Allicia

When Lucus got home, he sat on mis bunk bed to think. When he had first heard he could bring a plus one, he thought of inviting Ben, but he was already going. Now he didn't know anyone else to bring. He could bring Allicia, but would she think it was weird? He racked his mind for ideas. Plenty of people liked him. I mean, a lot of people said hi to him in the hallways, so he could ask one of them. That's even worse. He thought. He wasn't that close to any of those people, and only knew about half of their names. Allicia was the better option. Besides, anyone at school could be going. Most of them were rich. Allicia wasn't extremely rich. Her family was wealthy, but not gala wealthy. She was one of the few students that got in purely due to academic achievement. She bragged a lot about her awards in math and writing. They were friends. Ben would also be there. She would be left out if he didn't invite her. Don't overthink it. They were close enough, she wouldn't get the wrong idea.

The next day at school, Lucus was ready. When the bus doors opened, he could already tell where Allicia was. He made his way over.

"Hey Allicia," started Lucus catching up to Allicia after getting off the bus. "Wanna go to a gala with me?" she paused and cocked her head to the side. She looked like an adorable puppy.

"Are you asking me out?" asked Allicia. Lucus turned red.

"No! It's just that I have this thing that I need to-" she cut him off with a laugh.

"Relax carrot top. I know you wouldn't ask that." She elbowed him in the side and ruffled his hair. She had to go up onto her toes to reach. Lucus was a lot taller than Allicia. Maybe a couple inches, but that goes a long way. He laughed and pushed her to the side.

"So will you go? It's this saturday. Ben's going too." He looked towards her expectantly.

"Sure. I'm free. Ben already told me. Cool that you're doing a speech. Did you write it yet?" asked Allicia. They passed the fountain and Allicia hopped onto the wall of it. She stuck out her arms as if concentrating on walking a tightrope. "I wonder who will be there. I want to do something big for this world, and maybe someone there can help with that. Isn't it supposed to be really fancy?" She opened a lollipop and stuck it in her mouth.

"I wrote it last night. I couldn't sleep thinking about it. It's supposed to be a really big thing. I'm like, a guest star or something. I went viral on some social media. I'm not sure." How did they find out? Was he really that important that he was going to speak in front of so many important people, all who knew who he was?

"Oh yeah! You were everywhere. You were even on the news. I forgot to tell you. I've never seen my mom so in awe of someone before." she patted him on the head again as if congratulating him and hopped off the fountain. Allicia then launched into a sprint, forcing Lucus to run to catch up with her.

When they got back into the school, Allicia doubled over and panted out of breath. Lucus arrived at the same time and didn't seem out of breath at all. "Ya know, when I see you run like that, it's hard to believe you can't even see."

"I hear people"

"You what?"

"And I smell them. Highschoolers have serious B.O." They walked into the classroom where Ben was waiting for them.

At lunch, Allicia wasn't there. She was in the hallway. It was almost empty, save for Allicia and a few other girls. They weren't from her class.

"I don't know what you want from me." She said deadpan. This was getting old, and now, it was cutting into her eating time. "It's pizza day, so if you don't mind, I'm gonna go now." Allicia began to spin around on her heel when one of the girls stopped her. The girl was slightly taller than Allicia, and had dark black hair. She wore heavy makeup and a cropped shirt. She had baggy jeans on and held a vape pen in her left hand. Her friends held Allicia down, pushing her against a locker. Allicia let them.

"What are you doing to my Lucus?" She asked.

"What do you mean 'your Lucus'?" Scoffed Allicia rolling her eyes and moving her lollipop with her tongue. It was strawberry flavored.

"Lucus is perfect. From his strawberry red hair, to his faded light grey eyes. I love him for the good things, and the bad things. He deserves better than you." She narrowed her eyes as she said "you". Allicia paused before answering.

"No offense lady," she meant all offense, "but I doubt he knows, nor does he care that you exist." she lolled her lollipop in her mouth as she spoke, letting the candy hit her teeth in little clicks.

"Of course he does! I leave him little notes in his locker every day! I even left a little candy in there for him!" The girl was beginning to get really mad. She clenched her fist with both hands, as if resisting the urge to slap Allicia across the face.

"Oh so those are what those were. I hate to break it to you, but you know he's blind, right. He doesn't like strawberries either. He gives them to me." Allicia plucked the lollipop out of her mouth and waved it in the other girl's face. The older girl went pale and then became a cherry red.

"Shut up! Just because you have a pretty face, doesn't mean you can have everything you want. I could buy your family!" she slapped Allicia in the face, hard. It would have left a huge mark, had Allicia not caught her hand in time. She grinned and looked up.

"Well look at that," she said, stepping forward. She smiled sweetly, easily pulling herself away from the grasps of the other girls. She put her face up close to the other girl's. "You just made the first strike."