The Plant

Popularity

At school again the popular guy threw himself over _____ as soon as he saw him. And I immediately got left in the background. He looked back at me as he got dragged away in the crowd from the popular guy. And here we go again? Will I be left alone this week too?
I went to the classroom feeling down. I was so happy just a moment ago. But now I feel so empty. They were already chatting away in the corner, all seemingly happy.

At lunch time I struggled with myself. Should I really try sitting with them or keep to myself on the other side of the classroom? ____ waved at me, pointing to an empty chair he had occupied with his backpack. I hesitated, but got up still, walked over and sat down. Wouldn't this be awkward. Wouldn't everyone just assume stuff now? They would all imagine us together or something. And then rumours would spread around before I can confirm if this really is the case or not. Before I can have a chance of telling him. It would be so awkward.
Huh? When did I start worrying about rumours? Have I always worried about it? No. But when?
"Hey ____, he's talking to you."
"Huh? What? Sorry."
"No need to apologise. I just asked if you wanted to come with us and celebrate Halloween?"
I looked at ____. "Don't look at me, it's your choice. As I kept being undecided he seemed to get why. "I'm going by the way"
"I'll go too then"
"Okay. Great! Then I will write you on my Halloween list."
_____ smiled to me warmly. Which made me happy but also uneasy. That was too obvious. I now know he knew I didn't dare go to the Halloween party without him. But that's not the only reason.
He just seemed genuinely happy. How can he just go with the flow that easily without overthinking things.
(I haven't done anything to deserve this smile. But as long as he doesn't disappear..)
I wonder what costume I'm going to try for this. Homemade as usual or should I buy a proper one?
The usual way was using whatever was in my closet to make me look like something scary. Or borrow something from my mother. The easiest thing to create was to have a black or dark purple dress and become a witch. Or making holes in an old white bed sheet making a ghost. But those were the only 2 I could come up with. It felt a bit boring. I wanted to be different this year. Something scary that fit me somehow. A devil? All in red and with a tail and horns? No. Maybe not. Hmm. Maybe a zombie? But they look so ugly and lifeless. I can't act like a zombie. A troll could be scary too. But that one was too easy to make. I liked how a troll could have their hair in all directions and the tail. But having a clumpy nose didn't seem like my style. And if I didn't have that nose I would just look too normal. Maybe next year.