Something New Is Needed by Rebecca Polonsky (book series to read txt) 📖

P.O.V - Dakota
Slowly, I walked into school. Looking around, I didnt see anything new. Just the same old thing everday. But what else do you expect in a small town like this? What am I really hoping for? I'm hoping for some.. excitement. Not like it'll happen. But I can always hope. Turning the corner I saw my old friend being sucked into the petty drama and lies of 'popular' people. I rolled my eyes and walked to my locker. I slowly turned the lock. 25-16-4. Thats my combo. It was the hardest one I've gotten since I've been here. All three years. Next year I'll be a senior. Then'll I'll be able to leave this boring town and go to somewhere exciting. I can get a great job. Making a life for myself. Not in a boring town like this, that is. When I was done taking all the books I needed out, I shut my locker door. Then quietly walked to my homeroom.
When I got to the door of my homeroom, I opened it and walked right in. No one even turned a head. As usual. I'm not liked very much. I dont really have any friends. Not anymore, that is. I slowly walked to my desk in the second row. Right behind the most popular boy in school, Joey White, is where I sit. Fantastic, eh? No. The problem with this is, I have to hear him and his friends talk about football and baceball all the time. And every once in awhile they'll talk about other people. Always bad things. They're just like girls. Always gossiping. Its quite annoying. I hate listening to other peoples bad thoughts about another person. Mr. Moore walked in and everyone took their seats. As he got to his desk, he picked up a book and started calling out names.
"Greg Aaster?"
"Here."
"Sarah Abooz?"
"Here!"
Then he called out my name, "Dakota Ace?" Before I could answer, Alex Tucker ran into the room.
"Sorry I'm late!" he shouted and ran over to his seat. Mr. Moore watched him sit down two seats behind me. He smiled as I raised my hand slowly so show I was here. Then he just went on with calling out names. I looked out the window. I wish something interesting would happen. I ran my fingers though my hair. I think I'm pretty. Not beautiful. Not sexy. Just.. pretty. A pretty and normal girl with no friends and a horrible father. I have long, curly brown hair and green eyes. Not always green, though. They change color. They're brown when I get upset. I'm not fat. Not super skinny either. For the most part I'm happy with the way I look. No reason not to be. After a few minutes I felt someone kick my desk. I jumped and looked over to see who it was. Joey. I rolled my eyes.
"Homeroom is over, dork. Everyone is gone." I looked around and saw no one was in the room but Mr. Moore, Joey, and I. Not wanting to talk to him, I just nodded. I walked right past him and out the door to my next class.
P.O.V - Joey
I stared at the door. Who was that again? I looked at her seat then back at the door. Oh yeah.. Dakota. Dakota Ace.
"Joey. Get to class." Mr. Moore told me. I chewed on the inside of my cheek and walked out the door and thought of the way Dakota was looking out the window. Its like she was in her own little world. I dont ever see her with anyone. Never talking to anyone. I have her in all my classes, and still never see her with a friend. At lunch she sits alone in the corner with a book in hand. Must be lonlely. But in a way, nice. Or, peaceful. I'd love to be able to sit alone and not have anyone bother me. But being the captin of the football team, that'll never happen. Everyone looks up to me. And honstly, I dont know why. When I got into my next class everyone was there already. I looked around for Dakota. Dont know why. Just wanted to see her. To know she was there. And like always, she was sitting in the back of the class with her face in a book. I took my normal seat in the front next to Josh. He was my best friend, and always has been. He isnt on the football team. He doesnt do any sports, actually. He's one of the smartest kids in school. You'd think that the captin of the football team and one of the smartest kids in school wouldnt be friends, but this isnt a movie. I'm not that much of a jerk. Many people seem to think that, though. I leaned over to him and whispered.
"I got a job for ya' bud."
He smiled at me, "What is this job ya' got me? I'd just love to hear it." He laughed at bit like he was making fun of me.
"Yeah yeah. But listen to me. There's this girl in the back of class, Dakota Ace. And she's always got her face stuffed in a book. I want you to find out about her and tell me." I sat up in my chair. "Got it?" He just smirked and looked to the back. He got up and stared walking to the back of the class. Not just that, but to Dakota. What is he doing?
