*insert title here*

Chapter 3

I sat down in a desk in the far corner of the room and opened my phone to my notepad, I hashed out some thoughts and closed my phone again just as a few more students walked in. A few minutes into class the way I was sitting became uncomfortable, I shifted to a more open position, slumping down a bit in the desk and moving my leg slightly into the isle. The next couple of classes went by like nothing, but Economics, right before lunch, felt like years. I finally escaped that boring hellhole of a classroom around noon, I swear I would almost rather listen to a dog try to sing than that teacher, he had such a boring voice, its like even he didn't wanna be here. I slowly made my way to the stairs to scope out Kelsie or Gear, neither of which I found, so I wandered back to my locker to put my last classes books away. I was starting to look like a pack mule there for a second. Chuckling at my own joke I followed where all the rest of the kids seemed to be flocking to, the cafeteria. I dread the cafeteria, so many people. After taking a deep breath to calm my nerves, I joined the line for what looked like sloppy joes, and scolded myself for not packing a lunch earlier that morning. 

I got my food, only 25 minutes later, and rushed to an empty table on the opposite side of the cafeteria. As I sat, I began to think about if I should try to sit with a group, make more friends. Then I thought against it, they won't like you, I mean seriously no one else would really accept a new kid anyways, especially not someone like you. I agreed with my mind on this one, I'm not really anyone's type. I'm still not even sure why Kelsie and Gear are being nice to me. I sat through lunch, eating with my head down, I only looked up to check for Kelsie or Gear, but I never saw them. I stopped eating mid-meal and sighed, crossing the cafeteria quickly, earning a few looks and some muttering from the other students. Finally a girl, with a voice I recognized spoke, but I didn't bother to look up. " I wonder why the new kid is always in such a hurry... " okay, I'm curious now. I slowed my pace a bit so I could hear her. "...so insecure and different, no wonder it doesn't have any friends" I looked up to see Brittany from my first class, smirking. Another kid from the table, this one a scrawny looking boy, perhaps a boyfriend of one of the girls, threw his leftover crusty biscuit in my direction, and sneered "What even are you?" I dodged the biscuit easily, and remained silent, he didn't deserve an answer. Cafeteria food never really was edible I agree, but really, he didn't have to throw it at me. He should have thrown the biscuit at the bitch next to him for fucking calling me 'it', that's incredibly disrespectful. 

Infuriated, I turned on my heel and walked the opposite direction of them, hearing the muffled laughing as I pushed through the cafeteria door. At that rate my thoughts were so loud I thought everyone could hear them, and although I'm generally good at masking, that shit really pissed me off. The rest of the day went by excruciatingly slow, I had another class with the bitch from lunch, but I treated her like everybody else, which seemed to baffle her. Kelsie and Gear seemed to ditch, or I just never saw them in any of the rest of my classes or in the hallways, Kelsie hadn't even dropped  by her locker that I'd seen and I'd been by almost every class. I began to worry about them subconsciously and got lost in thought a lot during the final hours of the day. However, as I was walking to the bus stop, debating walking to the park to chill alone for a while as usual, a maroon SUV pulled up next to me, in it was Gear. "I heard about what happened at lunch, I'm sorry about her. She's a bitch, and her boy had better watch it." I didn't respond, but I did put together that he had said "her boy", which somehow infuriated me further. Gear got out and put a hand on my shoulder,  "Hey, are you okay?" I tensed a bit, but nodded, hoping he wouldn't ask anymore questions and really wishing he hadn't touched me. He didn't ask anymore questions, and seemed to accept my response attempted to pull me into what I think was going to be a hug. I stiffened, and began to push him away, he released me and apologized quickly. I shook my head, "No, no it's okay, I just don't like being touched is all." Gear apologized again, and said he would ask next time, which I appreciated. By that time Kelsie had hopped out of the truck and without warning grabbed my arm, surprising me. Man, these two are touchy. I thought to myself. "Do you want to ride with us to the park, I've noticed you there a lot. Gear and I like to skate there." I thought a moment, then thought about what my therapist emphasized, and hesitantly accepted. Kelsie seemed thrilled and pulled me in to the SUV.  After Gear made sure she and I had gotten into the car safely he re-entered the driver's side, and started the car. He let it idle for a while letting an all too familiar smell hit me. Diesel fuel. I began to dissociate and got lost in thought 'Why in the hell is diesel fuel familiar? No one I know drives a diesel, unless...' The rest of the thought fell behind all the others. After a while Kelsie nudged me, I looked around and we were already at the park. Damn. I  didn't realize it had been that long. "Hey Dakota, you good?" It was Gear's voice, but it sounded so loud. That was weird it came in over my other thoughts entirely.