Chapter 3

"Alyssa, can you give me a ride home?" Dylan's voice drifts through the air coming from behind me.

I come to a halt at the top of the stairs that leads the buzz of tired students to the student parking lot. 

"It's fine. I wanted to grab some food on the way home anyway." I say looking to my left where I meet the eyes of my best friend. Her hair blinds me as the sun rays hit her head, truly mesmerising. She always had the healthiest hair.

"We are going to Nando's, no room for debate. Portuguese chicken for the win and you better not go against me on this." Dylan says as she takes the lead going down the stairs in a rushed manner.

"You literally can't help yourself. You hear the word food and you're instantly in rush mode." I say letting out a laugh at how this headstrong woman just gets tunnel vision at the mention of grabbing something to eat.

"Less talking more walking Lyssa. That delectable flame grilled chicken isn't going to make its way to us on its own," Dylan says as we reach the far corner of the parking lot. "and you really need to start parking at a better spot. I'm not made for walking this far."

Classic Dylan. There is always something to complain about, but maybe she's on to something. I'm done hiding and shying away from people, and it would be way better for me to start parking in a more convenient space, closer to the entrance. Not only would I be making a statement, but I don't have to walk 3das efar anymore.

"You know what, I think you are right." I tell her as I climb into the front seat of my car. 

"Alyssa, you are not just gonna turn me down–" Dylan ranted on until her brain finally grasped the fact that I had agreed with her suggestion. "Oh wait, you're actually agreeing with me?" 

"Yeah Dylan. Sometimes the things you suggest are what I need to implement in life." I say as we reverse out of the parking lot, setting sails for Nando's. 

"Well girl, that is music to my ears." She says as she connects her phone to the wireless bluetooth connection of my car's stereo system. "I dig the new you. Standing up for yourself and taking charge of your life. Not even to mention you getting the attention of James Witherdale."

Heat instantly rises to my face and by now I know that the apples of my cheeks are the perfect shade of crimson red. Just making the situation worse, because when I deny anything now Dylan would point out my blushing. 

"I love how you are supportive of my new character development, but jeez you need to let this James Witherdale thing slide. I'm not interested in him in that matter." I say as Liar by Camila Cabello starts to blast through the stereo. 

How convenient. 

"Yeah Alyssa and you are telling me that this song isn't the reason why I should doubt what you claim you think you feel." Dylan says with a smug smile on her lips.

Castleburry is not that big, but traffic in town peaks in the afternoons. Getting to town honestly can feel like a nightmare, making one rethink themselves for making the decision to get their food in person rather than have it ordered and delivered straight to your doorstep.

"Dylan, I've told you we are on the swimming team together. He knows me and I him. I don't know why you are making such a fuss over all of this. I'm literally starting to regret having dressed differently today." I say to Dylan as we finally pull up into the Nando's parking lot. 

"Well you literally have never told me that you knew each other." She says as we make our way to the glass sliding door at the entrance of the restaurant. 

"We haven't actually talked to each other, Dylan. All I'm saying is that we see each other at swimming practice and competitions. That's all it is." I confess. 

As we walk to the cashier, I'm glad to notice that here is no existing line, because that is literally all I need right now to push me closer to the verge of an upcoming mental breakdown.

"Hello, I'm Stacey, what can I get for you today?" The cashier asks, taking our order. She has the brightest smile that is quite ironic for her appearance. Stacey's appearance is one that society would label as a goth. She has lip-, nose- and ear piercings, bright red hair, black eyeliner, finished off with a black matte lip. Her tattoos can be seen poking out from under the neckline of her shirt. Society has boxed people like her into a category that makes us believe that she would be mean, uncaring and unapologetic.

Well it is safe to say that Stacey has the personality of an absolute sunshine. She is kind and although she expresses herself through a dark attire, that still doesn't stop her from being friendly and doing a good job in the clientele department.

"Hello," I greet, returning the kind gesture with a bright smile of my own. "I will have one tangy tomato burger, a side of fries and a Coke." I ordered. 

"I'll have the same as she, but add some roasted corn and instead of tangy tomato sauce I would prefer the lemon and herb." Dylan says as Stacey taps away on the computer screen in front of her. 

"Will you be paying with cash or a card?" The cashier inquires. 

"Card." I reply as I look at the price on the screen.  It all adds up to just a little of thirteen dollars. 

I tap my card on the face of the machine and it instantly shows approval as a receipt starts to push out from it. 

I got handed a receipt with the number 291 written on it as we went to take a seat on the waiting couch. 

"I love Nando's, but I hate it that we must wait before the food is ready." Dylan says.

"That I can agree with you on, but it is honestly worth the wait in my opinion." I say as I fold the slip until only the order number is visible. 

Just as I look up James walks through the glass sliding door. Instantly causing me to tense up, praying to our dear God that he doesn't notice me, but to my dismay he walks up to me and Dylan as soon as he catches a glance of us.

"What a coincidence to spot you here, Alyssa. I come here everyday, but haven't bumped into you." James says casually as Dylan sits straight up star struck. Which is honestly such a wonder since she is such a huge feminist and doesn't believe that woman should be submissive to the male gender, something I agree on, but the way she is acting in the presence of James, make it seem like all her believes have just flown out of the window. 

"I usually get my food delivered, but my friend Dylan needed a ride home. So we decided to make a detour and grab some food in person." I say as calmly as I can manage, because although I make it seem like talking to James is no big deal, the erratic hammering of my heart against my ribcage and my sweaty palms says otherwise.

"Well that is just my luck, running into the best female swimmer twice in one day." James says. 

The blush creeping up my neck, just intensifies my urge of wanting to run away, but doing that would be even more embarrassing.

"You are such a charmer." I say as my number gets called, saving me from embarrassing myself even more in front of James. 

"2–9–1" 

"That's me," I say, cutting the conversation short. "See you around, I guess." I said and walked off to get mine and Dylan's food as I felt her presence near me. 

"Thank you." I say to Stacey as she hands me the bag with food. 

We walk out of the door straight to my car in silence, where it stands parked in the parking lot. 

I handed the food to Dylan as she finished adjusting her seat belt. 

"Well that was awkward." I say looking at her as we both broke out in a fit of laughter.

I pull out of the parking lot and set destination to Dylan's house, which is located in the middle class suburban area. That's what  Castleburry defines the working class as. I'm honestly sick of these classifications, but if I keep using these terms, does it make me part of the problem of letting these labels define us?