P.O.V - Dakota
I heard someone call my name. "Dakotaaaaaa. Dakotaaaaaa." I looked up.
"Who are you?" He was kinda.. good looking. Not good looking like Joey White, with his short brown hair and sweet chocolate brown eyes. But He was pretty good looking. Longish blonde hair and warm blue eyes.
"I'm Josh. Josh Martin."
"Did you need something?"
"Not really. But I always see you sitting back here by yourself. And I kinda feel bad. I wanted to know if I could sit with you at lunch and just talk. Get to know each other. Become friends maybe?" He smiled.
"If you want. I dont really care." He nodded and walked away. I watched him sit at his desk. Finally. Something different for a change. Maybe not that exciting, but different then every other day.

The next few classes were the same as ever. I stayed in the back with my book. Kids called out. Same old. But then it was time for lunch. I dont know if I was scared or happy. Its been a long time since I've eaten lunch with someone. I shrugged and went to my locker and shoved all my books in there. Even the one I read in class. I grabbed my lunch and slammed my locker door closed and locked it. Walking to lunch, I bumped into Josh. He smiled at me. "Well lets walk together, okay?" I just nodded and walked beside him to lunch. People didnt even seem to notice I was next to him, because bunches of his friends would walk by and give him high fives and wave. It must be nice to have so many friends and have so much excitement in your life. When we got to the lunch room, I walked right to my table in the corner. He followed. "Why do you sit over here alone?" I looked up at him.
"Why not? Its quiet over here."
"Yeah but.. wouldnt you like to sit with some friends?"
"I dont have any. Plus most girls gossip. I dont like gossip. Really pisses me off to hear bad things about people. Not saying all gossip is bad. But most of the time it it." He just looked at me and smiled.
"You're not really like any girl I've ever met before."
"I dont know if I should take that as a bad thing or not." I opened up my bag and took out my sub and iced tea."Its not a bad thing. I'm with you on the gossip. I dont like it very much eithe-" I cut him off.
"No. Josh. It's not that I dont like it very much. I HATE it. Okay?" He just nodded. "Sorry. I really just.. dont like it." I sighed.
"No worries. It's a good thing, really." I didnt answer him. Just began eatting my sub. "So uh, tell me about yourself." I looked up at him.
"Well.. My name is Dakota Ace. I'm pretty normal. I think I am anyway. I mean, I dont really have any friends. I just focus on studying. And I'm always reading. Thinking about it, I am kinda different, huh?" He smiles and took a sip of his Coke.
"Yeah, I guess. But you know, being something or someone different isnt bad. I think it's kinda.. exciting. Meeting and having a friend thats totally different from everyone else is awesome. Its something new to be around." He looked up and rested his chin in his hand. "Yes, everyone is different, but its always great to find someone that comepletly different. In middle school and high school everyone like.. groups together. They have the people that have more things in common and stay like that. Sometimes its like everyone is a clone of each other. And to me, its quite boring." I blushed and stared in awe. I'd never think to hear that from someone popular.
P.O.V - Joey
What are they talking about? All I can to is stare at them from my table. Everyone kept asking what was wrong. Why I wasnt talking. But I just ignored them Not like they really care.
P.O.V - Dakota
"W-Well.. Tell me about you. You're popular, right? I'm sure there are some pretty interesting things about you."
"I'm really not that interesting at all. I've pretty much just become one of the crowed. But I dont play sports. I study. The only reason I'm popular is because my best friend is Joey White. He's been my friend since we were kids ya' know." He smiled.
"Really. Thats pretty cool." I smiled back at him. For the first time in awhile, I actually smiled and didnt force it. But why? He was talking about Joey. He's most likely a jerk. Popular and the captin of the football team. "Tell me something, is he.. a jerk? It doesnt really matter to me but.. I wanna know. I kinda just always figured he was. Captin of the football team and all." He just laughed.
"He's not a jerk at all. Actually, he's the nicest guy I know." Hm.. Nicest guy you know, huh? Thats interesting. And with that, the bell wrang. "Oh. Well. Do you wanna do this again tomrrow? I had a lot of fun." He smiled and I blushed lightly.
"Sure. So did I." I took all my trash and threw it away. I