ISAIAH

"Last first day you mofos. Who's excited?" Wesley cheers happily jumping on me.

I laugh shrugging him off but that only causes him to hold on tighter. "Apparently no one's as excited as you are." I reply.

"Of course I'm excited and you should be too. It's senior year, we are leaving this hell hole and onto a bigger and better world." He argues.

I look at Baron for help but he only shakes his head and turns to his locker to get his books.

I should be doing the same but my locker is across the hall, seemingly too far at the moment. I haven't seen my friends all summer so I'm choosing to spend these few minutes before class catching up with them.

"B tell Iz how excited he should be." Wesley declares.

"No one ever thought you'd make it to senior year Wes so I understand your excitement." Baron replies.

"What's that supposed to mean?" Wesley demands looking slightly offended.

Baron, ever a man of few words shrugs and let's Wesley fill in the gap for himself. Wesley doesn't like that so he puts Baron into a headlock and they start play fighting right there infront of me. I don't stop them because this happens at least twice a day and as long as they don't kill each other I'm okay with that.

The three of us have been best friends from the first day of freshman year when we tried out for the junior varsity basketball team and made the cut. We were scrawny looking twigs then but we've worked really hard to become the best players on the team with Baron and I as the co-captains. Wesley is the best player on the team but he didn't make captain because of his grades not that it matters to him anyway as long as he gets to play.

"Iz help me." Wesley begs when Baron twists his arm behind his back.

I laugh and step back to avoid being caught in the cross fire. I know they'll tire themselves out in a few minutes, all I have to do is wait.

Baron is the smart one of our trio and the shortest one standing at 5'11. He is the perfect blend of nerdy and sporty. He loves basketball as much as we do but he is not planning on playing it past high school. He wants to become a Neurosurgeon thus why his nose is always buried in a book unless we are on the court.

"That's my rib you jackass." Wesley cries out as he elbows Baron in the stomach.

Wesley on the other hand is the tallest motherfucker in school standing at 6'6 with a passion for basketball I've never seen on anyone else. He doesn't care about school much and only keeps his grades high enough to be allowed to keep playing. He plans to go pro beyond college football and I truly believe he'll make it.

I on the other hand - I'm the confused one. I love basketball and I have good grades but I don't know what I want to pursue as a career. I can go pro if I want to and I do love basketball but I'm not sure if it's something I want to do for the rest of my life. The good thing is that I have the whole of senior year to figure it out.

The warning bell rings and the boys let go of each other and shake hands. They're declaring a truce until lunch time when they shall continue this idiotic game of theirs. No one ever wins because where Wesley has the height, Baron has the size. I'm the perfect blend of the two standing at 6'3 with an athletic physique that I work really hard for.

"Let's get to class." I say as we pass by my locker to drop off the extra notebooks in my bag.

We have chemistry for first period, one of my favorite subjects. Perfect.

When we get to class, Wesley and I pair up while Baron sits with his lab partner Kristie. They've been paired up since sophomore year and its obvious that they have feelings for each other, being the two smartest people in our grade but they've never acted on their feelings.

"When do you think he'll ask her out?" Wesley asks playing with one of the beakers.

"Never." I reply.

"Suck a loser." Wesley snickers.

"I can hear you two." Baron says making both of us laugh.

"Care to share the joke with the rest of the class." Mrs. Turner demands from the front of the class.

"No ma'am." Wesley answers putting on a straight face while I only shake my head.

"Behave in my class or I'll be forced to separate you two." She demands.

I open my text book to the topic written on the board while Wesley keeps playing with the equipment laid out in front of us. He has the concentration span of a goldfish.

"Dude stop it." I scold him under my breath when he attempts to put the tip of a dropper into his mouth.

He pouts at me but puts it down only to pick up a test tube a few minutes later and proceeds to play with it.

"Stop." I demand taking it from him.

"You're no fun. This class is boring."

"Every class is boring to you."

"True so let's skip and go to the gym." He requests.

"No."

"Please."

"No!"

"Please."

"I said no!"

"Mr Carter!" Mrs Turner screeches from the front and the whole class turns to us.

