Frienemies

Part 1 ~ Back To School

The first day of junior year was always nerve-wracking, but for Army and THyung the normal worries were exponentially heightened since they were the new kids at ShinHwang High. They had both moved to the small town over the summer with their families and would be navigating the social hierarchy of a brand new school.
Army pulled into the packed student parking lot in her hand-me-down purple Honda Civic, trying her best to seem nonchalant as she looked for an empty space. Army's goal for that day was to seem normal and in place, whether that was the truth or not didn't matter.
She had meticulously spent her last week preparing for this day. From every possible textbook required, to the outfit that she spent days deciding on, Army felt ready to make a good impression.
As she was waiting for a car to eventually back out of a spot, an obnoxiously loud engine revving caught her attention. Army looked ahead to see a shiny red convertible peeling into the parking lot. The driver was a sandy-haired guy around her age who looked like one of the typical arrogant kids she had gone to school with back in her old town. While she moved to take up her long awaited parking spot, this car cut her off zooming right in.
"Are you kidding me?" Army yelled out her window as the guy electronically closed his open roof, completely oblivious to her. Calming herself, she shook her head instead of starting a fight. What if he's one of the popular guys, she wondered. From her experience at her last school, getting into it with those "boys" wasn't worth a parking spot.
THyung stepped out of his candy apple red Ford Mustang, thankful his parents had agreed to it as a late "welcome to the new town" gift. He grabbed his backpack and headed towards the main entrance, trying to act as confident as possible despite the butterflies in his stomach. He had cultivated a popular, don't-care attitude at his old school, but now he'd have to start all over.
The first few periods were a blur of introductions, syllabus distributions, and the usual first day procedures. By the time lunch rolled around, THyung felt a gnawing emptiness in his stomach and slightly faint. Unsurprising as that morning he had to help his mother move some boxes out of the kitchen so she could cook for his father. By the time breakfast was ready, he was long out the door about to be late on his first day.
He got his food and scanned the cafeteria, looking for a friendly face to sit with. There was a group of guys that looked like the kind that would eventually become his friends. But he couldn't force that by going and adding a chair to their table. His eyes landed on a couple open seats at a table with some attractive girls. Shaking his hair back, he started for their direction.
"Ugh, just my luck," one of the girls groaned as soon as she saw THyung approaching.
He shot her a confused look as he pulled out the chair next to her. "Problem?"
"You're the jerk who stole my parking spot this morning," the girl said, rolling her eyes.
THyung smirked as he recognized her as the brunette in the beat up purple Honda. "Finders keepers. Shouldn't have been going so slow."
"Unbelievable," the girl scoffed.
Army's newest friend, Rosé, did not seem to have her back against the guy's behavior. She actually seemed quite entranced.
"So, what's your name and how come I haven't seen you around town?" She asked, suddenly her voice softer and posture perfect. Fine, Army thought. If she wants this obnoxious brat, she can have him.
"I just moved here over the summer," he answered with a deep voice. "My name's THyung."
Rosé suddenly looked giddy. Reaching across and putting a hand on Army's arm. "This is her first year too! Army, say hello."
Army faced him, but all that ran through her mind was; he's new too, I don't have to play nice. She gave him a slight head bow for acknowledgment before grabbing her tray and leaving.
Rosé looked back and forth between them with an amused expression. "Well this is off to a great start, new kids."
THyung shrugged as he dug into his soup and dumplings. As long as that feisty brunette wasn't there, he didn't mind staying at the table to flirt with her friend.
"So how long have you been in this town?" He asked between spoonfuls.
"Oh," the blonde girl thought, looking up at the ceiling. "Forever really. My boyfriend, NamJ and I met when we were in kindergarten. He was so sweet." She said, her voice rising in pitch a bit piercingly.
The rest of lunch was just Rosé talking about her kindergarten sweetheart. He apparently headed up an exclusive club named BTS that Rosé promised to recommend him for. So long as it's not a math club, THyung thought.
After lunch, the girl led him over to the table that he had earlier considered as the popular guys.
"THyung," Rosé skipped over to hug her boyfriend's arm. "This is NamJ! My boyfriend."
NamJ smiled down to the pretty blonde and kissed her forehead. Addressing THyung, he outstretched a hand. "Nice to meet you, man. Where do you come from?"
"East Seoul," THyung greeted. Feeling an immediate friendship form.
"Join us for PE?" A guy standing behind NamJ asked. THyung hadn't noticed him, but he was like a giraffe.
"Absolutely, if everyone's good with it," he answered.
NamJ's smile grew. "That's a great idea Jin Hyeong (older friend)! Come on," he said hitting THyung's arm. "You're a part of our volleyball team, now."
THyung smiled. That afternoon he met the rest of the group. YoonG, JMin, JKook, and JHobe. All became immediate friends that THyung sensed would have his back until they were old and gone.

~To Be Continued~