Sterling quickly found his seat, shooting the teacher a charmingly cocky smile. She sighed and shook her head before going back to whatever it was she was doing before. Probably grading assignments or something…
(Skip to lunch?)
(sounds good to me)
The rang for lunch, and Willow was out of there before the teacher could say "Have a good day." She was practically starving from not eating anything this morning since she was in such a rush to get to school. Getting her lunch from her locker, her smile wilts the moment she realizes her best friend wasn't going to be here all week due to vacation. Why she was taking it so early in the school year, Willow didn't know. Frowning, she didn't know to sit at another table or sit by herself.
Sterling laughed with some of the guys in his group. He was already rather popular — probably because he was not only attractive, but also kind. Being somewhat rich might have helped, too.
He glanced up from his table near the center of the room and saw the girl from earlier. Catching her eye, he grinned and waved her over.
Glancing around the cafeteria, Willow saw the guy from earlier. He was surrounded by a group of guys, who seemed familiar, almost like she should know them. Suddenly, it struck her.
The guy from earlier was Sterling Ainsley, the most popular boy in her grade. And those were his friends, as popular as Sterling himself.
Seeing the wave, slowly but surely she made her way over, weaving through crowds of people. She arrived at their table, and in a small voice she said, "Hi," God, she was nervous.
“Hey,” Sterling greeted her with his signiture half-grin. “Care to join us?”
"Ah, yes, that would be great actually." Willow gave him a small smile and slid into the seat beside him. She hoped this was no one else's seat or it would be very embarrassing for the already red girl.
Sterling nodded and turned so that he was facing her more. "So, you're… Willow, right?"
"Yep," she said, popping the p. "And you're Sterling? The most popular guy in our grade?" Willow gave him a cheeky grin.
Sterling raised an eyebrow at her as he nodded slowly. "Yes, I'm Sterling, but I wouldn't say I'm the most popular guy in our grade…"
Willow took a bite of her sandwich and hummed in response. Once she swallowed, she spoke again. "Not true. Every time you walk down the hallway people stop and stare, and then they whisper about the latest rumor or whatever." She shrugged.
"Oh… Do they? I hadn't noticed," Sterling mused, looking thoughtful as he looked down at his food, his eyebrows scrunched together slightly.
"They sure do," Willow replied, happily taking another bite of her sandwich. "But don't worry about it too much; it's all good things," she added, seeing Sterling's expression. She didn't mention that his facial expression was the cutest thing.
Sterling nodded slowly and looked back up at her with that grin again. “So, how has your day been so far?”
"Pretty good so far, other than Calculus," her lips puckered sourly at the mention of her least favorite class. "Calculus is kicking my butt." Willow finished her sandwich, munching slowly.
Sterling chuckled. "I totally get that. It was hard at first, but I think I'm getting the hang of it now. If you need any help, I'd be glad to show you."
"Thank you, I'll definitely take you up on that offer sometime," Willow smiled softly."How were your classes? I mean, other than History."
Sterling shrugged and picked up his fork. "They were all right. Nothing super dramatic has happened yet."
"I bet you that something will happen by the end of the week," Willow rummaged through her lunch pail for something else to eat. "It always does." Disappointed that she didn't find anything, she leaned on her head on her hand, still turned towards Sterling. I must've given the rest of the chips to Cedric.
"I'm sure it will," Sterling agreed, shooting her a quick smile before starting in on his own food. He'd decided not to bring his own lunch today, so he was stuck eating cafeteria mac-and-cheese.
Willow smiled back and busied herself with tapping a beat on the table with her fingers. Bum, bum bum, bum bum bum, bum. The beat replayed over and over on her fingers.
(Skip?)
(sounds good. to after school?)
(That works for me! Should I start, then?)
(sure !)
(All right.)
Sterling reached his locker at the end of the day and spun the lock a few times to open it. After shoving his books into his plain, black backpack, he shouldered it and started down the hallway to the doors.
Willow closed her locker after gathering her books, and slid them into her bookbag, shouldering it. Catching a glimpse of Sterling, she shoved through the crowd of people to get to him. Doing so got a couple of curse words thrown her way, but she shrugged them off.
Finally reaching him, she pushed her hair out of her face and behind her ear. "Hey Sterling,"
Sterling glanced over his shoulder at Willow and gave her a small smile. “Willow. Hey. What’s up?”
"Nothing much, just my backpack getting heavier by the day," she jokes, sending a half-smile his way.
“Homework?” Sterling asked, returning the smile.
Willow finger gunned at him. "You know it,"
They came to the doors leading to the outside, and she pushed it open, holding it for Sterling to pass through.