The Book of Firsts: Kendall and James- First New Friend
James and Kendall stuck together through their first two years of school. They were best friends and everyone knew it. No one tried to break up the amazing duo, even if James was always up to talk to anyone who moved. It wasn't until one day on the playground during the second grade recess hour that a brave soul finally tried to get into that inner circle of two.
The two boys were on the metal bar play set outside, James doing the monkey bars and Kendall sitting on top of the high bar. It was an accomplishment for him that James actually acknowledged. It took him the entire first grade year to be able to do that. He smiled proudly and looked out on the playground, seeing all the other kids running around. His best friend swung from bar to bar until he was climbing across the bars over to the small bar beside Kendall.
"Whatcha looking at?" he asked, swinging on the bar, completely unfazed by the other children. James always lived in he and Kendall's little world and he hated to have in punctured ever by classes (they were in a different one this year) and other kids. There was just no point to them having anyone else but each other. They were all they needed.
Kendall shrugged his small shoulders, "I don't know. Just the other kids I guess."
James just nodded swinging on the bar. They continued to talk mindlessly about how James could teach Kendall how to do the monkey bars, receiving a huge no from his blond best friend. He rolled his eyes and continued swinging on the bar. It wasn't until a small voice peeped up from behind the, that both of them noticed another child's presence.
"Hi," a tiny voice said. Kendall jumped down from the bar and looked at the person standing there. It was a short boy with neatly cut black hair and large brown eyes. He was pale and looked like talking to them was terrifying him. The small blond boy walked up to him while James seemed to ignore him completely.
"Hey," Kendall said as friendly as possible. He was getting better at talking to people now. He used to be scared of new people but he really thought there was a need for some more friends in his life, not that he'd ever let on to that to James.
The black haired boy smiled at Kendall. "I'm Logan," he said softly, holding out his hand. Kendall never got the point of a handshake, but he still grabbed the other boys hand. From behind him he could feel his best friend pressing again his shoulder.
"Logan?" James said. Kendall turned his head to look at his best friend, scared of what he might do. James loved new people but he wasn't sure how he'd react to a new person talking to Kendall and not him.
Logan didn't seem altered by the other boy's voice though. "You're…James, right?" he said in his small voice. He looked over at Kendall, "And you're Kendall."
"That'd be us," James replied before Kendall could say anything. Logan grinned even brighter than before.
"I was wondering if I could play with you guys," he asked, sounding more formal than any other second grader. James and Kendall looked at each other before James gestured for Kendall to follow him over to the bars again. He put up a finger to Logan, telling him to hold on a second.
"Should we let him?" the brunette whispered. Kendall shrugged like he always did.
"I don't see why we shouldn't…" he looked over at Logan, "He looks friendly."
"I know, but we need to test him."
They both nodded, thinking the same thing. If Logan was going to play with them, they needed to initiate him. They walked back over to the boy who was looking at the woodchip covered ground impatiently. He looked up when he saw the two of them return.
"So can I play with you guys?" he asked his voice desperate. James nodded.
"Yes, if you can pass the test," he sounded so serious. Logan raised an eyebrow and both the boys grabbed his arms, pulling him towards the black top and by the large green fence. The fence separated the school grounds from a large marshy lake, surrounded by long grass and wildlife. James kneeled in the grass by the fence while Kendall held onto Logan. He dug through in the ground by the fence until he found it; a large, juicy, pink worm.
He held it up with pride as he walked over to the other two boys. "If you want to play with us, you have to eat this," he said, his voice filled with joy. Logan stared wide eyed at the large worm. He shook his head.
"Why do I have to eat it to play with you?" he asked seriously, still staring at it. James set the worm in the boy's hand and smirked.
"Because, you have to prove you're strong enough to play with us," he said back. Kendall nodded along with James and released Logan. They stood across from him and waited while the black haired boy contemplated the worm.
He stared at it, wriggling around in his pudgy hand. It was muddy and slimy; exactly what James and Kendall were going for. He kept looking and looking for what seemed like forever before gulping. He opened his mouth and dangled the worm above it. He dropped it in quickly and chewed fast.
The other two boy's eyes widened as Logan chewed the worm. Kendall nudged James with is elbow and they looked at each other. They couldn't believe he had actually eaten it. But when Logan stopped chewing and opened his mouth wide, revealing that there was no more worm bits in it, they had to believe it.
"So I can play with you guys?" he asked again, his mouth tasting disgusting.
Kendall stepped up before James could, something that wasn't like him. James just stared at him while he spoke. "Yes you can."
Logan smiled brightly and James nodded. He wasn't expecting Kendall's boldness or Logan to actually eat the worm. But he was okay with it. So they returned to the metal jungle gym, James teaching Logan to do the monkey bars while Kendall sat on the high bar again.