Have and Have Nots

Conner, are you new?" asked Conner.
Dawn nodded. "Yes." She thought for a moment and then said. "Hmm. My brother's roommate is named Conner. You wouldn't be roommates with Zander, would you?

"Yup, he is. Zander is a genius. I think he really knows computers and electronics more than I do. you two do not look the same different mom or dads?" asked Conner.

Dawn nodded. "Yes, he is. I know he knows more about that stuff than most people, I've met. " When Conner asked his next question, Dawn shook her head. "No. We're fraternal twins, actually, but I'm told that all the time. Zander skipped a grade though."

The minute Lance headed to the table Heath and Kyle looked at each other. They were both more the type to calm the situation than jump into the middle of it but they would have JD's back if needed. After all, Lance started it.

Melissa didn't know anything about Lance but he was some big football player. Courtney and Dawn both watched what was going on without much comment but keeping an eye on the situation.

Sam who had found Ashley by this point; heard a commotion over where she had been sitting and looked over. Muttering under her breath "First day, it's already starting." For the most part, there was a gap the size of the Grand Canyon between the rich kids and the scholarship students. Some people, like Rose, Kyle, very possibly Dawn, choose to either bridge the gap or fall on the opposite side of where they had started out. Others choose one side or the other.

Seeing the start-up on a scholarship students some of the rich girls headed towards Sam who death starred them. Seeing her look the rich girls backed down before saying anything. First day...This was going to be a long year.

........

After dropping Melissa off, after dinner. Doug headed the ATM on campus and hit a room that wasn't his own in the boys' dorm. After his knock on the door and being told to enter, he handed the other boy, another member of the football team about $600.

"That's the money I owe you plus the buy-in for the next game."

"Good to go"

Doug left the room and went back to his own. He made a phone call to his moms. He needed an advance; school supplies cost more than what he thought, he needed a new computer, his car needed some work. Whatever excuse, any excuse he came up with a reason for them to give him more money. He was careful to not use the same excuse twice in a given time period.

It was still early enough to head down to the Rec room. He wasn't interested in ice cream though. He figured Melissa would be either sitting by herself or with the cheerleaders. As he walked into the Rec center, however, the first thing he noticed was Lance and JD in a ...something. They weren't physically fighting but verbal arrows were being fired directly at JD. Good. Doug thought the Sophomore needed to be taken down a peg or two. Scholorship student Well,that was info Doug didn't have but could be useful later.

It was then that Doug looked at who else was at the table with JD. Courtney, Conner, Heath, Kyle no surprises. He spotted his sister Dawn there, also, no surprise she never did care much about picking the rich kids to be her friends. Zander was the same way but was probably off with the nerds. Doug never understood his siblings.

He then spotted blonde hair, nice build, Melissa sitting there. He couldn't have a potential girlfriend associate with them. As a new student; she could get a little pass but he knew he needed to stop it. Then again, maybe he could use this to his advantage play the good guy.

He intentionally walked past Lance and said so noone but Lance could over hear him. "Nice job. JD needed to be taken down a peg or two." He then paused. "But see that blonde over there the one with the figure." He nodded towards Melissa. "I'm trying to get with her. So, that's what come next."

Doug, much to many people's surprise, walked over to the table where Melissa, JD and the rest of them sat. And said to Melissa. "Hey, you want to go for a walk?"

Dawn swallowed. She didn't know Melissa well but figured no one deserved the fate of having her brother after them.

Melissa smiled at Doug and said "Sure." Throwing her ice cream cup away and heading off with him.

Dawn's face fell, she sighed. She didn't know the people at the table well enough to say anything and didn't know how well any of them knew Melissa. She needed to regroup. "I'm going to get a water. Be right back." She got up from the table and did that but detoured past the room that Zander was in with his friends. They seemed busy; she'd bother him with this later.''

...........................

Melissa and Doug headed outside one of the side doors. Doug took Melissa's hand in his. "You OK?"

"Yeah, stuff like that happens in every school. I suppose.'

"You know; things will be a lot easier on you if you hang out with the right people." Doug didn't mince his words.

"You mean the rich kids. "

"Of course. It's them vs. us. We can't let the scholorship students take over the school, you know."

"There are other rich kids who don't feel that way."

"Oh, you mean Kyle....well, he's gay they seem to have their own thing going on. And Dawn....well. Dawn is my sister. She's always like this besides she's a theater geek, also, have their own thing going on."

Melissa looked unconvinced. "So, you mean that you don't want me hanging out with them."

"Look, I'm just trying to help. You're a cheerleader. I'm a football player I'd like this to go further than one dinner date. I have a feeling you want the same thing." With that Doug moved in closer and kissed her. It wasn't deep or long but it was enough. He knew it was enough by the smile that crossed Melissa's lips and the look in her eyes. This was too easy. "It'll be hard to go further if your friends with 'them'."

"I...I don't know." Melissa sounded unsure of her next step.

Doug really needed her away from them because he had a feeling they were the type friends that might warn her about him. He knew Dawn would and that could ruin everything he had planned.

"Just think about it." He kissed her again this time a little longer. "Look I have to go. Have things to do. Your decision."

Melissa walked off back to the rec center and look around the room. She didn't want to be rude and Doug had left, as far as she knew, so she sat back down with Conner, JD and the rest.

Doug hadn't left, he followed her back, where she wouldn't notice and saw her sit back down with Conner, JD, Dawn and the rest. A pit formed in his stomach. If he could have turned a color at that moment it would have been green with jealously. He walked out the rec center, turned into an empty corridor, leaned against a wall and then hit his fist along the wall. He would need to think of a better game plan for this to work but it would; he was going to make Melissa his. He was now determined to make it happened.