Frozen Mate (boyxboy)

Chapter 3

School drags on endlessly. Teachers introduce me to the class, force me to say a few words about myself in front of a crowd of uninterested kids, and I blush profusely before making my way to a designated seat. Few kids speak to me, and the ones that do are clearly just being nice. It's tough to make friends with a massive brute hot on your trail, scaring off any potential friends on my same social level: the geeks.

I pass the girl, Rachel, in the hall, but she just rolls her eyes at the sight of Chase taking his job as an office aid too far. When Chase starts to pick on kids who get in my way or accidentally bump into me, I get agitated. It's like he's planning on making me a social pariah at the school.

"I can find my way to class by myself," I huff, fed up with his company. "I'm not going to get lost. I'm not an idiot after all."

"That remains to be seen," He mumbles.

"Please just give me my schedule." I plead.

"I don't have it," He shrugs. "I memorized the classes."

"Where is it?"

"I gave it to someone." Chase explains. He holds the door to the foreign language hall open for me and I cross his path without acknowledging the friendly deed. Kids seem to part like the Red Sea in his presence or when any of his friends are in the vicinity, as if they're some sort of school royalty. It disgusts me.

"Can I ask who?" I press further.

"Nope."

"Just tell me," I beg, grabbing hold of his arm before he can escape the question once more.

My touch seems to set him off, like it burns his skin, and he jerks away, eyes glancing around in search for Lord knows what. He's clearly on edge, on the defense, making sure no one saw what just happened. I blush at how embarrassed he is by my touching him.

"Don't do that," He growls low and menacing. "I probably have your stench all over me now. I'm going to be in a world of trouble. Thanks a lot!"

"My stench?" I ask, appalled, feeling like I'm about to cry. I hadn't realized he would be so cruel.

He groans. "You don't understand," Chase complains. "Let's get you to lunch, before you get me killed."

My body freezes up. Lunch is what I've dreaded most about today. At my old school, new kids were basically exiled to sit alone for the first week at the school, until they could push their way into one of the cliques. I usually just sat in the library during lunch, did homework or read the first few chapters of a book, and I intended on doing that here also.

"I'm actually just gonna go to the library," I tell him. "I'm not a fan of big crowds."

Chase shakes his head. "Sorry, kiddo. I have to bring you to our table. Orders are orders."

I can't imagine how things could get any worse, unless the ceiling were to collapse on top of me, but that could also be seen in a positive light at the moment. I don't want to sit with the popular kids or associate with them in any form, this whole day is tumbling downhill at a ridiculous speed.

The Cafeteria is a jungle. The moment I step foot inside I feel winded by the mass of people, all chatting loudly, scarfing food in their mouths, sending me intrigued looks. It's barbaric. Chase leads me over to his table, staying alert in case I decide to make a break for it, which I consider multiple times in the small span of time. His friends sit by the wide windows overlooking the frozen pavilion. About twenty or something kids are seated around a couple of tables pushed together to form a clump of seats.

"Make way," Chase announces. "We have royalty coming through."

I feel my cheeks heat up as the kids give me inquisitive looks, realization dawning on most of their faces. They part and allow us through, and Chase directs me over to the epicenter of the group. He gestures to one of the seats and I sit carefully, eyeballing the other kids at the table, all massive and scary attractive. I'm very humbled by their presence.