The Trouble-Makers

I walked into my history class just as the bell rang and I let out a sigh of relief. Today was not going too well, because as much as I used to like being a loner, it was beginning to feel lonely. I know it's better to have no friends than to have friends like Nicki, but at least when you were with them you didn't feel on your own.

"Psst," I heard from the back of the class, and my eyes connected with...Alex? What was he doing in this class? He tilted his head towards his left, where an empty seat was at.

"Ms. Kent, if you would please take a seat," my teacher asked.

"Sorry," I murmured, making my way towards the back and sitting down besides Alex, confusion obviously spreading on my face.

Our teacher began to go into a lecture about going into depth about the threat of World War III starting, but I zoned out and looked over at Alex. "What are you doing here?" I whispered to him, and he tilted his head to the side.

"This is my class, so I'm here." A crooked smile graced his lips and I just shook my head at him. "I usually skip this class and just go straight to lunch." He shrugged his shoulders.

I shook my head disapprovingly but I was extremely thankful he was in this class with me, now I wouldn't be lonely here.

"Jaime's has this class for his first period of the day, so I just borrow his notes from that day and copy them down." He took a notebook out and I recognized the perfect handwriting and he offered them to me. I instantly snatched the notebook and began copying them down. "I see someone already knows about Jaime's perfect scores," he snickered.

***

The bell rang for lunch and I sighed. Last year I always ate in the courtyard or the libarary, which ever seemed the most appealing at the time. I picked up my books and began walking towards the front of the class.

"Hey, wait," I felt Alex's hand grab my arm. "What are you doing for lunch?"

I turned to look at him. "Probably eating in the courtyard," I said, shrugging my shoulders. I honestly didn't mind eating by myself, I usually brought a book or something to distract me. I know I'd have a couple people watching me curiously because I don't think it's exactly "school news" yet that Zack and I are over.

"All by yourself?" Alex asked, tilting his head to the side, his typical crooked smile on his face.

"That's the plan," I said, adjusting the books in my arms.

"Why don't you eat with us?" He asked, leaning back on his feet as if he were expecting to get shot down. A timid smile was on his face, and this is where I realized there was so much about Alex I had yet to learn. I always thought he was just another Trouble-Maker, the kind of kid who's goal purpose in life was to just make life hard...but this year, with him defending me, and then comforting me, my thoughts were beginning to change.

"I don't know if the guys would be cool with that," I said, shifting my weight to my hip.

"Are you kidding? Don't get me wrong, they kind of...well, they did hate you at first because you were part of the clique, but they're already warming up to you since they realized you're not like them. Even Jack is," Alex said enthusiastically. "Come on, they won't bite."

This was like dating Zack all over again because, again, I couldn't say no to this charm. "Fine," I said, fighting the smile that was creeping onto my face.

***

"We've got a guest, guys," Alex said as he slid into one of the table's chairs. I slowly sat down beside him, feeling out of my comfort zone to be sitting with the Trouble-Makers. I know I misjudged all of them and they seemed like great guys, but it was still hard to be around them without feeling shy.

"Well if it isn't princess!" Jack said from across the table. He seemed like he was in a good mood today, but his moods always flipped on and off like a light switch. In a sense, he was pretty much a ticking time bomb.

"Someone's feeling pretty rebellious today, huh?" Jaime added, his dark hair spiking out from underneath the beanie he was wearing.

"Had enough of those clowns, eh?" Rian went on, and I was at least comfortable that they weren't being hostile to me.

"The only reason I was even with them in the first place was because of Zack, and now that we aren't together anymore I have no reason to be over there," I explained myself, looking down at my hands on the table.

I saw Rian nod beside me out of the corner of his eye. "Yeah, they're all not the best crowd to hang out with."

"And we are?" Jack asked, laughing and Rian shoved him.

"Hey, at least we're nice to people who aren't jerks," Rian defended himself. "Well, at least I'm not." He looked at Jack and Alex pointedly before getting punched on the arm by Jack.

"Ow," he complained, sticking his tongue out at Jack.

"I see you guys have a guest," Mike said, sitting down at the table with Vic beside him. I never really saw them apart from each other except for in classes since they were a grade apart.

"Didn't think I'd see you with them again," Vic added, sitting down between Mike and Jaime.

"What can I say? I prefer having fun rather than being back stabbed," I said, and the guys 'oo'd' at me.

"Dang, she's kind of feisty," Vic remarked, looking over at Jack. "Ever consider letting a girl into the Trouble-Makers?"

"She may be feisty, but I don't know if she has what it takes," Jack said, shrugging his shoulders and looking over at me.

"Do I hear a challenge?" I asked, leaning forward.

"Hm," Jack hummed, sitting farther back in his chair. "Maybe, Kent, I guess I need to see more of you to consider that."

"I am not stripping," I protested, and all the guys bursted out laughing. Their laughs were loud and contagious, so I couldn't help but giggle at it myself. But, unfortunately, the loud outburst caught the attention of most of the tables in the cafeteria, and now everyone noticed 'Zack's girlfriend' was sitting with the Trouble-Makers.

"That's not what I meant!" Jack sputtered, still trying to catch his breath.

"Oh my God, she needs to be a part of this group," Alex wheezed beside me, and I just shook my head at all of them.

Vic's face was red as he said, "you guys have a catch, I have to say."

Notes