BRIANNA

4. HE IS INTERESTED IN THE THE NEW GIRL

JC'S POV

"Don't tell me you're interested in her?" Kyle's voice cut through the murmur of the crowded hallway, his tone laced with the kind of curiosity that could only mean trouble.

Who is interested in who? My mind raced, trying to anticipate where this was going, though I had a sinking feeling I already knew.

I glanced at him, his eyebrows raised in that infuriatingly inquisitive way, and I couldn't help but let out a sigh. It was only a matter of time before this topic came up, given the way things had been unfolding.

"Why are you still asking him, Kyle? It is obvious with the way he kept staring at her during class. He is interested in the new girl and there is no denying it." Callum's voice chimed in, his tone definitive, leaving no room for argument.

I knew Callum was going to say this. Ever since she walked into our classroom, a noticeable shift in the atmosphere had occurred.

It was like a ripple effect, causing whispers and glances to be exchanged, and of course, I found myself caught in the middle of it.

"Stop imagining things. I'm not interested in anybody." I retorted, trying to keep my voice steady, even though I could feel the heat creeping up my neck.

The last thing I needed was to fuel their imaginations any further. And I don't have to explain myself to anybody. I thought, trying to convince myself as much as I was trying to convince them.

"Then why were you looking at her?" Noah's voice, usually calm and rational, now carried a hint of incredulity.

Not you too Noah, at least I was hoping you wouldn't say anything. He is the only person who knows when to ask questions and I was counting on him.

He had always been the voice of reason among us, the one who could see beyond the surface and understand the underlying complexities. But now, even he seemed to be joining the fray.

It's not that I'm interested in the new girl, I'm just curious. Why did she transfer to our school? It is very rare to have new students in their senior year here in our school.

Our school was known for its stable student body, with most of us having been together since middle school, so a new arrival in senior year was practically unheard of.

It piqued my curiosity in a way I hadn't anticipated, making me want to understand her story, her reasons for this unexpected change.

Even that curiosity is surprising me though, I have never been curious about girls before and I wonder what is so different about her that has me wanting to know more about her.

She isn't the typical girl you would see here in Brooklyn or even New York as a whole, she is a whole lot different from the kind of girls that I'm used to and maybe that is why I'm so curious about her.

Her demeanor, the way she carried herself, even the way she dressed, all spoke of a background and experiences that were foreign to me.

It was as if she brought a piece of a different world into our mundane, predictable lives, and that was both intriguing and unsettling.

"It's not like we're saying you're not allowed to look at any girl, don't get us wrong. It's just that it's a first, you only show interest in a girl if you want to get into her pants but today was different." Kyle's words hung in the air, dense with insinuation and an unexpected weight.

He was right, in a way. My interactions with girls had always been straightforward, devoid of the complexities and emotional layers that seemed to weave through this current situation.

My usual modus operandi was simple and devoid of any real connection. But today was different, and it was clear they had all noticed it.

"Your face had a different kind of interest from what we're used to and we couldn't help but get curious. Now come out with it, what's so different about her?"

Why is he so talkative today? Noah only speaks when he thinks it is necessary. His sudden interest in this conversation was uncharacteristic and, frankly, a little unnerving.

It felt like the entire dynamic of our group had shifted, with all eyes on me, waiting for an explanation that I wasn't entirely sure I had.

"I was just looking at her, she's new and it is normal for me to check her out. I'm not interested in her or something, I was just curious like I know you are. Don't mistake that for interest, it's not the same."

My voice sounded strained even to my own ears, a defensive edge creeping into my tone. I could feel their skepticism radiating towards me, a palpable force that made my skin prickle.

There was a truth to my words, but also a layer of self-deception that I wasn't ready to confront. There's no way I'm interested in her, I don't know her and I've never been interested in any girl before.

Why would I start now? The thought echoed in my mind, a mantra I clung to in an effort to maintain some semblance of normalcy.

I agree that she is different but that's not enough for me to be interested in her. I would rather die than change my lifestyle because of one girl, a girl I know nothing about for that matter.

This line of reasoning was supposed to reassure me, but it felt hollow, like a shield made of glass. Her difference was undeniable, and that in itself was unsettling.

It wasn't just her appearance or the way she carried herself, it was something deeper, an aura of mystery that seemed to surround her.

She was an enigma in a world where I thought I had all the answers, and that was both intriguing and frightening.

"If you say so. I have no reason to doubt you, it's not like you've ever lied to us before."

Thank you, Kyle. That's why you're my best friend. His words were a lifeline, pulling me back from the edge of my own spiraling thoughts.

Kyle had always been my rock, the one person who could see through the chaos and offer a grounding perspective. His faith in me was unwavering, and it was that faith that I needed to cling to now more than ever.

"What?! I'm not letting this go, not like that. You have to prove to us that you're still the same JC that we know and unless you do, I'll never be convinced that you're not interested in that girl."

Callum's persistence was relentless, a force that crashed against the fragile walls I had erected around my own uncertainty.

His eyes bore into mine, searching for any hint of deception or hidden feelings. It was infuriating, but I understood his perspective.

In our group, the unspoken rules of loyalty and transparency were sacrosanct, and any deviation from the norm was met with intense scrutiny.

"Let it go, Callum, why are you making this a big deal? He has told us that he is not interested in her and as his best friends, we have to trust his words." Noah's voice, usually the calm in the storm, was now tinged with exasperation.

He was trying to mediate, to restore the equilibrium that had been disrupted by Callum's insistence. It was a valiant effort, but I could see the determination in Callum's eyes. He wasn't going to let this drop until he was satisfied.

"It's okay Noah, I'll prove it to him. Let's have a party tonight and you can invite lots of girls, I'll prove to you that nothing has changed."

If I have to f**k a girl to prove it to him then so be it. It's not like I have never done it before. My words hung in the air, a challenge thrown down to silence Callum's doubts.

The idea of a party was both a solution and a distraction, a way to divert attention and reaffirm my status quo. It wasn't the most dignified solution, but it was effective.

"That's my best friend! I will surely organise that party, in fact, let me get to it." He started making calls and the way he did everything so fast made me believe that he had already wanted to have a party and now he just decided to trick me into it.

Callum's enthusiasm was infectious, and as he launched into action, I could see the tension begin to dissipate. The idea of a party was appealing, a chance to lose ourselves in music, laughter, and the fleeting connections that came with such gatherings.

That's the kind of friend I have. It's not like I hate parties, I love them actually but not to the extent of having them every day. I have limits. The thought echoed in my mind as I watched Callum coordinate the evening's events with military precision, even though I've never been to the military, I think the way Callum was coordinating was the same.

There was a part of me that thrived in the chaos of parties, the electric energy that pulsed through the air, the thrill of the chase, and the temporary escape from reality.

But there was also a part of me that longed for something more, something deeper and more meaningful, a part of me that I wasn't ready to acknowledge just yet.

As the preparations continued, I felt a mix of anticipation and unease. This party was a means to an end, a way to prove to my friends—and perhaps to myself—that nothing had changed.

Yet, beneath the surface, I couldn't shake the feeling that this was all a façade, a performance to maintain the status quo. The new girl had stirred something within me, a curiosity and a sense of possibility that I couldn't easily dismiss.

And as much as I tried to bury those thoughts, they lingered, a reminder that sometimes, change was inevitable, no matter how much we tried to resist it.