The both of us sit up in shock caught in the act once again.

"Mr. Carter since you seem so keen on interrupting my class why don't you come up here and show the class how to solve this problem. And as you love talking so much, talk us through the whole process." She demands.

I glare at Wesley as I get up and walk up to the board where there is a chemical formula and equation. Lucky for me, I'm familiar with the concept so I quickly begin explaining it as I solve it.

Halfway through I feel someone staring at me through the door but when I turn there's no one there. I shrug it off as mere paranoia and manage to successfully finish the task.

"Good work but you two are still going to sit separately for the rest of the semester. Switch places with Matthew." Mrs Turner insists.

Wesley frowns that he'll be stuck with Matthew but it's his own doing so I grab my books and swap seats.

My new lap partner is Zoe. She's smart enough and doesn't talk during class unless we're prompted by the teacher so I know we'll make a good pair.

"You're a dick. I hate you." I cuss Wesley as we leave Chemistry class once it's over.

I don't like the fact that he got me into trouble on the first day of school during the first period.

"You love me, you always have and always will." He grins at me wrapping his arm around my shoulders.

"Fuck off." I grunt shaking him off me.

"Do you kiss your mother with that mouth?" He asks with a laugh.

"No but I kiss your mother." I retort.

He shoves me away making me laugh. "Low blow man, low blow."

"You started it."

He shakes his head knowing that I was only joking. "Let's just get to second period, I'm ready to skip to lunch."

"We've barely been in school an hour." Baron comments.

"Exactly and I'm still suffering from summer withdrawals. It was epic by the way, such a shame that you missed all of it." Wesley answers.

"Actually, I'm glad to be back in school." I contest.

"Of course you are, typical Isaiah, always happy to be everywhere else but home." Wesley laughs but I don't.

He knows I don't like to talk about my situation at home yet he never fails to bring it up even when it's unnecessary.

"For your information, I love being home. No more talk from you and stay away from me until lunch." I demand.

"I make no promises." He grins just as we walk in for our English class.

Thankfully we get assigned seats for this lesson and I'm sat as far away from Wesley as possible.

Much to Wesley's pleasure lunch rolls around quickly and we all make our way to the cafeteria. The food is not great but it's edible. Pine View is actually on the better side as compared to other schools in The Bronx with the best basketball team so we make do with what we have because we know others have less.

We sit down at our usual table and are joined by more members of the team.

"Hey guys." Jeremy, the point forward on the team greets sitting across from us.

"Hi, how were your morning classes?" I ask him.

"More interesting than yours that's for sure." He answers with a secretive smile as if he knows something that we don't.

I'm about to ask him what it is when Wesley interrupts me.

"I bet I can top it. Isaiah got into trouble and was called to do an equation in front of the class. It was so funny watching him fumble infront of everyone." He laughs.

I slap the back of his head in retaliation making him cry out in pain. "At least I got it right, had it been you, you'd have failed."

"I never said I was smart Mr three AP classes." Wesley mocks rubbing the back of his head.

"Guys..." Jeremy calls out demanding our attention.

"Oh yeah what were you saying? What happened in AP maths?" I ask him.

"We have a new student." He answers.

The three of us look at each other confused then turn to him.

"In senior year?" Baron asks.

"Yeah and that's not even the biggest news." He adds.

How is having a new student joining Pine View during senior year not big news?

All new students usually join in freshman or sophomore year and we lose half the class by senior year to drugs, teenage pregnancy and gang affiliations. Losing a student in senior year is not news but gaining a new one, now that's a big deal.

"What is?" Wesley inquires.

"She's a red head." Jeremy declares.

"Girls do dye their hair... It's not a big deal." Baron informs him.

"It's not dyed, it's her real hair. She looks like Merida from brave." Jeremy explains.

"She's a white girl?" Wesley screeches making a few people turn to us. "Sorry." He apologizes in a much lower tone.

"Yeah." Jeremy affirms.

"Now that is news." Baron concurs and I can only nod in agreement.

