The boy in the back

Chapter 2: Ball

She says hurtful things and i try my best to pull her up on it.

"I want to be friends with him." Arlo nods in announcement.

"You do that." Eva rests her head on his shoulder.

They love eachother so much.

I'd love to be close to someone like that.

"I'm gonna go talk to him." Arlo says before rising from his seat.

I adjust my hair, tucking it behind my ears and we all watch Arlo walk over.

He says something, Henry looks at our table and back to Arlo. He shakes his head but Arlo doesn't stop.

Henry adjusts his glasses before nodding. A few moments later Arlo comes back with Henry, holding his tray.

I move over and Arlo puts the food down and Henry sits.

"Hi." I smile.

He looks at me and gives a tiny smile and his cheeks pinken.

His legs bounce and he digs his hands onto them like he's trying to stop them.

"Hey did you guys start the fake home coming presentation assignment?" Lilly asks.

"No," I laugh to myself, "I don't think i've done any work for any subject all year."

"We know, Nel, but you need to work." Eva tells me as usual. She doesn't want me to fail.

But i don't mind.

School isn't my life, school isn't for me.

"Did you start the book for english?" I ask Henry.

He nods, "I got halfway."

"Halfway? Already?"

He nods.

"You must be a good reader."

He shrugs.

"Hey so, are you gonna sign up for the basketball team?" Coen asks.

Henry shakes his head.

"Why not?" Everyone frowns.

He swallows and his eyes flicker between all of us frantically, "Haven't played in awhile."

"That's okay, how about all of us go to the gym tonight and we can shoot some hoops?" Arlo says.

Henry nods, "Okay."

I have a lot of respect for Arlo. He's similar to me in the way he wants to include everyone and give every person a chance.

"Hey did you guys see Janet dyed her hair black?" Cora laughs.

"She looks fucking emo." Oakley cackles.

"Don't be a dick, Oakley."

"I can be a dick to her," He leans over and whispers in my ear, "She assaulted Arlo, remember."

I nod, "Yeah, right."

I look at Henry as he's just staring at his food, not eating.

"Are you not hungry?" I ask as everyone else makes conversation.

He shakes his head.

"Big day, huh?"

He nods and releases a breathe of air.

"Well, i think it's really brave of you for coming."

He looks at me and i love the way he blushes and he slightly smiles while saying, "Really?"

I nod, "Coming to a new school is really hard. I joined a few months ago."

"Really?"

I nod, "Eva joined a year ago, so we understand."

He nods and looks back at his food before dropping his fork.

"So you'll come play after class?" Arlo asks Henry as the bell rings.

Henry nods.

Eva comes over to me, "Do you wanna come watch them play some ball, i can help you think of a homecoming idea."

"I don't wanna do that assignment, Eva."

"It's easy, come on, i'll help you."

I smile, "Okay, thank you."

"I'll see you in the gym."

I nod with a smile before leaving the cafeteria.

I spot Henry at his locker on his phone typing quickly.

Everyone is already in classes, so it's just us here.

He's skipping on his first day?

I walk over, "Not going to class?"

I skip class all the time, but i don't figure him to be a skipping class kind of boy.

He looks at me and jumps, "N-no i'm about to go." He shoves his phone in his locker and grabs his books as his hands shake.

"Are you okay?"

He adjusts his glasses as he nods before walking off.

I stand there stunned by the interaction.

i feel like they are such chaotic friends