(Disclaimer: As always all characters are 18+. I wanted Leo and this chapter's partner to get a bit freakier and more experimental, so be prepared. It's not that weird, but still experimental. If there's any kinks/situations you'd love to see our hero in, leave a comment!)
Chapter 3: The Mind Opening
Leo ended his Monday on a "high note", smoking a decently strong joint before going to sleep. He never ended up getting Emily's Snapchat, in case she ever wanted to do something like that again. He also never got around to reading that chapter of the textbook he was supposed to read. He went to school that day, dreading having to tell his group that he didn't follow up on his promise. Right at the beginning of the lunch hour before Ms. Howard's class, he tried looking for his textbook in his bag, only to find that he didn't even bring it. As his panic was only continuing to build, he saw one of his group mates approaching him from the left side of the cafeteria.
"Hey, Leo! Do you have a second?" Lauren asked. She was wearing her usual style of baggy clothes. A black pullover and matching sweatpants today, with her hair in a very messy bun.
"Yeah, sure Lauren. What's up?" he asked back.
"You know how we were supposed to read those chapters of that textbook for class? I kind of forgot to... and I really don't wanna tell Cheyenne and Danni, cause they'd be SO pissed. I was wondering if you had read yours, and if not, maybe we could read them together over lunch?" the stoner girl asked.
Leo sighed in relief that he wasn't completely alone in his predicament. "I haven't read mine, no. I didn't even remember to bring the book today." he laughed awkwardly, getting a laugh from Lauren too.
"Oh, I have mine. I'm not that stupid." she teased with a wink, lightly jabbing Leo in the shoulder.
Leo laughed, moving his bag so that Lauren can sit on the cafeteria bench next to him. The two groupmates opened the textbook to Lauren's chapter first, and the two began to read. Leo liked this, actually. As long as the reading was getting done. And, since he was reading it right before class, it would be fresh in his memory when discussing it with his group. Lauren enjoyed it as well. She barely knew Leo from the times they'd hung out with mutual friends, so it was nice to finally get to know him for real.
The two surprisingly got done both chapters before the bell to next period rang. They walked to class together, talking and laughing throughout the hallways. When they walked into Ms. Howard's classroom, they saw on the board that they were to sit with their groupmates from the start of class, and they made their way to their newly assigned seats.
Leo saw Emily walk in soon after, followed by Bella and Tahlia, and fully back to her confident, affluent self, though now with a much kinder vibe to her. She even gave Leo a cute wave and a giggle before whispering something to her friends, illiciting giggles from them as well. Leo waved back and smiled.
Danni entered next, waving at Leo and Lauren, and then sitting with them. Cheyenne was almost late, making it just before Ms. Howard started the lesson.
"Everything alright, girl? You're never late to class. That's usually me." Lauren asked.
Cheyenne laughed. "Yeah, I lost track of time working on the project during lunch."
"You've already started? All I did was read the chapter!" Danni exclaimed with a smile.
Leo and Lauren looked at each other and laughed. "We JUST read the chapters." Leo said.
"The assignment is already online, she's just gonna explain it in detail today. I already understood it." Cheyenne shrugged confidently.
"I wish." Lauren sighed.
Ms. Howard began the class as usual by quieting everyone down, then starting to explain the assignment, just as Cheyenne predicted. Throughout class, Leo caught the three rich girls eyeing him up a couple times, which is when he realized that the videos Emily took were probably sent to the other two. The rest of class was used to start on the project that Cheyenne had basically already completed her portion of.
"Chey, would you mind coming over to my place after school to help me? Since you're already done." Danni asked.
"Yeah, of course!" the nerdy goth replied. "What about you two?" she asked Leo and Lauren.