You Must Be New Here

*Monroe's POV*

I have to admit, kicking everyone’s asses at volleyball was quite satisfying. I’m generally pretty good at sports but I was on the varsity volleyball team all through my private school years. It had been a while, since I took a year off of school, so I was concerned I would be rusty. I wasn’t. 

I quickly shower and change, thankful that there is no line for the showers since none of the other girls need it. By the time I finish, I walk out of the changeroom to find Charlie waiting for me by my locker. She says, “So, um I was thinking we should probably exchange numbers for, you know, homework purposes or whatever.”

I smile at her and say, “Yeah, I mean homework purposes but also friend purposes.” I hand her my phone and she types in her number and I send her a text so she has mine too. Just as I’m about to grab my backpack I look over to my right and find a tall blonde girl who I recognize from english lit backed up against the wall a couple lockers down from me with a very large dude in a letterman jacket caging her in with his arms. Must be one of Grant’s goons. Based on the terrified look on this girl's face she doesn’t want anything to do with this guy. I listen in and hear him say, “Come on, you used to love sleeping around the football team.” 

“You know that’s not true Carl. Please, just leave me alone.”

“No can do baby doll,” He says as he lowers one of his hands to her hip and starts to pull her into him. 

“Please, stop,” she tries to push his hand away but he’s strong and just grips her harder. I see red. I stomp a few steps over to them, grab his hand from her hip and twist his arm behind him into an arm bar. 

“What the fuck!” He yells and I push up harder on his arm. 

“Ouch! Stop!” He pleads. I don’t let go.

“Oh, you want me to stop? I’m pretty sure I just heard this girl say the same thing. Did you stop when she asked you to?” He doesn’t answer. I push up a little harder. “Answer me Carl!” 

“N-no, I didn’t. Please just let me go. I’ll leave her alone, I swear!”

“Listen to me closely Carl, from here on out, if I find out that you have touched any girl without their consent I will pick up where I left off, and next time, I won’t be so nice. You wouldn’t want a dislocated shoulder to end your football season now would you Carl?”

“N-No!” he whimpers.

“Just to make sure this has all gotten through that thick head of yours, tell what is it we are never ever going to do again?”

“Touch girls without consent. Now please, let me go!”

“Good. Run along now Carl.” I release his arm and he scurries away, rubbing his shoulder. I turn my attention to the blonde girl on the wall. 

“Are you okay?”

She nods. “Thank you,” she says.

“Of course,” I say. She still looks a bit confused and she still hasn’t moved from her spot against the wall. 

“Is there someone I can get for you? A friend?”

She shakes her head and says, “You must be new here.” What’s that supposed to mean? I look back at Charlie and she gives me a look that indicates there is more to this story. 

I sigh and say, “Well how about you hang out with us?”

She looks up at me abruptly and says, “I really don’t think you want to do that. It’ll be a whole lot easier to fit in here if you’re not associated with me.”

I roll my eyes and say, “Do I seem like I care about fitting in?” She gives me a look and then a small smile forms on her lips. Suddenly Charlie pipes in and says to the girl, “I had the same conversation with her this morning.” She smiles even wider and then sticks out her hand and says, “Okay then, I’m Maddy.” I take it and reply, “I’m Monroe, and that’s Charlie,” I release her had and then realize something, “Oh, wait you guys probably already know each other, right?”

Charlie quietly says, “Sort of. We never really ran in the same circles before.” There is definitely more to this story. I raise an eyebrow but decide to let it go. I’m sure they’ll tell me when they’re ready. 

“So do you guys wanna hang out or something? What’s there to do around here?” They both look at me and then at each other when finally Maddy shrugs and says, “We could go to Lolly’s?”

Charlie’s face brightens at that and she nods happily. “What’s Lolly’s?”

“Only the best ice cream bar in town,” Maddy replies. 

“Oh yes. Ice cream is my kryptonite,” I say, my mouth watering already. “Do you guys have cars or do we walk there?” There’s no way three of us are getting on my bike and besides, I only have one helmet.

Charlie shakes her head no and Maddy says, “I have a car.”

“I took my motorcycle this morning so how about Charlie goes with Maddy and I follow on my bike?” 

They nod and then we all walk out of the school together. I point to where my bike is and they head off towards Maddy’s car. I walk over and throw on my gear before sitting on top of the bike. Just then, a blue Jetta pulls up with the windows rolled down and Maddy yells, “you ready?” I just nod and she pulls out and I follow her.