5

The rest of the day we spent finishing homework and playing games until my mom texted me saying she was almost done cooking so we should hurry over. Before I even finished speak they were dragging me out the room and into the car we got there in record time, I'm starting to feel like they like my moms cooking more than our friendship. Lenny assured me that our friendship is more important but he had a faraway look in his eyes so I didn't entirely believe him but Eve quickly covered agreeing with him as we walked in the door.

It's chicken night so my mom mixed it up by making Parmesan Chicken Casserole, it's her best dish out of anything so I know they are going to enjoy it. Before my mom can say anything Eve and Lenny are already sitting at the table eager to start eating, seeing their face my mom lets out a soft chuckle. She doesn't really get to cook big family meals she was an only child and both of her parents passed away a year after I was born in a car crash. Going through the motions I set the table for four and my mom brings over the pan serving the food for everyone, she has the biggest smile on her face.

"Ahh I'm so glad you like my Cooking I've never met any of Josh's friends before so I haven't had the chance too." My mom sighs watching them gulf down the food. They both stare at me with a question in their eyes but I don't bother confirming or denying, I won't tell them that they are my first friends.

Back at my old town I went to another private school and when people found out my home situation the immediately avoided me so I spent my first two years of high school alone. Seeing as I'm not going to answer they look to my mom but all she can do is shrug and continue eating, while she eats she tells them stories about how I was before they met me. When we are done eating my mom takes out a homemade cheese cake and we all sit around tell jokes and laughing about how when I was in little I freaked out about my first day of school. It leaves Eve and Lenny on the floor holding their sides tears streaming down their faces.

"Oh Josh was just such a momma's boy always clinging to me when he was little I had to stay in the class until nap time before I could leave that day." She looks far off into her thoughts with her a small smile but the story just has them laughing more. "Oh that's right Josh, Ms. Steel from across the street needs a babysitter for tomorrow night and I figured since you aren't working you could watch her so I told her it was okay."

"Ms. Steel? What does she have to work tomorrow?" I question I didn't know my mom knew anyone around here.

"No she isn't working we became friends last week and we're going out for drinks cause it is the only time we both have off together. I hope that is okay." She says looking a little worried I might say no.

"Of course mom, go have fun I'm okay doing that for you." I smile, she needs more friends she doesn't really do anything since we got here so I'm glad she has someone to spend some time with other than me.

"Alright I'll let her know right now, this is going to be so much fun." She squeals like a school girl rushing to go get her phone.

I just chuckle and watch her run to her room, Eve and Lenny watch her too laughing at her antics thinking the same thing I am. We spend a few more hour hanging out playing Mario cart and Super Smash Bros. Our two signature games, after they leave with leftover cheese cake, Thirty minutes later my phone chimes and I see that Eve started a group chat between us.

MyPrincessEve: Hi guys! I'm bored wyd?

Ness L: Eating cheesecake!

Me:Looking over a game..... Lenny you're going to end up fat smh.

NessL: I could die happy if I could eat this cheesecake every day I'm jealous of you :(

MyPrincessEve: Right I love your mom and her cooking..... it sucks we cant eat there again until Friday AHHH!

Me: You guys are weird. Smh.

MyPrincessEve: pssh we're weird what's up with us being your first friends to meet your mom? Huh?

NessL: Yeah.... calling me weird..... god I think I just had a cheesecakegasm get it cheesecake orgasm... lol.

Me:...

MyPrincessEve: yeah he made it a lot weird but you still need to answer.

NessL: I'm not weird you guys are.

Me: I plead the fifth everyone has things they don't like to talk about so I won't say.

MyPrincessEve: Fine :P meanie!

Me: oh look at that I'm going into a tunnel and you're breaking up........ :P see you guys in the morning.

MyPrincessEve: Love you boys goodnight!

NessL: Goodnight my loyal subjects

Me: Goodnight My Princess and Goodnight My Executioner!

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I didn't get sleep right away after I stopped talking to them I stayed up until about four a.m. playing my Nintendo Switch, if I had WiFi I would have invited them but I also wanted to be alone. Chugging down some coffee I try to drink as much as I can to wake myself up fully since I only got two hours of sleep, my mom would kill me if she knew I was drinking this. A notification sounds on my phone and it is a text from Eve telling me they are outside dragging my feet I put my phone on vibrate and go out and get into the car.

Seeing my drowsy expression they both laugh and let me sleep on the drive to school promising to wake me up when it is time to go to class, sighing a stretch out in the back lying on my backpack. This ride is probably our quietest ever Eve hums to the song on the radio while Lenny plays Legend on Zelda, I'm lucky to have them as friends they know when not to intrude and when I actually need quiet. Before I know it I somehow fell asleep and Eve is poking my face to wake me up while Lenny is laughing, yawning I scratch my head and drag my feet as we walk to the school. Since class is about to start I promise to text them during class and head off to physics, when I walk in Drew is sitting in the seat next to mine and messing around on his phone. Today's class is just finishing the labs from yesterday since Drew and I finished we sit at our table texting on our phones.

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MyPrincessEve: Guys! English is so boring tell me a joke!

NessL: A girl walks into a bar and the bartender is like I think you should change your clothes... the girl goes why... the bartender say because I think you put on your invisible clothes....

MyPrincessEve: ewwww I said a joke not that gross stuff

Me: nice one Len I approve that joke

MyPrincessEve: I need girl friends you guys are to much

NessL: I veto that idea all in favor

Me: I!

NessL: the votes are in sorry Eve you have been out voted so...

