "Doesn't even make sense. The two people in the front are the shortest, anyway." Layton gives me a look but then laughs, causing Moe to laugh as well. "I'm being attacked," I say as Moe shuts the door.

---3 Minutes Later---

"Jade, sing for us!," Alicia suggests. "Yeah, do it!," Moe adds. I woop, hoping that'll encourage her. "No." I elbow Layton, "Help us get her to sing." "Um, no." "Boo, you whore!" "It's that your default when things don't go your way?," he asks. "Yeah, what about it?" He shakes his head and looks back down at his phone. "How about, the quiet game. We've got 5 minutes until we're at Alanna's house. Whoever makes any noise before we get there has to sing."