There was a collective sigh of relief around the classroom as the final bell of the day rang out. I smiled as the majority of my classmates made a mad dash for the door as soon as our teacher had dismissed us. A lot of people didn’t like school, but I didn’t really mind, so I took my time putting my books away, deciding to let the crowd die down before I made my own exit.
I had had a pretty good day, all things considered, and so I was in a good mood as I picked up my bag and walked over to the door. I said goodbye to our teacher and then made my way to my locker, intending to meet up with Nathen before I headed home and shi attended hir soccer practice.
Nathen was shutting up hir locker as I arrived and had already changed into hir soccer kit. Shi turned around and smiled when shi spotted me. I gave hir a quick wave as I approached and put in the combination to my own locker. Last year we had shared nearly all of our classes together and now we only had one, so we didn’t get as much time to hang out with each other during the day.
After putting my things away and gathering the necessary books that I would need for my homework, Nathen and I made our way into the schoolyard, where our other friends were waiting for us.
“Hey gals!” I greeted them as we got closer. Mayrin and Dezlan seemed to be engaged in a conversation and didn’t notice us at first, but Julianna did. Hei was standing close by with hys friends, Lexanne and Deanna. They didn’t always hang out with us, preferring instead to hang out with their gurlfriends.
“Oh, hey gurls,” Mayrin offered once shi and Dezlan had finally noticed us.
“What were you two talking about?” I asked.
“Oh, not much. Dez and I were just talking about playing Halo tonight. You in?” Shi looked at both Nathen and I. Nathen shook hir head.
“Can’t, I have soccer practice.” When Dez looked at hir confused, shi added, “Coach wants us to do a fitness session before we get into the real practice after summer.”
Neither of us noticed but Lexanne gave Julianna a nudge and hei spoke up.
“Um, well, I normally would probably go and watch Nathen but I...um...I’m…” Hei trailed off, looking to Lexanne for help. Lexanne shook hys head and put hys arm around Julianna.
“What Jules is trying to say is that hei’s meeting someone after school. Isn’t that right babe?”
“Um, yeah, A gurl in class asked me out and I said yes.”
We all looked at Julianna, stunned.
“W-what?” Nathen asked. “Who?”
“Never mind who,” Lexanne stepped in as Julianna opened hys mouth. “Prom is a few weeks away and you can’t expect a boi to be dateless for it can you?”
Nathen bowed hir head.
“I guess not, it’s just…” Shi looked up at Julianna and then looked away. “It’s nothing, I’ve got to get to practice.”
I couldn’t help but notice that Julianna made a movement to follow hir but Lexanne seemed to be holding hym back. I looked at Mayrin and Dezlan who just shrugged and then I ran off after Nathen.
“Hey, Nate!” I called as I caught up to hir. I put an arm around hir shoulder as we walked.
“Are you okay?”
Nathen sniffed a little but held hir composure. “I’m fine, I just didn’t expect Julianna to be dating anyone.”
“Well, in hys defence, what Lexanne said about prom was right. Have you ever seen a boi single at a dance before?”
Nathen shook hir head.
“Whose side are you on?” shi asked grumpily.
“I’m on your side, obviously. I’ve been rooting for you two to get together since we started high school. You were just too oblivious to notice that hei was interested in you. I figured that you two would eventually get together at some point, but I never expected this.”
Nathen stopped and looked at me.
“Yeah, I guess you’re right. I guess that I just didn’t want to do anything that would ruin our relationship. I mean, hei’s always been there for me. Like when dad and mom split up.”
I nodded, placing a hand on hir shoulder.
“Sometimes you just have to woman up and take the plunge.”
Nathen nodded. We had arrived at the soccer pitch.
“I’ll see if I can talk to Julianna about it for you.” Nathen smiled and looked at me.
“Thanks Zane… You’re the best.”
I nodded and watched as Nathen jogged onto the field to join the rest of the team. After a few moments, I turned around and headed home.
