Even though it was October, the sun was out today. It was 3:07 PM. Approximately 22 minutes since school let out. I was supposed to be heading towards the gym because I had volleyball practice, but of course, I wasn't. I was outside in the crowd in the parking lot, just as everyone else was, because out there was Brooke McKailey and her friends sitting on top of her Jeep, waiting for the inevitable to happen. Apparently, there was some big thing that was gonna happen after school today.

At first I thought: a fight? No. Our school's too prestigious for that.

Everyone was giddy and smiley- looking at Brooke. She was one of those people who had a natural magnetic aura that made people want to be friends with her.

A few minutes passed by. 3:10 PM.

Until-- boom.

Music started to play from a car. Colton's car. LOVE by Kendrick Lamar. I looked over and saw Colton's friends, Noah and Ryan, leaning against his car doors shouting playful profanities at Colton. Something along the lines of "Don't be a pussy!"

I knew his friends were probably the ones who chose the song because Colton didn't listen to any other music except classical. It's not like he hated other music, just classical music was the only thing that calmed him. Sonata's, operas, arias, you name it. Ever since he was a child--his parents forced him to because in their eyes, they were creating a prodigy, not a person. But no one knows that except me. No one needs to.

A crowd was forming as joyful squeals erupted from the center of it.

I moved closer to see what all the commotion was.

The center was Brooke's car. The squeals were from her friends watching Colton walk up to her car with a bouquet of flowers in hand. Colton leaned against her car offering the flowers to her. She was glowing as she laughed in what felt like slow motion and hopped down from her car, Colton escorting her gently with his free hand in hers. Once she was on the ground, she accept the flowers and swung her arms around Colton, grinning giddily, then melting her body into his in a slow, passionate kiss. It looked like a scene from a movie.

They looked picturesque. Perfect.

I couldn't stop the tears from welling in my eyes. I hoped they were tears of joy, but from what was brewing in my stomach, it felt like the very much opposite of joy.

When their kiss broke, Colton's eyes searched the parking lot for something. Until his eyes landed on me.

Guess he was searching for someone.

He beamed at me, almost as if saying 'Look at me go! I finally did it!'

In a weird way, I felt like a proud parent watching their kid finally accomplish something. He had been pining after Brooke Mckailey for 3 years, and finally, he was hers. I stuck up two thumbs to Colton and he smiled again, turning away from me and burying his neck into Brooke's soft golden hair.

He looked happy. Genuinely happy.

As people came up to congratulate them, i felt like I was watching a graduation ceremony. Did people seriously care that much about Brooke and Colton? I didn't care about popularity, but fucking hell. This was a new level. I couldn't begin to imagine the pretty privilege's the new couple would have at this school- in this world. They could say anything to anyone and no one would even question it. Plus they were rich.

I pushed through the crowd until I was facing the new couple. Yes, at the front of the crowd, I was definitely out of place since I usually always blended into the background, but today was a special day. It was the day my best friend was finally genuinely happy. And I wasn't going to miss out on sharing my joy with him because I knew good as hell that he deserved it.

As I approached, their group of friends (which was Brooke, Colton, Noah, and Hannah, Brooke's best friend) began to quiet down.

"Hey, shouldn't you be in the gym helping set up?" Hannah asked before I could say anything. Oops. Almost forgot Hannah was my team's captain.

Hannah was on varsity and never failed to let it be known. Always had some type of 'injury' so she'd miss warmups and setting up for practice and games. One of those girls whose parents paid $4000 for her to do a summer volleyball club and now she thinks she's better than everyone on the team (she is, but still). Everything handed to her. Not the nicest.

"Shouldn't you?" I refuted.

"Woah, Daniels bites back?" Noah feigned surprise. Noah was one of those guys who you knew would leave a mark on the world due to his outspoken, extroverted personality, but you also knew he wouldn't be anywhere in life if it weren't for his uber rich parents who'd probably give him a loan of $1 million dollars to start up his business. Favorite film; probably Wolf of WallStreet. Plays lacrosse and destined to be a future fratboy. Definitely.

Hannah rolled her eyes. "Relax, Noah. She's a newbie. Literally just joined the team this year. What I say goes," she turned to me, "And Coach wouldn't be happy to hear about this, would he?"

"I'm heading in in a few. Just wanted to congratulate Brooke and Colton." I did not feel like arguing with this bitch.

Brooke looked up from her phone at the mention of her name and smiled, finally realizing my existence. "Awww thank you! You're so cute! Isn't she cute?" She cooed innocently, looking over at Colton for confirmation.

I met his eyes but he looked away and shrugged.

"Sure." He was acting like he didn't know me. Why was he acting like he didn't know me?

At this point, I was ready to leave. I did what I came to do and Hannah was right-- I really should be in the gym setting up. Before I could go, though-

"Wait, who are you again?" Brooke asked, still smiling, but it was faltering. She took in my appearance again, this time, with harsher eyes. I was wearing short Nike pros and a college sweatshirt. Basic practice attire. But her smile stayed stuck on her lips. God forbid she let her bubbly persona drop.

"Um, my name's Asha."

"Aye-sha?"

"No AH-sha like rhymes with Wash but add an A." I chuckled nervously.

"Aww-sha," Noah drawled out, overenunciating.

"Yeah, that's it. It kinda rhymes with No-ah if you think about it but I feel like that's a bit of a stretch." I don't know what I was doing. I don't know why I was still here, tlaking to them as if they cared about anything I had to say.

"I like it. Asha." Noah stuck out his tongue, rolling it around in a playful manner and shot me a smile/laugh. He was cute, couldn't lie about that. I laughed with him as Hannah rolled her eyes with a smile on her face, grossed out by Noah's graphic tongue mannerisms.

What I was most confused about was why they were actually treating me as if I was one of them? There was only one of two responses people like me would get from people like them.

1) Made fun of or 2) Silent treatment. And shockingly, I wasn't receiving either from any of them. Noah, Hannah, and Brooke actually seemed.. nice?

Well, no silent treatment except for from Colton.

"Come on. We should go inside," Hannah said. "For once in my life, maybe I should actually help set up. Coach is probably wondering where I am anyway." She saluted the group and began her way to the school. I nodded, following after her, but not before hearing Brooke giggle in a whisper.

"Stop daydreaming about fucking her. She'd never be into you, Noah." she snorted.

I was far away enough for them to think I didn't hear, but I did. As I looked back one more time, I saw a scene that i wish i could've taken a photo of.

Brooke, playfully elbowing Noah with a grin. Noah, a blush blazed on his cheeks, staring at me, for some reason.

And lastly, Colton.

He was staring at Noah with a flicker of masked irritation present in his eyes.

As I turned back around, i sighed. Never took Colton to be the jealous type.

He was very clearly jealous of Brooke and Noah's playful banter. I understood, though. Whenever Brooke talked to any guy, it looked like she was flirting because she was so beautiful and her laughter got people in a trance. But I knew Colton had nothing to worry about.

It was 3: 22 by the time I left.