Observing

Kai sits on the bench alone while looking at his phone.

He is alone and is probably missing someone so much at the moment.

"Can't Val and Joanne join this party? Urgh, I'm alone..." he mumbles to himself.

He looks at Caleb who is making a move on a girl. Kai just chuckles after seeing his best friend being the popular and romantic guy when he's actually a goofball.

Caleb stands beside a girl and asks her, "so, you wanna go to a movie tomorrow?"

She gasps excitedly and says, "Yeah, sure!"

"Cool," Caleb nods while smiling flirtatiously at her.

She blushes and looks away from him to hide her smile.

"Well... I see you tomorrow, then," Caleb says while winking to her.

"Yeah, sure... tomorrow," she answers with a flirty tone.

Caleb leaves her and walks toward Kai who is seating on a bench.

"Now, that is how you get girls, baby!" Caleb says proudly in front of Kai's face.

Kai scoffs jokingly while rolling his eyes and asks, "Do you even know her name?"

Caleb hesitates for a moment and finally says, "...M-yeah... sure, tch! O-of course I know her name. I'm not dumb!" with an awkward tone and hilariously exaggerating expression.

"You have no idea, do you? Kai asks him flatly.

"Nope, not even one..." Caleb answers while shaking his head.

Kai just laughs and says, "You are such a jerk..."

"Oh, come on! Let's just look at Felix! Is he doing fine? Has he finally learned how to lure girls just like what I taught to you guys?" Caleb wonders while smiling proudly.

"Oh, you mean how to make out with them and break their hearts afterward? Yeah, I guess..." Kai says with a sarcastic smile.

Caleb stares at him with a disbelieving look. "You've been hanging out with Val too much. Look at you!" Caleb complains.

Kai giggles after seeing his reaction and says, "Yeah, seriously look at Felix,"

They both stare at him to see how the opposite of social butterfly doing right now.

-Right after Kai left Felix and the girl-

"So, are you going to talk to me now?" the girl asks him while smiling calmly.

Felix stares at her for a second and looks away again. He braces himself and says, "I-I, I-m sorry... about before..."

"You're not good at meeting new people, are you?" she jokes to break the awkwardness between them.

Felix giggles for a bit and says, "Worst at it. I think it's a talent..."

The girl chuckles and says with a slight smile, "See? You can talk to new people..."

Felix just stares at her with an awkward smile to hide his nervousness again.

"Emily," she introduces herself calmly.

Their eyes meet for a second and he looks away again.

"It's Felix..." he says while smiling awkwardly and not looking at her.

They start to talk about simple things. Although Felix is not as bright as the others, she seems to be able to cope with him. Emily's friendly yet cool attitude is tearing Felix's wall down bit by bit.

Felix starts to make eye-contact with her, even though most of the time he always looks away and smiles awkwardly at her. However, it is an improvement for him. It is a development for him, who wants to open himself more. Tonight, he is one step closer to being braver.

-When Kai and Caleb are about to observe Felix-

"Damn, he's doing fine! He's better than you at this game. You're just sulking alone cause Val ain't here. Lame... Oh, whaddup they rhyme, baby!" Caleb disses Kai while raising his fist to make a high five with Kai.

Kai gasps and answers, "I am not doing high five with you and I am not sulking cause Val ain't here!" with a memeable expression.

Caleb just smiles sarcastically and says, "Tch, as if!"

"Great, you sounded like Cher from Clueless just now," Kai disses him back.

Caleb gasps, overly, and yells, "How dare you! It was iconic!"

Kai just rolls his eyes and they both burst to laugh after a short dissing session.

Not short after that, Felix and Beca suddenly appear right in front of them.

Kai and Caleb look at them confusedly.

Caleb asks while smiling confusedly, "Why are you guys here?"

Beca sits beside him and says, "Well, he was very sweet. But I would rather spend the rest of the night with you guys,"

"Yeah me too," Felix adds while grinning sincerely.

"Oh, come on! You just couldn't take the awkwardness. That's why you're here, ain't you Felix?" Caleb disses him.

"Oh, gimme a break already!" Felix complains loudly.

They just burst out to laugh at each others' stupid words and behaviors. In the sea of popular and known people at a party, sometimes, you just need a couple of foolish friends to laugh with.

At least, that is what they need at that moment. A lonely, awkward, fine, or even sweet moment can't compare to their precious and magical laughing or dissing session.

-The next day, after school, Seaside High-

The science club's meeting has ended and Joanne is still sitting on a chair to sort her books.

Alfred hesitates for a second but finally forces himself to take steps closer toward her. "Hey, Jo... Can I talk to you for a second?" Alfred asks her nervously with guilt in his eyes.

