I sighed. “What about swim team members for life?”
Jenna snorted. “Best friends for life will always trump that, I should have figured that out sooner.”
“You guys,” Jenna pulled me to her table. Dana and Tina stopped talking and looked at us with open jaws. “Tina and Dana, you guys need to know a few things about my best friend here. Nobody’s allowed to give her crap about the dumbass mistakes she makes except for me. Got it, good, great, wonderful, don’t let it happen again or it’ll be my turn to give crap and we all know how good I am… at giving crap.”
Their jaws dropped, looking at Jenna like she’d lost it. But before they could agree or disagree, Jenna quickly pulled me away from the swim team’s table, far enough that we were out of earshot. “I was so angry at you for going back to him yesterday.” Jenna murmured.
“But Jenna_” I began but she held up her hand, motioning for me to stop.
“Just let me say what I need to.” Jenna shook her head rapidly. “I should have just accepted that James would be in your life again and moved on. I mean it’s your business. You should be able to date whoever you want. It has nothing to do with me.”
“You’re my best friend, it kind of is your business.” I sighed.
“Some best friend I am. I had no idea you were being tag teamed. If it wasn’t for Latisha texting me, and I almost didn’t read her text too…. things could have turned worse, like in a wow, what just happened, urban legend fifty years later, the North East hallway washroom, called an ambulance afterwards, one of them died or went to a psyche ward kind of way.” Jenna shivered from the thought, as did I.
Thinking about it again, I wasn’t sure if I could have taken on Donna and Stacey alone. They had those massive acrylics on, and there would have been twenty clawing my way if it wasn’t for Jenna coming to my rescue, showing them plastic could never reign supreme, not when it came to brute strength and an arm too quick for their lazy eyes.
The cafeteria doors popped open, bringing in a collection of animal noises. Following the over indulgent noises, James rolled in with the rest of the baseball team, heading for their table. He seemed calm, causally walking with Peter at his side. They were in the midst of discussing something, so our eyes didn’t meet.
Donna rolled in afterwards, looking upset. She headed with Stacey hot on her tail, limping towards the rest of the ‘hot’ girls who were seated together with Latisha. Donna’s eyes found mine and I was greeted with a nasty snarl. The way her lips curled reminded me of an agitated panther on one of those wildlife TV shows.
Oblivious to Donna marching towards them, Latisha and the ‘hot’ girls laughed loudly. Right as Donna arrived at the head of their table, Latisha rose from her seat and pointed to an empty table across the cafeteria. Despite not hearing their conversation, it still didn’t look pretty. Donna scowled at Latisha, saying something to her beneath the shield of clenched teeth. It was a growl, obviously. Latisha, all of a sudden pointed to me and then made a crazy sign with her hand, directing it towards Donna. Latisha pointed to every girl at the table and they all nodded.
It kind of reminded me of an election.
It ended with Latisha victorious, as every seated ‘hot’ girl waved Donna and Stacey away.
“No crazies allowed there, huh? Looks like someone was just kicked out of the group she created. Latisha actually overthrew Donna, I can’t believe it.” Jenna exclaimed, watching the scene with me.
“Latisha made her move.” I murmured, incredulous. “She didn’t just text you out of the goodness of her heart.”
“I should have known she had an ulterior motive. She wants the title of Queen ‘B’, well it’s hers now, or it will be inevitably.” Jenna smirked. She turned, and I followed facing James, who was seated with the rest of the baseball team. His back was to the tabletop and he was staring at us. “You’ve got my blessing, Anna. Go be with your man. Give him a huge hug or whatever it is you guys do to express ‘lovey dovey’ stuff to one another.”
I chuckled. “You sure, you’re not going to change your mind later and declare that he’s still an asshole for acting like a dick earlier in the week?”
“Oh, he’s still an asshole who acted like a dick earlier this week. But don’t worry, you tell Boy Wonder that your BFF is going to be hard at work coming up with a suitable punishment for his unharmonious actions.” Jenna smirked.
“Really?” I grinned. “Damn, he’s going to be nervous with anticipation, especially after I explain how bad your punishments can be.”
Jenna grinned. “Then I better get started. The sooner I declare a punishment the sooner I can sit back and laugh at him squirm.”
I laughed at her dramatic delivery. “So it’s really all good?”
“Yeah, it is. Well until somebody pisses ‘The Warrior, the Speedy Queen, faster than a sea of dolphins combined, the rock star, Jenna ‘The Wave Crasher’ Sabini, super star swimmer’ off again, then it’s game over.” Jenna smirked, walking backwards.
“Oh my God, Anna!” Becky all of a sudden at my side, exclaimed. She eyed my shoulders. “Is the rumor true? Did Donna and Stacey really attack you in the washroom?”
“Unfortunately, but it’s okay.” I stopped, and stared at Jenna taking a seat next to a sullen Tina. “My best friend was there for me.”
“Dude, next time something like that happens, call me, text me. I’m there, a hundred percent.” Becky stated. “I’m kind of sad I missed out, I wished you’d called me too. What I wouldn’t give to have an opportunity to take a swing at that narcissistic psycho.”
I laughed. “Alright, the next time I get into a fight with Donna, I’ll call you for backup.”
“Good.” She nodded, grabbing my hand and squeezing it. “What are new friends for, right?”
I smiled at her, the term ‘new friends’ making my insides feel all warm and fuzzy. “How are things with Johnny?”
She let out an exasperated moan and shook her head. “That guy is a walking box of confusion. Check this out, he texted me like crazy all last night, begging for me to hear him explain ‘what really happened’. Then I get to school this morning and he’s flirting with Carla, right beside my locker!”
My jaw dropped. “Carla, as in your closest friend?”
“Ex closest friend as of a couple of hours ago. I don’t have time for disloyal friends like that, especially when I’m spoiled with choice right in front of me.” Becky eyed me, grinning.
I laughed for a few seconds before feeling an arm pull me into a hard embrace. “Excuse me, ladies.” James murmured, curling me into his body. “But I just can’t wait any longer for my baby to come to me.”
Becky laughed and began to walk away. “I totally get it, quality time. Anna, I’ll talk to you later.”
Peter walked up to her. “You don’t have to go. Join us?” He motioned with his chin at their table.
“Really?” Becky murmured, eyeing me in confusion. “But, I’ve been sitting on the soccer team’s side since school started. Aren’t I like the enemy?”
Peter wrapped his arm around her shoulder. “We ‘baseball’ players don’t discriminate, especially when it comes to cuties like you. We won’t hold it against you that you’ve been sitting on the wrong side. We’re all allowed one or two mistakes in life. Come on, cutie, you can sit beside me.”
“Okay,” Becky murmured, dazed. Peter guided her to the baseball team’s table, pulling her down next to him.
I took a seat next to James, holding his hand tightly in my lap. “Well, it’s been an interesting lunch, hasn’t it?”