It's no secret that Pine View is dominated by mostly black students. We only have a handful of Caucasians, mostly because they are too afraid to join a school like ours which is fine, we do well enough without their racism. A new student, female and white will definitely be the talk of the school by the end of the day. I of all people know what it's like not to fit in because of who I am so I hope people are kind. It's already hard transferring schools in senior year and of all places to Pine View. What did she do to land herself here? Which school did she transfer from?

The more I think about her, the more questions I have.

"Then where is she?" Jeremy asks as we look around the cafeteria for a new face with red hair.

"I saw her headed to the guidance counselors office." Jeremy replies.

"What's her name?" Baron inquires.

"Something something Foster, Mr. Meager only referred to her by her last name. She also came when class was half over so she didn't introduce herself." Jeremy explains.

Now I'm curious and want to meet her. We haven't shared any morning classes but maybe I'll get to see her in one of my afternoon lessons and see what the big deal is all about.

Lunch hour is dominated by talk of the new girl but unfortunately for all of us who are yet to lay our eyes on her she doesn't come for lunch in the cafeteria. Maybe she chose to eat in the library or one of the classes. It can be overwhelming being a new student so I can understand why she's choosing to stay away from the crowds.

I have AP History after lunch with Baron but Wesley has Spanish so we're forced to separate much to Wesley's dismay.

"I need to get something from my locker, I'll meet you in class." I say to Baron as we leave the cafeteria.

"Okay." He nods.

We part ways and I go to the bathroom first before I branch for my locker to get my History notebook. The halls are emptying as students head in for the afternoon classes so there are only a handful of people by the lockers.

The first thing I hear before I see her is a string of curses followed by a loud banging. Then I finally see her. A couple of lockers away from mine is a short girl with a mop of red curly hair on her head banging her head frustratingly on her locker. Must definitely be the new girl since I've never seen anyone else at school with such a striking hair color.

Looks like someone is having a terrible first day.

I approach her and place my hand between her forehead and the locker before she can hit her head on it again. She gasps when she feels my palm instead of the cold metal of her locker door. She jumps back and turns to look at me, her hair falling over her face. She has a lot of hair and that's saying something coming from me, a black man with unruly curls for days.

I step back holding my hands up in surrender showing her that I mean no harm and she relaxes.

"I'm sorry for startling you. Are you okay?" I ask her putting my hands down.

She tucks her hair behind her ear and I finally get to see her whole face and for a moment the whole world stands still. She is gorgeous, like breathtaking, earth shattering, time stopping gorgeous. My breath hitches as I look into the palest pair of blue eyes I've ever seen, followed by a cute button nose, small cupid bow lips and a face filled with so many freckles she looks like art work. When Jeremy was describing her he failed to mention how gorgeous she is.

Recognition prickles at the back of my neck as if we've met before but I've never seen anyone with hair as red as hers so I brush it off. She looks surprised to see me as well but maybe it's because I startled her.

"I ... umh can't get my locker to open." She mumbles quietly.

She looks like one of those people who have small voices but it actually has volume to it suiting her much better.

"The locks are old and get stuck sometimes. What's your combination?" I ask her.

She shows me a sheet of paper in her hand. I input it and after two tries I manage to get her lock open. I show her the trick to open it when I figure it out so she won't get stuck again.

"Thank you." She expresses looking relieved that she gets to set her books down.

"You're welcome. I'm Isaiah by the way." I introduce holding my hand out for her.

"Kennedy." She replies putting her dainty hand in mine.

"Nice to meet you Kennedy. Welcome to Pine View." I express still enamored by her beauty.

Why would someone like her transfer to our school? She definitely doesn't fit in and I'm not saying that to be mean.

"Thanks." She mumbles quietly.

"How's the school treating you for far?" I ask her hoping to continue the conversation.

"What do you think?" She grumbles her hair falling over hair face again hiding her blue eyes from me.

I pocket my hands before I give into the urge of tucking her hair behind her ears. Now that would be creepy and scare her off completely.

"Not great huh?" I chuckle.

"You have no idea. I knew it was going to be hard but not this hard." She expresses closing her locker once again slamming it shut for good measure. "Sorry." She mumbles embarrassed.