Joanne looks at him and nods while looking away.

-Bleachers-

They go to the bleachers and sit there. There's a space between them. Space where neither of them is comfortable nor brave enough to fill.

Joanne, who is still pissed about last week's incident, is sitting there without wide smiles on her face.

"I'm sorry... about... last week. I should've done something from the first time... I'm sorry I didn't step up earlier..." Alfred confesses with a guilty voice while looking at her.

Joanne looks at him to see the sincerity in his eyes. Then she smiles and looks away.

"It wasn't your fault... I was just... mad that he treated me, a girl and an Asian, that way..." she says with hollow eyes.

Alfred just stares at her without saying anything. He feels guilty and sorry for her.

"But you know what pissed me the most? He only changed his mind after you, a white man, interfered. That's what offended me the most..." she speaks with fierce but heavy eyes.

Alfred suddenly moves closer to Joanne. He looks deep into her eyes and says, "Let me make it up to you... Do you... want to watch some movies... you know... like right now?"

Joanne startles and looks away to hide her red face. She clears her throat as if it can clear the awkwardness inside of her.

She nods while hiding her smile and heart that melts right after getting mad after last week's incident. No matter how annoyed she gets, maybe she starts to grow a soft spot for him.

Hearing Joanne's answer, Alfred smiles and turns his back to hide the fact that he's blushing so hard right now.

They both just sit there side by side to feel the happiness, excitement, and the butterflies partying down their guts. The new and unfamiliar feelings are flowing through their blood. It's refreshing and making them nervous at the same time.

Are they going crazy or are they just starting to have what they call crush? It's new, but they enjoy it at the moment without knowing that having a crush can turn your life better or worse.

-Hallway, Seaside High-

"So, tell me. Which one is Caleb Farrell?" Stacy, the cheer captain, asks the Basketball team's captain. "Woah, what are you gonna do to him?" he asks while smiling to hide his freaking-out-situation.

"I'll... chat a bit... with him..." she smiles.

He told Stacy which one Caleb is and she is going on her way toward him. She walks confidently wearing her cheer uniform with her blond hair in a ponytail.

"Hi, I am Stacy, the cheer captain. Can I talk to you for a second, Caleb?" she asks while smiling creepily.

Caleb smiles awkwardly to hide his confusion and says, "Well, nice to meet you too. Talk about what?"

Stacy just smiles and says, "You'll see," and walks to an empty classroom followed by Caleb from behind who is still trying to take a grasp in the situation.

She sits on the teacher's chair elegantly and asks, "Do you know what is happening to your sister right now?"

Caleb flatly and shamelessly answers, "I don't know, being dumb over something."

"Yes, she is. She is being dumb for falling for a basketball team member and is now about to be kicked out of us," she says without a smile this time.

Caleb stares flatly for a second from not believing her. "Come on, that's ridiculous!" Caleb shurgs it off nonchalantly while sitting on the table in front of her.

"I am being serious. She can really be kicked out if the other captains and members know," she says while standing up and getting closer to him.

"Oh, how did you know that anyway!" he rolls his eyes.

"She left with him last night," she says seriously while looking into his eyes.

"No, she was with us last night," Caleb states with a dangerous tone.

"She went back to you after leaving with him. Do you know what happens when a girl and boy are together and alone at night?" she asks with rage in her eyes.

"I don't know! Talk?" Caleb answers sarcastically.

"No! Making out! Hooking up with each other!" she snaps.

"Now, you're just being irrational and unreasonable, Stacy," he denies while shaking his head.

"N-no! This is not irrational! Don't be disrespectful to our tradition, Caleb!" she yells while still smiling.

"Then why didn't you kick her out already? Face it, Stacy. Your team needs her talent," Caleb says while taking one step closer to her.

They are now just inches away from each other. They both look into each others' eyes with anger.

"I-I, she's... good. I can't afford to lose that much of talent..." she says quietly while looking away.

Caleb takes another step closer to her and whispers, "Well, maybe you'll find a way to end the tradition, then..."

Their faces are so close that they can feel each others' breath. Stacy can smell his scent and it is making her weak at the moment.

Caleb looks into her eyes and smirks. "Don't be so tough about stupid rules. Maybe we'll have a chance," he whispers to her while sarcastically grinning.

He pulls away and walks out of the door.

Stacy is now alone in the classroom. She sits down. Her legs are too weak after the intense talking and eye contact with Caleb. Her heart skipped a beat even though she hates to admit it.

Rage and confusion are filling her head now. Will the tradition finally come to an end? Will Stacy stand up for Beca and Nicholas or will she push them down? What decision will be made in the future?