Written by: _nicosaysno_

--Luke--
I walked into room 120 and sat in my seat. Seconds before the bell rang, a tall brunette stumbled in, almost tripping on the trash can beside the door.
"YOU'RE LATE YOUNG LADY! DETENTION FOR YOU!" Mr. Kopsa practically screamed at her. Actually, literally screamed at her. "WHAT IS YOUR NAME!?!" He continued, stomping across the room.
"Zinnia Bartelo," she stated smoothly, flipping her hair behind her shoulder.
"I can already tell we're not going to get along, Ms. Bartelo. Sit next to Mr. Stowell," with that, Mr. Kopsa continued his boring lecture about silverware. Zinnia sat next to me and shoved her one folder underneath her chair.
"So what's your name? Not that I care. I hate people."
"Luke," I rolled my eyes, starting to dislike this girl.
"Cute," she twirled her hair around her finger slowly, then unraveling it resulting in a tight curl. Was she /flirting/ with me? What the hell?
"I'm flattered," I muttered, turning my attention--sadly--back to Mr. Kopsa's lecture.
"I'm Zinnia, by the way."
"I'm gay."
She was silent for the rest of class.

**time skip to 7th grade**

Zinnia and I had somehow become friends throughout the year. She had stopped flirting with me though, which I was glad for. She didn't seem to have any other friends besides me, except some guy named Kevin whom I didn't know that well. I think he's in my art class.
Speaking of, I walked into art and was met with Kevin and Taylor talking loudly about some book they had both read.
"AND I DON'T GET WHY THEY DIDN'T JUST KISS!!" Kevin whined, then caught sight of me. "Hey, Luke!"
"Think of the devil," I muttered.
"You were thinking about me?" He grinned and wiggled his eyebrows. "In what way, exactly?"
"Oh shut up, you moron," I pushed past him and grabbed my art folder. He followed me and sat in his seat, unfortunately right next to mine.
"Did you do the homework in the journal?"
"Yes," I said, pulling out my journal.
"How 'bout you, Jay?"
I lifted my gaze and saw a really buff jock. Or at least I was pretty sure he was a jock, there was no other word for him. He had short, close cropped hair, the bangs dyed a reddish blond color.
"Nope," he laughed.
"I figured," Kevin laughed as well.

Then Mr. Feasley started taking attendance.
"Mitchel DeBlasi."
"Here," a guy with a half shaved head raised his hand.
"Jay Dunn."
"Present," the jock at my table raised his hand.
She called a couple more names.
"Jocelyn Haberman."
"Yep," a petite girl with a thin frame and long, brown hair and small glasses on her face raised her hand.
"Kevin Hurley." Kevin just raised his hand mutely. I would've thought that he would've tried to put on a show, what with his perky personality and all.
"Taylor Riker."
"Heyo," the blonde girl that was talking to Kevin earlier raised her hand. She wore a leather jacket that was slightly big on her.
Mr. Feasley eventually finished taking attendance, explained some boring project and set us to work.
Kevin was acting deranged as usual, and I joked that he was possessed. "Cristo," I whispered in his ear.
"Ow!" He flinched.
"He's really possessed! Run!" Jay exclaimed, laughing his ass off, Mitchel doing the same.
"Quiet down and get to work!" Mr. Feasley scolded us. That didn't quiet our laughs very much.

Throughout the year, Kevin, Jay, Mitchel and I became closer. We basically became that group of kids that doesn't do any work and just fools around all period. Yes, I'm not proud. But it was fun. I really felt like I belonged for once, that I had found the group of friends that I would grow up with and love forever.
"Hey Luke," it was Zinnia. It turns out she was in orchestra too. She played the violin like Kevin and I.
"Hey..." Damn. I had forgotten my shoulder rest again.
"You can use mine," Zinnia offered.
"No, I'm fine."
"No. Take it," she snatched my violin out of my hands and fit her shoulder rest onto my violin.
Just then Kevin walked over. "What're you stealing the poor maiden's violin for?"
"I didn't--"
"No, Luke, you're the maiden," Kevin rolled his eyes as if this was supposed to be obvious.
"How is Luke the maiden?" Zinnia retorted, crossing her arms. "He's a /guy/."
"So? Why can't a guy be a maiden? Hm?"
"Well the dictionary definition of maiden is 'a young girl or woman, especially an unmarried one.' And Luke is neither of those. So ha."
"Well maybe Luke wants to be a young girl or woman especially a whatever words you said," Kevin crossed his arms, and I could tell he was trying to keep a straight face as Zinnia just stared expressionless at him, unblinking.
Kevin burst out laughing.
"You are such an idiot.." Zinnia muttered, face palming. "Remind me why I'm your friend again?"
"Because I'm amazing and you couldn't live without me," Kevin stated simply. "/duh./"
"Right..."

Zinnia and Kevin sit next to each other in orchestra while I'm left alone in the back. I could hear them joking and laughing in between playing. Mrs. Keagle decided that she wanted us to play by ear and played her cello and instructed us to play the same thing she did. I did it easily, as did most of the orchestra. Zinnia and Kevin's jokes and laughter stopped. I glanced over to see Zinnia, Kevin and Simon Desiderio all talking quietly. I couldn't see Kevin's face very clearly, but his face looked wet with tears. He walked out a couple minutes later, heading in the direction of the bathrooms.
He didn't come back until we were hallway through a song we had already learned.
After orchestra Zinnia was pestering Kevin about what happened.
"I'm fine, ok? I was just crying for no apparent reason, that happens sometimes!"
"It's my fault, isn't it? I did something," Zinnia insisted.
"Zinnia, why would it be your fault?" I cut in.
"I don't know!" I could tell he was actually concerned.