The image is  of the Norwegian Buhund Ricky and Co met

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I wake up to the sound of my alarm and groan inwardly when I remember what day it is. As slowly as possible, I shower, dress up and have breakfast but still, I didn't act slow enough to miss the assembly. 

It's only just begun when I arrive and as I walk in, hundreds of eyes zone in on me. I can feel myself walking funny as I make my way towards the area where my classmates are seated. I love attention, but not like this.

Spotting a corner seat at the end of the row, I dive in without looking out for who's sitting beside.

"Hey, Ricky!" someone whispers. 

Oh, lord; no, no, no and no. Cautiously, I try to take a side glance at the boy sitting next to me and as I suspected, it is Melvin; the guy who has never heard of a toothbrush.

Without waiting for a reply, he continues. "You're late, but it's okay since nothing happened during homeroom anyway."

"Oh, okay." I mutter quickly before turning my head in the opposite direction.

Oh boy, I think to myself. This is going to be the longest assembly of my life.

The minutes drag on with Melvin basically having a quiet conversation with himself. I nod and grunt as much as I can but each time I reply, my nostrils receive a paralyzing blow.

 I never thought I'd say this, but I just wish Dr. Ellie would catch us talking.

After several minutes, it's all thankfully over and I zoom off without so much as a backwards glance as I don't want Melvin to walk next to me all the way to homeroom. 

Grabbing my binder from my desk where I'd dropped it off before attending assembly, I head to my locker to get my books.

As I get closer, I spot a familiar blond head and my mind drifts to the argument we'd had yesterday. Yes, he'd said some really annoying things but I'd treated him unfairly when he was only trying to help.

"Hey." He says, waving uncertainly.

"Hi Alex." I call before reaching to open my locker.

"Ricky, I'm really so-

"Don't" I cut him off, holding a palm in front of his face.

"I'm not mad anymore."

His face breaks into a grin. "Really?"

"Yeah, really." I reply. "I shouldn't have gotten upset in the first place anyway."

"No, you had a right to." He says, shuffling his feet. "I shouldn't have made it seem like I was forcing anything on you but I just care so much."

The corners of my lips upturn into an uncontrollable smile.

"And I mean that in the most manly way possible." He adds.

"Don't think about it too much." I laugh whilst playfully punching his shoulder. "I forgive you anyway."

"Thanks man." He replies and offers his hand for a fist bump. "How's your aunt though?" he asks cautiously.

"I haven't seen her since I was at your place but I reckon she's doing okay." I reply after bumping his fist.

'You should pray for her." He says. His voice sounds scared but this time, his words don't annoy me. I think of the Williams' and my lips curve into a smile.

"Maybe I'll give it a try." I reply and his face lights up unto a bright smile.

The first bell goes and we decide to head upstairs for our chemistry class.

"Have you seen Mary's new haircut?" quips Alex.

'Nah, I haven't. What's up with it?"

"It's hilarious man." He replies chuckling. "But don't tell her that. She already feels bad."

"Noted." I reply before pushing the door of the chemistry lab open and just like that, we're back to being on good terms. That's the thing about having best friends; you can't stay mad at them for long.

We grab our seats and as the class begins I find Mary in the corner. Her hair isn't half as bad as I thought it would be but it does look a bit funny.

 I find something else that's funny to laugh at though; Mr. Clarkson's mustache. It looks like it's been glued to stand at attention.

As our teacher drones on, my eyes wander to the shelf of chemicals next to the side wall of the lab and I think about the euphoric feeling I always get from reacting potassium and water. It gets me so happy that I sit through the rest of the class without wishing for it to be over.

After building half a website for ICT and writing an essay for English, I feel exhausted as I head to the cafeteria for lunch. 

On my way, I spot Mary and we get our food together before heading to our preferred table where as usual, everyone else is settled. I don't say anything about her hair though. Besides, it's the first time I've seen the twins all day so we talk excitedly whilst eating.

"So..." begins Jada. "Did y'all see the notice about bertha out front?"

"Who's bertha?" asks Andrew wrinkling his nose.

"She's the school's rabbit, dumbass." Jada replies.

"We have a school rabbit?" asks Max, my classmate, incredulously.

"Duh" Jada rolls her eyes. She looks about ready to punch him in the face

"You know what?" Adira pats her shoulder lightly, "Let me take it from here."

"Whatever." She replies before stabbing her potatoes angrily. Boy, am I glad that I'm not those potatoes; to think of the agony they must be going through.

"...so she had ten kittens and you can volunteer to adopt one of them." Adira is saying as I tune back in on the conversation.

"Cool. I'll try to get me one of them." Quips drew,

"Sorry, squirt." Davina chuckles, ruffling his hair playfully. "Freshmen aren't allowed."

"That doesn't even make any sense." He complains, whilst pushing her hand away. "And please, don't touch the hair." He says, trying to play it cool, but he's clearly bummed about the whole freshman thing. Who knew Andrew had a soft spot for rabbits?

