Teen Ink

Not Like The Others

The late September sun shined down on me as I walked with my best friends, Dallas and Fabian. A slight breeze blew my crow black hair back. Dallas was talking about the new girl at school. Florence Quinn. Long blond hair, big blue eyes, and killer legs. I predict she will join the cheerleading squad in a week. The way Dallas was talking about her I could have sworn he was in love. Of course he never had the courage to go up and talk to her.
Shame too. Dallas has the ability to be popular and get girls. He just does not use it. Dallas had dirty blond hair that was untamed and shined in the sunlight. He was tall and slender. He had swimming gray eyes and a very handsome face. His smile was brilliant. It shined even in the dimmest of lighting.
"I'm telling you! She's the most beautiful girl I've ever met!" Dallas cheered as we walked.
"Yeah. Too bad you can't talk to girls." Fabian pointed out.
Fabian does not have much luck with girls either. Not that he would want it. Fabian was short and gay. Meaning he likes boys. He had hazel hair and chocolate brown eyes. He always wore glasses and was always on his iPhone or Macbook. He was also scrawny. But in a cute way.
"Hello? I'm a girl and he doesn't have trouble talking to me." I told them.
"Yeah. But you don't count." Dallas said.
"Excuse me?" I said and stopped in my tracks.
I knew Dallas realized his blunder at once. But I was still offended. I knew that since I hang out with two boys that they would soon forget what gender I am. But still. How would you like it if someone told you you do not count as a girl when you clearly are? I do not know what makes them forget. When we go swimming at Fabian's uncle's pool I wear bikinis. I wear dresses and skirts sometimes. The walls in my room are hot pink.
I have fairly big breasts. And I complain about cramps and become cranky once a month. So what makes them forget? Is it because I listen to heavy metal and rock music? That the walls of my room are lined with pictures of my favorite hockey team, the Flyers? That I play guitar and belch just as good as the boys can? Or maybe it is because I play Call Of Duty and Halo?
"I-I mean that, you know, you're not like most girls." Dallas said weakly.
"And what's that supposed to mean?!" I said heatedly.
"J-j-just that you don't act like a normal girl." He replied.
"Oh. So now I'm not normal?" I almost hollered.
Dallas looked at Fabian for help. Fabian had an expression on his face that said that he was enjoying himself. I was spitting mad. Just because I do not act all girly and frilly it does not mean that I am not a girl. I have all the parts.
"No! No! You're perfectly normal! It's just that you're not like Florence. She's beautiful and-" Dallas stopped himself at once.
"So now I'm ugly!?" I hollered.
"No! No! You are not ugly! It's just... Just.... Ju-" Dallas could not find the words to help him.
"You know, Dallas, I am a girl. I am NOT ugly. And I would like my best friend to remember that I am a female. Now, if you'd excuse me I'm late for something far away from you." I said and stormed away without looking behind.
I was so angry. Sure, I am not like most girls. I understand that. I am just pissed that my own best friend forgets it. It is like me forgetting that he is a boy and letting him borrow my bras. I shoved my hands into my black leather jacket pockets. My eyes were glued to the sidewalk.
Since my eyes were stuck on the ground I accidently ran into some one. We both fell down and hit the pavement hard. My back ached.
"Oh my God. I am so sorry!" I exclaimed as I rubbed my back.
"It's okay. I wasn't looking where I was going either." Said a male's voice.
I looked up and came face to face with Florence Quinn's cousin, Lance Quinn. Lance was just as good looking as Florence. From what I heard, Florence came to live with Lance's family because of money problems. I stared into his dark blue eyes for a moment. I was rendered speechless.
Lance seemed to be the same way. An awkward silence settled in between us. Finally Lance stood up. He held out his hand and helped me up. Nobody has ever done that to me. Not even my godfather, Blade, or my twin brother, Sage,
"I'm Lance." He said and held out his hand again,
"Scout." I said and shook his hand.
We began walking together. For awhile we did not say anything. Nobody else was around.
"So, how long have you lived in Cedar Hills?" Lance asked.
"Since I was born." I answered.
"Really? I've never seen you around."
I kept my head down. Of course Lance Quinn never noticed me. I hanged out with Dallas and Fabian all my life and never stood out. I always stayed to the back of the class room and never spoke. I did not have charm or looks. I was plain old Scout Ross.
"Probably because I hang out with Dallas Champ and Fabian West." I said and shrugged.
He nodded. Silence had swept in again. The only sound was our feet on the pavement. No cars passed. It was just us and the houses that surrounded us.
