Three: Kiss Me Slowly

                                    

                                          
"It's only been a week and I already want to kill myself," Aleks said to the laughing group, "TGIF, bitches."
                          
Everybody's heads nodded in agreement. The day was colder than it had been on the first day and the group had decided to eat inside the cafeteria. Their voices were barely audible over the sound of the rumbling students around them.
                          
"While we're on the subject, I'll be having a party at my house tonight. Sort of a welcome back."
                          
Katia frowned at Lukas.
                          
"You just need a reason to throw a party."
                          
Lukas looked hurt as Aleks agreed: "Don't even say anything, we all know it's true."
                          
Katia looked over at Daniel, laughing, and he winked at her. She turned away quickly only to catch Taj staring at her from a table away. He smiled and she rolled her eyes, turning back to her conversation.
                          
"Is not," Lukas whined.
                          
Kory shook his head, "You once threw a party because my grandma died."
                          
Lukas looked around guiltily and the group laughed at his faked innocence.
                          
"If you ask me, I could really use a party," Alice said, nodding. Aleks agreed as well as Adrian. Lukas smiled.
                          
"See? Welcome back party. Just a small gathering at my house, eight o'clock. Be there, or be square," he said while standing up to leave the table. Katia followed him through the crowded room with her eyes to find him intertwining his hand with his girlfriend's.
                          
Aleks leaned back in her chair and whooped at the thought of alcohol. At the sound of Aleks' voice, Katia frowned at her.
                          
"Where's your boyfriend?"
                          
Aleks stared at her and Katia noticed sadness flitter across her eyes, though it was soon gone.
                          
"He's off doing homework somewhere."
                          
She waved her hand as though it was no big deal that they had barely talked all week.
                          
"I'll bet he's gonna be at the party tonight at Lukas'. You can talk to him then," Katia said.
                          
Aleks' eyes suddenly narrowed at something next to Katia and she turned around to come face to face with Taj.
                          
"Party tonight at Lukas'?  Well, of course, I'll come! See you there," he winked at Katia and she sighed, letting her shoulders droop in anger. That boy was making her life unbelievably hard.
                          
Kory nodded in Taj's direction
                          
"He's kind of cute, no?" Seeing the girl's horrified expressions he quickly caught himself, "I just mean I thought you guys would find him--never mind."
                          
"He'd be cute if he wasn't such an as- Asian idiot," Alice said, smiling sweetly at the passing teacher. She turned around to be met with a scowl coming from Kory.
                          
"That's not very nice." He stood up and walked off to drop his tray away.
                          
"Wait, Kory, you know I didn't mean it!" Alice ran after her hurt friend and Aleks followed them both laughing with Adrian at her side.
                          
"She's in trouble," Daniel said, and Katia burst out laughing.
                          
"You betcha. He's not getting over that one." She grabbed a chicken wing off Daniel's plate, but quickly put it down, feeling her stomach twisting into knots under Daniel's gaze.
                          
She clutched it and Daniel's face turned to concern. She couldn't help but feel her heart melt at the thought of him worrying about her. She quickly regained herself and stood up with her plate, to go drop it off at the lunch lady's table. When she made it out of the cafeteria, she felt an arm around her shoulder.