The conversation carries on as my mates talk about who is and who isn't going to volunteer. I withdraw into my little 'mind' world and concentrate on my food. 

The pasta folds like velvet in my mouth and I sigh in satisfaction as my taste buds dance delightedly, Lord knows this is good food today.

"What about you Ricky?" Jada, who had cooled off, asks; pulling me back to the present.

"Me what?" I ask back, feeling a little bit disoriented.

"Are-you-going-to-get-one." She speaks slowly like I'm mentally retarded.

'Oh, the rabbits." I say, catching on.

"No, the zombies." She mutters under her breath but I pretend not to hear her.

"Nah, I'm not an animal person." I reply, shaking my head.

"Oh, really. Aren't you now?" quips Andrew whilst grinning from ear to ear. 

I know exactly where this is going.

"I'm not." I reply in an even tone.

By now, Alex has caught on to where Drew's headed.

"Who would like to hear a story?" he asks whilst grinning and tapping his fingers evilly.

"Alex, don't." I warn through gritted teeth.

"Why ever not?" he asks in a mock country-girl voice; a false look of confusion on his face.

"You wouldn't."

"Oh, he would." Drew chuckles.

"Don't." I try pleading this time.

"Then bribe me." He replies folding his arms with a smirk in place.

The mention of money is like a hypnotist's apparatus. Everyone who had lost interest before, homes in on the three of us.

"I'll give you a tenner." I reply.

"Make it twenty." He says, grinning slyly. "That way, I can pay Drew off. He came up with this anyway."

"Fine, twenty."

"Deal." He replies, offering his hand for a handshake.

"You're a jerk." I whisper but if he hears me, he doesn't say anything.

"Well, that was a major letdown." Mary and Jada say together before going back to their meals. No one else says anything but I can see the words through their eyes. Andrew laughs before fist bumping Alex. 

Good thing it was, I think to myself as I let out a sigh of relief.

The deal with Alex talking is that he would ruin my high school life forever and I don't think he would really do something like that, but I wasn't going to take any chances.

When we were in the fifth grade, Alex, Drew and I had been playing in the park when we spotted this really beautiful Norwegian Buhund.

"Guys, let's go check it out." Alex had suggested. Drew, immediately joined him in hopping excitedly in the direction of the large dog, but I held back.

"Dogs are boring." I'd said in reply but the truth is, I was scared.

"Suit yourself." Drew had replied before they got out of earshot.

 From my corner, I saw them talking to the owner and petting it. They seemed to be having a good time and I began to feel a tad bit jealous but I couldn't go over no matter what. I was scared of all kinds of animals. 

Soon, I saw the boys pointing towards me and it awakened a feeling of anxiousness. Sure enough, both the owner, the dog, Drew and Alex started making their way towards me.

I should run. I thought to myself but the thought came a minute too late as they were already close to me with the owner holding the leash in one hand whilst putting forward his other hand for a handshake.

"I'm Jonah." He'd said, "You must be Ricky."

"I am." I said weakly whilst eyeing the huge dog behind Jonah. The guy looked to be around twenty years old but the dog, man it was a lot bigger than the little French pet dogs on TV.

"He won't bite." Jonah assured, sensing my agitation. "Do you want to pet him?"

"Uh, no thanks. I think I'll pass."

"Are you scared?' he asked moving a step closer. It was only then I realized my hands were shaking.

"Pfft,  Of course not." I said, trying to sound nonchalant but my voice gave me away.

"Then you should have no problem petting him." Alex replied.

Jonah began to lead the dog forward and suddenly everything was in slow motion; the dog moving forward with his big wet slobbery tongue hanging out and me frozen in fear.

My heart began to pound so loudly that I could feel the blood rushing in my ears. I really wanted to run, but I just couldn't make my legs work.

Jonah was at my side soon, patting my shoulder gently.

"He isn't going to hurt you." He'd said reassuringly.

That's when I thought I should give it a shot. I mean, it couldn't be that hard right? 

Wrong!

I reached out my hand to touch the Buhund but it was visibly shaking. They all stood, waiting for me to make my move.

"You can do this Ricky." I thought to myself as I inched closer and closer to the dog. And then, just when I thought everything was going smoothly, I felt a familiar warm liquid running down my leg.

"Shit!" Jonah cursed. "I didn't know you were that scared."

Alex and Andrew stood there for a second with bulging eyes and then burst out laughing.

I'd wet myself! And in public too! The tears threatened to spill so I ran off to hide in a porta-cabin. I'd never been so humiliated in my entire life.

Soon enough, the three of them found me and all apologized. Jonah was so nice; he even got me a new pair of pants. 

It still took a week long of bribing before I finally forgave both my friends though.

That's the humiliating story that our dear Alex and Andrew wanted to share with all my lovely friends. 

Horrifying, I know; but I really think they were just bluffing and searching to rob me of a bit of money.

Thanks for all the positive feedback!