MyPrincessEve: :0 you guys are joking right?

Me: nope with another girl we would have to split our time with you so not happening

NessL: agreed.

MyPrincessEve: wow selfish much. :) you idiots.

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I smiled all through physics and I caught Drew looking over a couple of times laughing at our conversation, he would laugh when Lenny and Eve would banter about food and I couldn't hold back when they argued about the movie we are seeing on Saturday. When class is over I'm getting ready to walk out the door when I am stoped by Drew.

"Hey uhh I was wondering if it was cool if I sat with you guys at lunch... before you say anything I know you guys are pretty close so I'm okay if you have to ask them first just let me know..." with that he leaves me his number and takes off to his next class I'm left there in a daze but after shaking my head I leave those thoughts behind and walk into to my next class.

Texting Lenny and Eve I don't notice when I bump into someone lucky they keep their balance so I don't make the mistake of reaching out for them, but surprise it is Bethany again. With a quick apology I move past her and head to English class, in class we cover some nonfiction books that are required for us to read by the end of the first semester we have to read three and turn in a report. I now agree with Eve about English being boring so I text her an apology and warn Lenny since he has it next but he just thinks we are being babies, he will see while we can still text I tell them about Drew.

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NessL: The same Drew that beat you up on your first day? That one, hell no!

MyPrincessEve: What!!!! Who touched my subject I will have their head... Executioner!!!!!

NessL: Ready when you are your highness!

Me:... you know sometimes I never know when we are being serious or not. SMH. But I do think he has changed.

MyPrincessEve: no if you bring him I will not sit with you or talk to you ever again

NessL: I second that!

Me: Fine just as well anyway I'm still cautious of him just thought I would ask.... see you soon got to read.

MyPrincessEve: See you soon my Subjects

NessL: Off to the chopping block.

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I send a quick text to Drew apologizing then start reading about Steve Jobs and his creation of Apple, it's not part of the list but we get to read one not on it so I'm going to start with this one.

When it is time for lunch I just buy a couple of light snacks from the cafeteria then wait at the usual table for Lenny and Eve to show up, as always Lenny shows up first and scoffs down his sandwich before going off about English. When Eve finally shows up she is blushing and giggling like a little girl who has a huge secret after a quick glance at each other Lenny and I start our investigation about what happen to her.

"Spill the beans girlie, why so happy?" I inquire

"It's nothing. Like you said sometime people need to keep private things to themselves." Eve refutes back to me.

"Oh so our Princess does have a secret." Lenny sings. Quickly bringing out his phone under the table he shoots me a message just between us and we send guess back and forth, finally settling on her liking a guy.

"What are you guys doing?" She ask looking between the two of us.

"Nothing!" We say in unison laughing and then we start playing the Switch leaving Eve to happily giggle by herself lost in her thoughts. We don't address what we are both thinking but I know that Lenny definitely likes Eve but is holding himself back because we just met and he doesn't want to ruin our friendship.

"Hey by the way I'm not riding with you guys home I have to do some personal things." I say trying to give them some alone time together, both of the look at me in unison Eve loses her smile and blush and Lenny looks like he wants to say something but doesn't comment.

"Okay we need to address this whole privacy thing. I count you two as my best friends so I want all the secrets gone." Eve says her face falling more looking at us intently.

"No secrets here." Lenny says holding up his hands trying to appease her.

"Same," I state, "I just have a lot of running around to do plus go to the social security office so I didn't want to bore you guys with the wait." Making a bald face lie I keep my face straight look her right in the eye.

"Are you sure?" She doesn't sound convinced but let's me off when I cross my heart.

"So since we aren't keeping secrets why were you smiling and blushing earlier." Lenny asked.

"Ummmm well that has to stay a secret." She says shamelessly.

"Shame shame." I say shaking my head Lenny agrees with me.

The rest of lunch we go back to normal laughing and playing games, to mix things up we actually get school work done and help each other on various things before we all start reading for English. The rest of the day is uneventful besides Bethany and I actually working together again on our packet without fighting or ignoring each other but I wouldn't call us friends maybe just actual partners in class. When the day ends I send a quick text to Eve and Lenny telling them I will see them tomorrow, hopefully without me there Lenny will work up the courage to make a move. On the bus I get off near a Starbucks and head inside hoping to buy a muffin before I head home, as I walk in I end up bumping into someone who is leaving and her coffee is spilt all over my shirt.

"Shit! I'm so sorry." Her voice is raspy and attractive matching her looks she is probably in her mid twenties, redhead, green eyes and a killer body.

"Don't worry about it I should have been watching where I was walking, let me buy you a new drink." I offer.

"Ummm I'm kind of in a rush but here," snatching my phone she puts her number in then calls her phone, "I will text you later and we can work out dry cleaning and you can buy me that coffee."

After that like the wind she was gone and since I was still soaked from the coffee being spilt on me I turn around and head home so I can change, when I get the my mom is dancing around the living room with two other people. A little girl is bouncing around her hair flailing in the air smacking her in her face while she laughs while she bounces around copying my mom. The older lady is dancing along grabbing the little girls hands and making kissing faces at her, causing the little girl to laugh harder and my mom to join in it looks like fun. The little girl is the first to notice me and she bounces over and grabs my hands asking telling me to join in, not one to disappoint I start dancing wildly which makes the little girl break out into fits of giggles which makes her stop dancing.

"Oh Josh you're home early. What happen to your shirt?" My mom questions picking me out another from my clothes and tossing it to me.