out of the ordinary.

reconnecting pt. 1

december 2nd 2020:

i slip on my low brown uggs and tie them before i look at myself in the mirror. my hair is in a top knot i wore a maroon nike pullover hoodie underneath a light wash jean jacket, and black nike leggings. "only three more weeks of this and then you're free for two weeks." i say to myself. i turn around and take my phone off the charger then grab my backpack and start to head downstairs to the kitchen where my parents sat. my dad drinking coffee and my mom making my dad, and brother breakfast. "goodmorning baby" my dad kisses my cheek as i bend down allowing him to. i reply goodmorning and do my secret handshake with my younger brother. "do you want some breakfast babe?" my mom asks as she turn around to look at me shaking my head no. "i'm just gonna grab a coffee and head to school but thank you mom." i kiss her cheek, grab my keys, and wave goodbye to everyone before hopping into my jeep. i back out onto the road and head to my destinations.

i arrive at school and park in my usual spot. grabbing my things i get out of my jeep and start for the front of the school where i meet up with no one. you thought i was gonna say my friends haha! truth is i don't have very many friends, i'm a very quiet and shy person i even eat lunch alone in my car, but it's never really bothered me. walking into my first period, music and arts, i take my usual seat in the back corner. i take out my pen and notebook, pushing up my reading glasses i turn to my left and notice a very familiar face. "hello" he smiles at me, "um hi?" i greet back still wondering why he's sitting next to me. "don't flatter yourself sis i switched into this class before the semester ends." he smirks as i scoff back "flattered? the only people who would be flattered about having jack gilinsky cheating off of them for the year would be the girls who throw themselves at you in the hallway, it's absolutely disgusting." i snap back and roll my eyes. jack and i used to be the best of friends, but my family and i moved from our old neighborhood into a more upper class one causing me to switch middle schools which led to jack and i hardly ever seeing each other. high school came around and jack had become this whole new person, he played football, and basketball, and he hung out with the "popular" kids. he laughs as he rolls his eyes "always a pleasure, garza" he pats back and snatched my iced coffee from my desk as i roll my eyes and reach out for it. "hey! give that back or you owe me two dollars!" the bell rang and the teacher entered and silenced us all. jack smirks and puts his finger to his lips in a "shhh" signal, taking another drink he sets it down and turns to the front of the class. i rub my temples. this is gonna be a long three weeks.

with two minutes left till the bell the teacher makes his final announcement. "so class as you know we are coming to the end of the semester in three weeks which means we will have our partner project" he says as the whole class groans. "i know dont you all just love projects" he chuckles, "for this project you will each have to do a duet, now some of you have very strong beautiful voices" he turns and sends a smile my way as i smile back in a cockily way "and some of you may not be the best" he glances over at a girl named Isabele and i lowly chuckle. "but you will each need a partner that matches your singing style for which i have prepared a list, jake you will be with anahi, steven you will be with briana, hector and roy, jack and alani, noah and aaliyah, melissa and leroy, liam and harry, zayne and louis, and niall with karly". he ends reading off the list just as the bell rings and everyone gathers their things and head out the door. "so partner when should we start? ive got some ideas already" jack smiles as i lean into my locker. "today is fine if you're free i can text you my address?" i say coming out more like a question. "sounds good borrow me your phone." he types his number in my phone and we say our goodbyes. i walk down the halls trying to quickly get my day over with.

at the end of the day i cheerfully throw my bag in the backseat and start up my jeep. as i am about to back out i'm startled by loud banging on my window. i look out holding my chest in my head and catching my breath from fear. jack. i roll down my window as he clutches his stomach in fits of laughter. "you sh-should've seen your f-face" he says between laughs. i roll my eyes and laugh along with him "what brings you here?" i ask. "so i saw you walking to your badass jeep and thought why not just go home with you instead of texting you" he smiles "alright well hop in goofball i'm hungry" i say and laugh lightly. he gets in and i finally reverse and head out of the parking lot.

we finally pull into my driveway with mcdonalds. "dude you've lived two blocks from me this entire time?" jack says with a raised brow. "i didnt know you guys moved from cain street. since when?" we both exit the vehicle and jack continues our conversation "ummm since the summer going to our freshman year. my dad got a whole new job so we moved closer" wow. this entire time we've been so close yet so far apart. 

"let's go find my mom, she's gonna be so happy to see you" i say walking through our front door and into the kitchen. "jack? how have you been son! it's been years" my mom says excitedly as she embraces him into a tight hug "i'm doing great mrs. Garza how are you? i've missed your cooking" jack says as he hugs my mother back basically towering over her. after the two catch up a little i take him upstairs to see my brother where they talk for a few minutes. finally we settle in my room and begin our project. 

"i say we sing you right by doja and the weeknd" i smile "excuse me? absolutely not i say we sing something much cooler" jack argues "rock paper scissors?" i suggest. after beating jack we start to go over the lyrics and sing some of them out. after some hours pass i finally let out a loud sigh and look over at jack. "come on let's go see what mom made for dinner". as we enter the kitchen my dad smiles at me then at jack who walks in behind me. "jack! mijo how are you?" the rest of dinner consisted of my family catching up with jack and my dad talking bout sports with him. jack even invited my parents to his next basketball game. 

we pull into jacks driveway and sit in silence until jack finally decides to speak up. 

"you know lani, i've really missed you and your family. i will never forget how close you and i used to be and how your family always treated me as another son. you all will always be greatly appreciated. it just sucks how distant we are now i would've loved to have you by my side and go through high school together, plus you got hot as fuck." he says and putting emphasis on the "as fuck" part while i laughed. 

"you're not too bad yourself gilinsky. i guess i did miss you a whole bunch i know you would've kept me great company" i smile. "well who's to say it has to end here. we can be close friends again if you want you can even sit with the guys and i at our lunch table." jack says with excitement and i start to chuckle "okay i like that idea best friend" i wink. after 5 minutes of talking jack gets off and goes inside and i make my way back home. we both agreed he would pick me up for school in the morning and we could go to starbucks before school. 

i get home and head straight for the shower. after getting out and doing all my hygienic stuff i do my nightly skin routine and blowdry my hair then put it into a braid. after i snuggle into bed i check my phone and see i have a goodnight text from jack, i send a goodnight back then put my phone on do not disturb and fall into a deep sleep.