"That's okay, believe me it'll get better. Give us time to grow on you. I promise there's more to Pine View than meets the eye." I console.

"I hope so. Anyway can you tell me which way to AP History. Miss Bea showed me in the morning but I've been turned around so many times I can barely remember." She requests me.

I smile because we have the same class. "I have AP history too, we can walk together."

She hesitates but nods after considering my offer. We stop by my locker to get my books before making our way to class neither of us say anything. It's not that I'm shy but I have so many questions I'm afraid to fumble over my words if I try to talk. Kennedy doesn't make a move to say anything as well and I don't blame her. She's overwhelmed by her first day and I don't want to make things worse so I keep my questions to myself.

"Here we are." I declare when we get to class.

"Thank you Isaiah." She says and the sound of my name from her lips is enough to make my knees buckle.

What is with this girl? More importantly, what is with me?

"You're welcome. We don't have a sitting chart so feel free to sit anywhere." I say to her.

I want to sit next to her but I don't want to seem pushy. And besides I can see that Baron has already saved a seat for me.

"Thanks again for the locker and walking me to class." She says and leaves me by the door before I can respond.

She sits down on the row in front of Baron next to Andre. He smiles when she sits down and she smiles back as if they are already familiar with each other.

I follow suit and take my seat next to Baron.

"Is this her?" Baron whispers jutting at Kennedy with his chin.

"Yes, her name is Kennedy." I answer my eyes stuck on her.

He nods looking at her curiously and the whole class is looking as well whispering lowly behind her back. She doesn't seem to care but she might just be tuning everyone out. The teacher joins us and class is soon underway but I am barely paying attention.

"Stop staring." Baron scolds harshly next to me.

"I can't." I mumble.

"You'll scare her off. It looks creepy." He warns.

I know I look creepy but I can't help myself. Something about Kennedy is familiar to me but I can't put my finger on it. I feel like we've met before or I've seen her somewhere before but I can't remember where.

I can't afford to fail History so I force myself to concentrate in class no matter how hard it is with her seated right in front of me. Time and again I find myself staring at the back of her head and I'm not the only one intrigued by her. Kennedy Foster is an enigma and I'm sure that I am not the only one wondering where she fell from or why she transferred to Pine View of all places for her senior year.

Class ends too quick for my liking and unfortunately we don't share anymore afternoon classes.

After classes are done we all go for our first practice of the season. We have two weeks before our first game on Labor day weekend.

Baron and I tell Wesley about meeting Kennedy and he's bummed that he didn't get to meet her.

"Wanna hang out at my place after practice?" Wesley asks after we're done changing into our uniform.

"Can't, I have work." I reply.

"Dude you've been working all summer. Do you ever give yourself a break?" Wesley protests.

"You know I can't." I grumble.

I need to work. I have to work because the alternative is not an option.

"I'm still amazed at how you manage to balance school, work and basketball." Wesley expresses in awe.

I smile and shrug. "What can I say, I'm Scott McCall."

"Oh please, he couldn't't have done it without Stiles." Wesley counters.

"You are definitely not the Stiles in this scenario." I laugh.

"Yes I am."

"No you are not."

Baron cuts in ending our small argument. "Can we practice now? We are playing for college applications this year, we can't afford to mess up."

"We won't." Wesley assures him.

"How sure are you?" Baron asks.

"Because we have you two as the team captains." He answers looking confident.

"Thanks for reminding me that. Drills." Baron declares loudly calling out to the rest of the team.

"C'mon I was just kidding. You know I've been laxed over the summer." Wesley protests.

"Even more reason to get you back into shape. Hop to it boys, we have a championship to chase." Baron demands in his authoritative voice.

Wesley grunts but we all fall into line. Senior year was going to be different and now with Kennedy showing up out of nowhere making me feel things I haven't felt in years, it's going to be interesting as well.

I have no idea how I'm supposed to feel about it but I am intrigued to see how the year will unfold. Finally something interesting is happening in Pine View thanks to a red haired girl with pale blue eyes.