Chapter Three

Zach and Danny entered the student parking lot after eight. They still had time to meet up with everyone and get their schedules. Zach always tried to avoid the crowds. He hated when everyone stared wherever they went. It was like take a picture; it'll last a lot longer. Come to think of it; some girls had done that already when he and Jacob were together.

Walking up from the parking lot, they ran into a few kids they had in some of their classes last year.

"Hey, Zach and Dan, what's up?" It was a kid they had in their honors English the previous year.

"Not much," Danny replied as they walked by. Such a man of many words.

*Opening the front doors is like opening a jail cell. You know you're gonna be here a long time. *

Zach opened the front doors of the school for him and Danny to go in. He glanced around and saw Alex and Madison hanging out, talking to several guys but probably waiting for the two of them. The girls looked pretty good today, not that he had any romantic interest in either of them. Yeah, they were girls, and he guessed they could be hot to someone, but they were like sisters to him.

"Hey," Danny nudged Zach in the side, "there's Alex and Madison. Alex is looking good today. Who's she trying to impress?"

Zach glanced back and forth at Danny and Alex. They were both making eyes at one another. "Something going on between you two? You jealous,"

"Uh...no, man. Why would you say that?" Danny stuttered while trying to keep his eyes off Alex.

Zach nudged Danny's side and motioned for him to follow. They pushed their way through the crowd heading towards Madison and Alex.

"Hey," Alex said as the boys came up beside them. "Didn't think you guys were coming over here, took you long enough."

"These guys get lost in the simplest of situations," Madison commented as she turned away from talking to the guys on the other side of her. "We've had to direct them in everything they've done for the past couple of years." She winked at Alex. "They would be so lost without us."

Zach shook his head. He glanced around the cafeteria, looking to see if Jacob had made it yet. So far, there wasn't any sign of him.

"Hey, Zach, did you get your schedule yet?" Madison looked up from her printout sheet.

"Not yet. I'm gonna head over to the table now." He turned to walk toward the Senior Table. West Lakes had such a weird set-up. Every grade had a table where everyone in that grade waited in line for their class schedule.

*Why couldn't they email these stupid things out so we don't have to waste all of our morning? But hey, who am I to wanna change their whole system*.

Zach moved in and around the groups of kids. As he walked past the junior table, he had to listen to *' where's Jacob?*' from almost everyone. Guess the legend' hadn't made it to school yet. They would all know when he arrived. There would be a moment of silence as he walked through the door, and a fuckin' trumpet sound would go off, signaling the arrival of the king.

No, not that it actually happened. But knowing Jacob, he would gladly accept the honor.

Zach stood in line with about twenty other kids. Most he knew, but not on talking terms. Almost five minutes later, he heard his name.

"Zachary Lovell!" echoed through the crowd.

Zach cringed. It was Paige Ward. Shit, she must be volunteering today. She had a crush on Zach all last year. Sometimes it was to the borderline of obsession. Paige wasn't bad to look at, your basic blonde cheerleader type. She went out with Jacob once, but then again, who hadn't. But Paige definitely wasn't Zach's style. She was going through the stack of schedules that were in front of her. C'mon, it didn't take a genius to find.

"Is there an issue?" Zach's impatience with this shitshow was displayed in his tone.

Paige glanced up at him with frustration written all over her face. "I...I can't seem to find yours anywhere." Her voice trembled. "You, um, you might have to go down to the office."

Zach was trying to control his anger. He should be freaking out right now. After coming in early, standing in line, now they didn't have his schedule. Whatever! "Hey, no problem. I'll go now." He had to keep up the nice guy image. He walked back over to where his group once stood.

Madison threw her arm around his waist. "So, what's your schedule like?"

"Didn't get it yet. You know how this place works. On second thought, they don't," irritation resonated in Zach’s tone. "I have to head over to the front office, maybe they'll have it. I'll see you in a bit unless they keep me waiting."

Madison reached up on her tiptoes and kissed his cheek. She was affectionate like that. "Okay, sweetie, I'll tell Danny and Alex."

"Where are those two anyway?" Zach called out to her as she was walking away. Madison shrugged and gave him a sly grin of *' I know, but I can't tell,'* then continued on her way.