"Hey! Tobias!" I heard someone call out my name as I was headed to the cafeteria, which really confused me because no one cares for my name. I turned to see AJ bounding up beside me, confusing me further because I thought she would be with Stacy at lunch. "Want to eat lunch together?" Her question caught me off guard, so much that I stopped walking and just stared at her in disbelief. "What? What's with that look?" My brows furrowed, now I was extremely confused, I pinched myself to make sure I wasn't dreaming.
"Ow...okay. Not dreaming." I muttered, looking back at AJ I noticed she was still looking at me. "Oh yeah right! Sorry! It's just that um"
"HEY NERD!" I was interrupted by the yelling of none other than Henry, "Lunch money." He stated, holding out his hand impatiently.
"Hm? Oh! Yeah sure." Without much thought I dug into my pocket and pulled out a ten dollar note, passing it on to Henry. The jock walked off without another word and I turned back to AJ. "Not a lot of people call out my name, let alone ask me to eat lunch together." I explained weakly, god I probably look pathetic and she's just offering to eat with me because she pities me like everyone else. AJ looked up to me with her round emerald green eyes, they looked deep into mine searching for answers.
"So... is that a yes on eating together? Because I really want to get away from people." I blinked at AJ; she was still serious on me hanging out with her for lunch.
"Sure." I responded, unsure on what exactly was happening. Before I could protest her hand wrapped around my wrist and she held on to me as she walked through the sea of high school students. AJ led us up the stairs to the rooftop, by now she had released my wrist from her grip and just assumed I was still following her, I mean- I was but she trusted that I was still there and hadn't abandoned them. I helped her open the double doors, which revealed an empty basketball court that was completely forgotten about by literally everyone who goes to the school.
"Finally, quiet." AJ said sitting down on the floor and getting her lunch out from her bag. Instead of standing there like an idiot, I followed suit, sitting across from her and pulling out my own lunch. "I thought that idiot took your lunch money?" AJ said, watching me confused. I sighed and explained that Henry is a jerk and takes my lunch money at the end of every week, and because on Friday I can't buy food I just end up bringing a sandwich or something. The two of us sat in silence, eating our food and enjoying the quiet, but I felt as though I needed to talk to her, or she would just leave forever.
"So... what's your favourite colour?" I awkwardly asked, trying to make conversation.
"Really?" AJ gave me that look that girls are known for, that unimpressed glare. Geez, girls and glaring are like best friends.
"Just making conversation!" I argued. AJ laughed again, bringing her hand up to cover her mouth.
"I know but really? Small talk?" She giggled again before looking at me with a quizzical look, "Here's a question, why does no one care about you? They don't even know your name!" AJ gestured her hand towards the door, as in gesturing to everyone who knows of my existence, she was right though. No one in this school actually cared enough for my name, they all just called me nerd and the teachers only remember their favourite students, surprisingly being the nerd doesn't mean your automatically the favourite. I hummed, not knowing how to respond.
"America." I shrugged, taking another bite of my sandwich. "Could be the fact I have no friends..." I mumbled, thinking a little bit about it.
"Well in that case," AJ got up and sat next to me, "I'll be your friend." She stated confidently, a smile plastered on her face – almost in pride of taking the role as my friend. I laughed, I figured AJ was joking around and this was all some dumb prank, but when I turned to see she was pouting I stopped immediately.
