"Hey Joel!" Brian called in greeting as we met at our lockers. "Did Santa treat you right?"
"He treated me fine," I laughed. "How about you? Did he get you what you wanted?"
Brian was one of the friends I inherited when Carrie and I started dating. He was actually the first guy from the 'in crowd' who accepted me. Unlike some of the others, we got along pretty well.
"Nah," Brian sighed loudly. "Lindsay Lohan wasn't in my stocking. Neither was Avril Lavigne."
"That's a shame," I joked. "Because Angelina Jolie and Jennifer Lopez were in mine!"
"Like them older, do you?" Brian teased back.
"Are you kidding?" I asked. "With bodies like those, who cares about age?"
"Good point!" Brian laughed in surrender as Robbie walked up and joined us.
"My own personal preference would be Alexis Bledel or Jessica Biel," he put in, obviously having caught the gist of our conversation.
"Does Tina know about your infatuation with these women?" Brian asked. He was trying to sound serious, but he couldn't completely hide his grin.
"I wouldn't call it an infatuation," Robbie replied. "Let's just say they both hold a place close to my heart."
"Probably a little lower than that!" Brian laughed.
"There too!" Robbie grinned.
He and his girlfriend Tina were now as much a part of the 'in crowd' as me. I think Carrie initially insisted that they come to some parties with us because she knew how close I was to them, but later they seemed to fit in of their own accord.
It didn't hurt that Carrie was teaching Tina how to show off her assets. Robbie's girl no longer wore frumpy clothes and a lot of guys were starting to realize what he knew for years. Tina was not only beautiful, but also very hot when she chose to be!
"Maybe Biel, but Bledel?" I asked, teasing Robbie. It was an old disagreement, but Robbie never passed up the chance to argue about it. Neither did I.
"Oh come on!" he snorted. "She's gorgeous and you know it!"
"I guess," I said with an exaggerated sigh. "But she doesn't really have much of an ass."
"Not everyone is an ass man!" Robbie snorted.
"Really?" Brian put in. I wondered if he was joking. It was either that or he was just as perverted as me.
'Probably both!' I grinned to myself.
Brian had short blond hair and a wrestler's build. It made sense since he was on the school's wrestling team. He was a little shorter than average in height and had broad shoulders. The girls seem to like his muscular torso. Brian was never one to lack company, although he wasn't serious with anyone particular.
"I still think you're being unfair," Robbie argued, bringing my attention back to the argument. "I mean, Alexis doesn't have anything close to Lopez's butt, but then again who does? Can't you just picture Alexis smiling up at you as she...well, you know!"
"Of course," I shrugged. "I'm sure it would be great, but without a nice ass..."
"It's not fair to say she doesn't have a nice ass!" Robbie insisted heatedly.
"Who doesn't have a nice ass?" Tara asked as she walked by. She was grinning. Robbie turned all different shades of red. He didn't know Tara like I did.
"We certainly aren't talking about you," I joked. Robbie looked at me and shook his head. I notice that Brian was watching Tara silently. There was something odd about his expression.
"Thanks!" Tara laughed as she kept walking. Robbie, Brian and I all watched her ass for a moment. She knew we were doing it too. Her wiggle got a little more pronounced.
"Man!" Brian sighed when she was no longer in earshot. "Talk about a great ass!"
"If you like it so much, why don't you ask her out?" Robbie asked.
"She's the most beautiful girl in the school!" Brian replied, as if that was answer enough.
"One of them," I nodded in agreement. No one was prettier than my Carrie, but Tara was close. "Do you want me to talk to Carrie? She might be able to set you two up."
"Really?" Brian asked. I nodded. He was a good guy. Tara could do worse.
"Why not?" I shrugged.
"Thanks!" Brian said. I looked at him funny. Brian wasn't the type to be shy around girls. He must really have it bad for Tara.
"How long have you liked her?" I asked out of curiosity.
"Since grammar school," Brian admitted.
"I'll see you guys later," Robbie said as he left for his first class. "The bell is going to ring soon."
"Later," I called after him, and then turned back toward Brian. "Let me see if Carrie's willing to help out. I see you after lunch."
"That would be great!" Brain said and disappeared down the hall quickly.
My first class of the day was gym. As long as you were dressed ten minutes after the bell rang it didn't matter if you were a little late to the locker room. I took my time walking down the hall even after the bell rang.
I turned a corner just in time to see Maria Perez pull free of Tony Collins, her boyfriend of almost a year. They were arguing heatedly. I stopped in surprise. I never saw those two even have a disagreement, much less a fight. Tony grabbed Maria again.
"Are you two okay?" I asked. I didn't want to get involved, but Tony was holding Maria pretty tightly.
"Mind your business!" Tony nearly growled when he saw me.
"I wish I could," I sighed, moving close. "Why don't you let her go?"
"She just dumped me!" Tony cried out. I could see his pain and I felt for him.
"I'm sorry," I said. "But that doesn't give you the right to manhandle her." Tony blinked once and realized how tightly he was holding Maria. He let go and pulled back.
"I wasn't going to hurt her," he said defensively.
"Tony, you already have," Maria put in, rubbing her arms.
"What?" Tony asked in confusion.
Maria pulled her sleeves up and showed him the bruises that were already appearing on her arms.
"Oh my God!" he cried. "Maria, I'm so sorry! I love you!"
"I know," Maria said softly. "That's why breaking up with you is so hard."
"This is none of my business," I said. "Tony, I'll leave you two to talk if you have control of yourself again?" He nodded.
"Thanks Joel, but you can go now," Maria put in. "Tony won't knowingly hurt me."
I nodded and walked past them to the gym. I went in, but couldn't bring myself to go to the locker room until I was sure everything was okay. I waited a couple of minutes and peaked back down the hall. Maria was talking softly to Tony who was standing there with his head down. Poor guy. I didn't know what I'd do if Carrie ever dumped me.
Maria saw me checking on them and nodded to me in thanks. I waved and slipped back into the gym. I waited and checked one more time before going to class. The hall was empty the next time I looked. I was late to gym and the coach made me run a bunch of laps because of it, but that was okay. Some things were worth it.
Lunch came soon enough. I met Carrie at her locker and we went to eat. We were the first two at our table, but it wasn't long before it filled. Robbie and Tina took their normal seats as well as Tara and Jill. The remaining chairs were taken up with other members of our school's elite. In fact, by the time every member of the 'in crowd' was seated, three tables in our section were filled.
Sometimes I missed those lunches where Robbie, Tina and I sat alone and just hung out quietly, but Carrie was right. Dating her did seem to automatically make me part of the in crowd. It bothered me at times, but generally I just shrugged it off.
Everyone was talking about his or her winter break and there were plenty of funny stories. I spent a few minutes staring at Carrie and was rewarded when she started playing footsy with me under the table. Tara and Jill were sitting next to Carrie and they looked as amazing as always. Robbie and Tina were next to me.
