Page 1 of Wasted Oil

Prologue

Melanie

High School-First Semester

Mrs. Graham is going over the senior showcase schedule for the school year, while the rest of the class is already in motion of what they have planned to do. I however am sitting looking at a blank notebook that has more eraser shreds and or scribbled out words than one should have.

With my hands in my hair I blow out a breath. After much deliberation I've decided I have absolutely have no clue what I got myself into and not taking a free period like my best friend, Alex. For what should have been the easiest A this year has become my biggest headache. As if she knows I’m internally dying of pure self torture I get an incoming snapchat from Lucifer herself. I pick up my phone and open up the app and click on her username that I’ve personalized to Goose with the aviators emoji next to it. I swear we can quote the whole movie to Top Gun like everyone else can with mean girls. I mean of course we can quote and basically recite the whole movie too but we are a different kind of breed. To be honest I think Alex and I were born in the wrong era because if anyone asked us if we could choose to go back to any past time we would choose the 1980's hands down without hesitation.

Opening up her snap I see her posted up on our bench in the commons area with a Dunkin Donuts iced coffee in hand and the straw between her lips. She has, 'Are you done yet Mav?' plastered in bold letters. My phone vibrates with another incoming snap, so I open it and there is a foam cup sitting on the bench with the commons in the background with, 'Don’t want your old lady gas station coffee to get cold' tagged on it. I scowl at the photo with an eye roll. She’s always making fun of my coffee of choice. So what if I enjoy Colombian roast gas station coffee with half & half and one packet of pure cane sugar? I’m an old soul sue me. As I’m about to send the middle finger emoji in a chat the bell rings so I hit send followed by on my way goose.

Our high school is huge, like New York Central Park huge. Well not that huge but to us it seems like it. Though thinking about it I’m sure our campus with the football, baseball fields, tennis courts and our student parking lot would be maybe half close to full size of Central Park. It’s all outdoors too, which basically means you are always sweating walking from class to class because the Texas heat is no joke. Luckily the fine arts department is actually next to the cafeteria lunch area that opens up to a big place we call the commons. Sometimes I wish I gotten more involved with our school.

Walking out the double doors, I make my way across to the bench that has basically been claimed by Alex, Johnny, Rhett and myself more so known as the OG four since we all have been besties since pre-k. Of course we had to make room our sophomore year for Janelle, Rhett's girlfriend.

The thought of them together makes my jaw clench up and don’t get me started on when I actually see them together. But then again anyone who has Rhett's attention makes me cringe. I kept my crush for him hidden ever since elementary school. Well apart from Alex because she sniffed it out the moment Rhett picked a dandelion from recess in 3rd grade and gave it to me. Then she saw the cheesy smile I had plastered on my face. I carried it around literally everywhere for god knows how long and now every time I see one in the grass or anywhere I walk, I just smile and think back to that memory. Usually that memory is always interrupted by Alex picking it up and teasing me or simply placing it in my hair on the top of my ear with a comment of, 'Don't say I never gave you anything.' She can be a real pain in my ass almost all of the time, But she also knows how to pick me up when I need it most and she really is my number one fan girl who will do just about anything and I mean anything for me, her words not mine but she really sticks to her word. I could probably go without her One Tree Hill one liner quotes, but she wouldn’t be Alex without her own personal touch on life.

“Truth or dare,”she asks as I reach for my coffee from her grasp.

“Truth.”

“Scale of 1 to 10, how much do you wish you took the last class as a free period?” She wags her eyebrows with a smoldering look and evil grin to follow. See I told you Lucifer herself in the flesh, she loves to know or see my personal torture especially when she knows what I desire most.

"A ten for sure. I’m seriously freaking out about the showcases this year due to the fact I don’t know where to start or any idea what I’m gonna do,” I respond.

I think my ears are smoking from all the stress built up in just the one class I'm supposed to be having fun in. Singing is everything to me and more. When I was a little girl in class, I remember the teacher asked us what we wanted to be when we grew up. Several did say they wanted to be rockstars but me —I'm determined to be one. For me when I sing it's like I’m telling you my story without telling you my story or how I feel. Elvis said it best, 'A little less fight and a little more spark, close your mouth and open your heart.'

Good god, now I'm turning into Alex.

"Oh come on Mav I already told you what to do. Do an acoustic version with your guitar of your favorite song and I’ll do my senior dance piece all while you are serenading our fans.” Alex expresses her idea with hand motions of kissing and waving to the air as if she’s envisioning the audience. But as she says her idea I can't help my mind from actually thinking it's quite perfect.

"You know what Goose I think that’s a really good idea.” I say as I'm sipping on my coffee and my mind racing around what song to actually sing now.

"What's a good idea?” A low, husky voice pulls me out of my thoughts and back to reality. Rhett swings his bag to the side of where he just sat down and of course with Janelle to his right attached to his hip. It's a good thing I’m wearing my aviators cause I’m 100% positive I’m giving a mean RBF.

"Mel and I are going to do the senior showcase as a dynamic duo. I’m going to be doing my senior dance piece to her singing an acoustic song.” Alex explains just as Johnny joins us.

"For sure Thong Song by Sisqo, now that’s a crowd pleaser.” Johnny chimes in with a sarcastic remark reaching to fist bump Rhett across the table. I give a hidden eye roll and Janelle laughs along with the guys.

“As much as I would love to drop it low and shake my butt to that we are vetoing, sorry babe.” Alex snaps back with sass. What Al see’s in Johnny is beyond me.

Johnny is, and I swear the doppelgänger to Adam DeVine but with blue eyes and the ego ofSpencer Pratt from The Hills.

Growing up together I’m sure everyone saw one of us in our group becoming an item with another and I certainly am not going to be the one to jump to it because I’m the most introverted person on the planet. I come to school because it's necessary and I only go to after school extra curricular's with Alex for either Johnny’s basketball games or the three of us going to Rhett's baseball games. Al is my opposite, a total extrovert, yes she is loud and can be a bit crazy but its because she is living her life to the fullest and she’s not afraid to do or say anything, well almost anything. She pushes me out of my comfort zone but also knows not to push too much.

“Alex, are you sure you want to rely on Melanie for your Senior Dance Piece? You know there are going to be directors and scouts in the audience from several universities at the Showcase?”

"Do you actually care, Janelle?” I bite back. Janelle always has to try and one-up or tear me and Alex down any chance she can.

"These two are a force to be reckon with and I for one can’t wait to see what they come up with” Rhett says with that sexy smile wink he does and I swear I’m melting in my seat. Rhett always backs us up even when it comes to Janelle, that’s one of many reasons why I love him. Being dubbed in the friend zone has really cracked my heart but I’d rather have that then not have him in my life at all. I’ll get over my crush sooner or later. Well at least I hope I do because being the fifth wheel at our bench really is sad I’m sure for those on the outside looking in. The only time I ever feel really uncomfortable is when Rhett and Janelle are sucking faces. Johnny and Alex are pretty good about PDA especially when around me.

Then again she’s pretty unaffectionate, a lot more this year, since her summer re-visit to her dads house. I’ve noticed her in some ways being more off than usual but I’m the only one that can really see it as well as knowing the reason why. She always gets in a funk when she comes back home. Ever since that summer two years ago.

Finally saved literally by the bell I pick up my bag, put my shades back on, and say see ya to everyone.

Second Semester

“Omg you’re never gonna guess what I just found out in Dance class Mav.” Alex is out of breath like she just ran all the way over here to our bench the moment the bell rang which I’m certain was like five seconds ago.

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