Daydream Believer

lxiii. the cafeteria and the office

lxiii. the cafeteria and the office

Lunch was the only class that Aaron, Justin, and I had together. The food was just as disgusting as it was in middle school, and the cafeteria was a lot more crowded. Luckily, our table was just Justin, Aaron, and I.

"I have so much math homework," Justin complained.

"Me too," Aaron said. Math was the only class Aaron and I had together, so I had the same homework that he had. We always sat in the back of the class together. Aaron made a lot of jokes about our teacher, who looked mysteriously like the Monopoly man.

I started to pick through my lunch. The fries were the only thing that looked anywhere near edible, but that wasn't a full lunch, so I started eating the spaghetti.

"McKenna Gregory, please come down to the office," I heard over the announcements. They repeated, "McKenna Gregory, please come down to the office."

"I have to go," I told Aaron and Justin. "Watch my food."

"We will," Justin said.

"Wait, you're going to the office?" Aaron asked. I nodded. "I hope you're not in trouble."

"Me too," I said as I left the cafeteria. Why did they want me in the office? I didn't do anything, unless whispering in the library counted. I headed into the office. There was a short, grey-haired woman waiting for me.

"McKenna Gregory?" she asked. I nodded. "Come with me." She led me into another room. It was filled with inspirational posters and bright colors. There were several chairs around a table. I already felt uncomfortable. "I'm Mrs. Cadenza," the woman said as she sat down. I wasn't sure what to do, so I sat at one of the other tables. "I'm your guidance counselor."

"Okay," I said. I still wasn't quite sure why I was here.

As if she had read my mind, Mrs. Cadenza said, "I'm sure you're wondering why I brought you out of your lunch to come here. You see, I'm aware that you're going through some rough times at home."

I nodded. So Mrs. Cadenza was stalking me. Good to know. "I don't really want to talk about it," I told her.

"Oh okay," Mrs. Candenza said. "I just want you to know that I'm here for you if you ever change your mind."

"I won't change my mind," I said. "I'm fine."

"You can go back to lunch then," Mrs. Cadenza said.

I walked back into the cafeteria. I'm fine. I'm fine. I'm fine. Maybe if I said it enough, it would come true.