Ghosts in the Snow

Kellin and I texted briefly before me worrying about him not getting sleep. He agreed, and after my goodnight text, I drifted off. What felt like minutes later was the alarm, I hit snooze two times and by the third time I noticed 30 minutes had passed. Valuable time lost.

I took a quick shower and walked around freezing in a towel. I went into my room to look for decent clothes, nothing that I hardly any good clean clothes. I rolled my eyes, annoyed at my neglectful laziness, making a mental note to do laundry after school. I settled for a Queen shirt which wasn't exactly my favorite and some denim jeans.

Mike was up and we made some small breakfast. After scarfing down scrambled eggs and bacon, we headed to school. Just another day as a junior in Mission Bay High.

"You know what I look forward to next year?" Mike spoke, I turned my head looking at him, trying to seem like I was not disinterested, which I wasn't.

"What?"

"Football games." I raised my eyebrows and looked at him confused.

"Since when do you like football games?" I laughed.

"I have a friend who plays clarinet in band. He talks so passionate about halftime shows, marching season he calls it. I never paid attention before but he has gotten me so interested in it,"

I smiled, "so what are you going to join the drumline now?"

He smiled back, "nah, makes sense but people tell me playing marching drums is way different than a drum set,"

"So you at least considered it," he jokingly rolled his eyes.

My brother has played drums longer than I've practiced guitar. At one point we considered making a band just for fun, but we never got to it. As we passed the old Quinn house, it looked cleaner, and more empty.

Walking up to the front entrance we saw Kellin in his same spot from yesterday, talking to... Jaime! I ran up to him and gave him a quick hug. "What are you doing here?!"

"Transferred back, Clairemont was a bore." He explained.

"Is Tony coming back?" I asked.

"Next year, but it might be after this semester."

"Thank God," Mikey said. Tony is his best friend. One thing that caught my eye was Kellin wearing a black Harley Quinn shirt.

"Harley Quinn? Is that your wife?" I jokingly acknowledged.

"Toats, my mom and I went shopping after school yesterday since some of my clothes burnt in the fire." He went shopping for clothes, maybe for our 'date' last night? Oh God...

I frowned and my voice felt sad, "man I am SO, SO, SO sorry about last night! I don't know what happened, I remember walking home and the next thing I remember is waking up," Kellin laughed, it's okay. Mikey looked at me, confused.

"What?" He asked.

"Mikey, what did I do after school yesterday?" I anxiously asked.

"You just went to sleep right after we got home," Dear God.... What ever over came me I have no idea.

"Maybe you were really exhausted. Or you were just in shock of my sexiness," Kellin winked. I jokingly pushed him.

"Whatever," I replied.

Jaime, crossing his arms and leaning against the wall, asked, "are you guys dating or something?"

"What do ya think?" Kellin closed his eyes and kissed me on the cheek. I blushed.

"Awwwwww!" Jaime and Mikey spoke in unison.

After going inside and putting my backpack in my locker, I went to English. Mrs. Bitch, I mean Mrs. Botch stared at each of us as we walked in. I sat in my usual seat but Mrs. Botch looked at me like I was insane. "Don't you see the paper on the board? New seating chart." I rolled my eyes. I went to the chart and saw that my new seat was right by her desk. She either hates me or is obsessed with me.

The next few periods went by fast. A déjà vu moment came when jocks talked about how they were ready for next year's football season, even though it was only late November. I was also trying to hurry and finish homework in between classes since I didn't do it last night.

Lunch came and the four of us sat outside. For the first time in a while, animosity wasn't felt around here.

Eating what tasted like actually decent school lunch food, I spoke first, "so Jaime, why did you and Tony move in the first place?"

"Just some bullshit with the people around here, my parents thought I was getting bullied." He explained.

I signed, "oh yeah, we all know how that is."

Kellin spoke, "I feel ignorant, what are you guys talking about?"

"The people around here like to get physical and be assholes," Jaime said what Mikey and I didn't feel like saying.

Kellin looked concerned, "oh my God, has anyone messed around with you Vic?" He spoke lowly.

Mike looked at me, "it's a long story."

"Well I mean come on, we are together right? Strangely we don't know that much about each other," He had a point.

"I know, it's just a story for not here at school."

"I understand," he nodded.

"Things are kind of better now though," I included.

"We all need to hang out sometime," Jaime said finishing his sandwich. After we all nodded with our rounds of 'yes,' Jaime explained.

"I have a few connections-"

"Connections as in Tony and your cousin?" I interrupted.

Jaime paused, "I have a few connections and there is a local concert with a few bands like Atreyu and others, and there is like 10 tickets left,"

"Hell yeah!" Mikey yelled loudly. I looked around to make sure no one heard him. From a distant a teacher stared at us. We all burst out in laughter.

"Kellin do you ride the bus?" I asked.

"Nah, I walk. The apartments are too close." Right there I saw an opportunity.

"You want me walk you home after school today?" His eyes lit up.

"Sure!" He exclaimed.

I texted my mother to reassure it was okay if I got home slightly late. She saw this as an excellent way to befriend the kid who's home recently burnt down, even though she doesn't know we're together. Maybe a week from now I'll tell her. She's always been pretty supportive of my sexuality.

After school, the three of us walked to Guatemala Apartments. Kellin looked sort of down, I put my hand lightly on his shoulder.

"Kellin what's wrong?" I asked sincerely concerned about my boyfriend, it seemed kind of odd thinking of him that way, as my boyfriend, but it felt great.

"I don't think that Jaime guy likes me," He spoke.

"Why not?" I asked.

"Yeah Jaime wouldn't hurt a fly," Mikey added in.

"Well, it looked like he was giving me a death glare after I kissed you on the cheek this morning," He said, looking up at me finally. Mikey just gave me a look. I knew exactly what was going on.

"Oh, well if he didn't like you he wouldn't have invited you to the concert," I reassured. Jaime has always had a thing for me, at one point I did too, but we never hit it off. Jaime made me jealous too many times it pissed me off, Jaime realized that and stopped, but after that he still got mad at points. I just don't think I could have been with him then or now.