Eating out.

That was the strangest school day of my life to be sure. Or it was up to that point. It started with me scared and uncertain, but now I was on… friendly terms with Sarah, Grace and Mila. I had no clue what to call what had started. Were we friends? Sex friends? Lovers? Acquaintances? I didn’t think it was normal even by common standards.

That said, I liked it, and I wanted to have it last for as long as it could.

When school ended I approached the trio myself. I had no idea what I would say or even why I was doing it. I just felt like it was the right thing to do. But as I did, I heard Sarah clicking her tongue.

“What’s wrong?” Mila asked her.

“Just got a text. I have to help out at the store.”

“I promised I’d be home early today anyway, so I can’t hang out.” Grace said.

“Same. My grandma wants me to help her buy something online.” Mila added.

The three turned to me. “Sorry Oliver. We’ll hang out another time, okay?”

I hadn’t gone up to them expecting us to hang out, so I shook my head trying to say it was fine. We parted ways at the gates. The three of them had their own cars while I was a lowly pedestrian. My house was close, so it wasn’t like I needed one, nor was I the type to leave the house a lot.

My phone buzzed in my pocket, and that made me realize I had probably beaten a personal record for messages received in a single day.

-Thomas: Are you busy right now?

After I replied ‘no’, he sent another one.

-Thomas: Wanna go eat somewhere?

I was surprised by how quickly I replied ‘yes’. Someone was actually inviting me to hang out after school. I probably would’ve hesitated a lot more if that someone wasn’t Thomas. I owed him an update at the very least.

We would meet at a local burger joint a few blocks close to the school. I knew many from our school liked the place but I’d never been. I waited for Thomas near the entrance, careful not to be in anyone’s way. He arrived soon enough.

“Hey man,” he greeted. “Let’s go inside.” We stood in line for a couple of minutes to place our orders, and when it was finally our turn he asked me, “What do you want? It’ll be my treat today.”

I was taken aback, but I frowned and shook my head. I got it was just a kind gesture, but there was no need for him to treat me. I had my own money.

“You sure? Another time then,” he said with an easy smile.

Thomas placed his order and then it was my turn, and not surprising anyone, I froze in front of the cashier. I had suddenly forgotten what I was going to order, so I looked at the menus and found my burger of choice there, pointing to it. The cashier gave me an odd look but took my order anyway. It was only after I had paid for my food that I realized I’d forgotten to change my fries for onion rings. I considered going back to ask, but… There was already someone else there and it would only give people trouble, so I refrained.

Thomas and I sat at a table in the corner with our trays and our food.

“You don’t need to say much for me to know you had a very eventful day,” Thomas said, grabbing one of his fries and eating it. I flinched. How much did he know? “You sent me a text saying you were fine, but how did it end? Everything going well?”

I nodded.

“Boy, I’m glad,” he laughed. “I was afraid I’d gotten you into an awkward situation, but it seems you got the best possible scenario, didn’t you?”

Again, I nodded. Then I felt like wanting to slap myself. I had spoken in front of Sarah, Grace and Mila, girls I barely even knew. In contrast, I’d known Thomas for a few months already and I still had troubles talking to him. In my defense, I didn’t feel the certainty from him like I did with the girls. My new sixth sense made me trust them more than most, but nothing assured me Thomas wasn’t just fucking with me. But it was stupid, I knew. I shouldn’t need a sixth sense to tell me that. The guy had been nothing but nice to me ever since we met, though I still had no clue why. I couldn’t keep giving him the silent treatment, even if I didn’t mean it.

“…They’ve been… nice,” I told him.

Thomas raised an eyebrow, but then grinned. “Is that so? Let me just confirm this. When you said you had your eye on three girls the other day, did you mean…?” I nodded again. “Holy crap, man!” He laughed. “I told you you had a shot, but I didn’t think all three would take an interest. Well, the fact that you’re all getting along is the only major surprise, really,” he shrugged.

I blinked. “What do you mean?”

“You’re a cool guy, Oliver, and you even got fit over summer so now you have the looks to match.”

Now he was just talking nonsense. “I’m… not cool at all.”

“At least you’re modest,” he laughed. “Look, I get that you’re shy and quiet, but that’s the reason people just don’t get you. You’d be a really popular guy if you spoke more.”

See? Nonsense. There was so much I wanted to deny there, but I focused on one thing. “I… I don’t want to be popular,” I said. A few close friends was as much as I’d ask. Being popular seemed like a curse to me. All that attention drawn to yourself, all the people talking to and about you… I’d probably pass out from a panic attack. But I didn’t want us to keep talking about me, so I hurried to change the topic. “Thomas… How much do you know about the girls?”

“Sarah, Grace and Mila, you mean? Maybe just a tiny bit more than the rest of the students.” Thomas took a sip of his drink. “There are nasty rumors about them, yeah. Not even half of them are true, but they’ve made it so people have forgotten the things they’ve truly done. I know Sarah was in the tennis club for a while until she had a fight with a male student and almost broke a racket over his head. A friend of mine in that club told me this. Grace has almost been caught blackmailing students, but there’s no concrete proof. I only know that the students involved refuse to talk about it. Mila has paid people to write assignments for her, but that was only after she was caught copying someone else’s. I know the girl who sells them to her. I admit I’ve been tempted to buy one once or twice, hahaha.”

I swallowed. Thomas had direct sources, so I had to believe him. Yet despite knowing that…

“I… I still don’t think they’re bad people. Am I crazy? Am I just seeing what I want to see?”

“No, I think you’re right,” Thomas said, shaking his head and taking a bite of his burger. “I’m still sort of friends with them, though we don’t talk all that much these days. And they’re still a popular bunch. If they were truly that terrible, people wouldn’t want anything to do with them.”

That was reassuring to hear.

“You’re a clever guy, Oliver, so I won’t tell you to be careful or anything. I’m happy that you’re getting along with others, and I’m flattered that you’re starting to talk to me more.” He laughed, then leaned forward with a grin and spoke in whispers. “Just give it to me straight. I promise I’ll take this to the grave with me. I just need full confirmation that I didn’t get anything wrong the other day. Did you really? With the three of them? Aaaaaall the way?”

My face was burning, but I silently nodded.

That sent Thomas into another fit of laughter.

Author's Note: Chapters 21 to 27 available at my Patreon.