"It's kind of funny how I never noticed you. You are very pre-" He could not get the rest out.
A silver convertible with a bunch of giggling girls and buff football players rolled up. I knew the driver was Eric Stiller, the quarterback for Cedar Hill High's football team, the Wasps. In the passenger's seat sat Dallas's ultimate crush, Florence Quinn. In the back sat another football player, Jacob Horn, and a cheerleader, Tinselly Cohenn.
"Lance! Where have you been? You were supposed to come to the Pop Cafe with us." Florence said.
"Something came up." Lance said.
I watched Florence. Her blond hair flowed behind her. It was almost as if there was a breeze that was just for her and only her. Her blue eyes sparkled a bit. Her smile was beautiful. Not just normal beautiful either. It was freeze time and stare beautiful. She then turned her eyes on me.
"Dude, why are you hangin' around Scoot Ross?" Eric asked.
"It's Scout." I said coldly.
"No one cares what your name is!" Tinselly giggled.
I glared at her. Why must they be so mean? Just because I am not all "Oooooh! Let me braid your hair!" it does not mean I do not have feelings.
"Lay off her, Tinselly." Lance said.
"Why are you hanging out with her?" Florence asked.
"Because I can hang out with whomever I want." Lance said defensively.
By the looks of it it seemed that Lance hated the popular people just as much as I did. Which was odd since he was one of them. I have never met a popular person who hated the people he hanged around with.
"Fine. See you at home Lance." Florence said coldly as the drove away.
"God! I hate her so much!" Lance exclaimed as we watched the silver convertible drive away.
I giggled. He wheeled around to face me. He looked offended that I was giggling. But can you blame me? A popular kid who hates popular kids.
"Why are you giggling?" He asked sounding slightly offended.
I smirked at him.
"I just find it kind of funny that you'd rather hang out with a loser like me instead of go with your friends." I said.
"Why would anyone want to hang out with Florence and Tinselly? They make me wanna shoot myself." Lance explained.
I giggled again. We began to walk further. This time we talked a lot more. He told me he really hates being popular and that he wished he could play football without having everyone praise him. He secretly likes bands like Panic! At The Disco, Paramore, NeverShoutNever, and The All American Rejects. I could not believe who I was talking to.
Eventually we made it to my favorite coffee place. The Blues. This is where me and my band, The Masked Vamps, play. The owners are family friends of mine. Carson, the straight out of college cashier, greeted us.
"Hey, Scout!" Carson cheered.
"Hey, Carson!" I cheered back.
Lance and I walked up to the counter. Carson had a five o'clock shadow and snarly black hair. Carson was also gay. Just like Fabian. Fabian has had a crush on Carson since a year ago when he started working at The Blues.
"You know, Dallas was in here earlier looking for you." Carson said.
"Ugh." I muttered,
"You two fighting?" Carson asked.
"He said I didn't count as a girl." I informed him.
"Ouch. Well, you want the regular?"
I nodded my head.
"You want anything?" I asked Lance.
He shook his head. Carson returned with my vanilla coffee based frappiccino. Lance and I turned away and found a table near the back. I sipped on my frappe silently. Lance stared at me for awhile. I kind of felt like I was under expection.
"I'm sorry I've never noticed you before, Scout." Lance finally said.
"It's okay. I'm used to not being noticed." I said.
"Friday night there's going to be a party at my house. I would like you to come." Lance said.
I stared at him. I have never been invited to a high school party before. I did not know what to say.
"You can bring Dallas and Fabian if you want." Lance said quickly.
"Okay. I'll come." I finally said.
After I was done with my frappe Lance walked me home. On our walk home we got to know each other more. I told him about Blade and Sage. I told him about The Masked Vamps and how I was lead guitarist and singer. He listened to every word that came out of my mouth.
"Well this is my house." I said when we reach my place of residence.
Right before Lance was going to say goodbye Sage came out. Sage looked just like me. Except he was a bit taller. We had the same crow black hair. His hair reached his shoulders. We had the same jade colored green eyes. The same nose and the same jaw line.
"Lance Quinn? What are you doing here?" Sage asked.
"He was just walking me home, Sage." I said.
Sage shrugged and walked off the porch. He eyes me and Lance for a moment. He then walked away. Lance and I were left alone. He stuck his hands into his pockets.
"Well, I guess I'll be going. See you around, Scout." Lance said.
"Bye." I said with a little wave.
I watched as Lance Quinn, most popular boy in Cedar Hills High, walked away from my house.