The following Monday, about four days later, I returned to school. This was my first encounter with people other than Maddie, my family, and some close family friends. I wasn't quite ready for all the attention. I didn't want people to hug me, to ask if I was okay, or treat me differently. I found it kind of sad that people only care when something tragic happens. Maybe I was expecting too much. Maybe people would still ignore at me and think of me as the girl who fell in the middle of the commons. I didn't know and I wasn't quite sure if I wanted to find out.
“Emma! Hurry!” I heard my dad call up to my room.
I took one more glance in the mirror, pushed the nose piece of my glasses further up my nose, and pulled my sweater down a little. I looked at the picture of my mom and me that still hung on my mirror.
“Love you,” I looked into her eyes as if she was still here.
I grabbed my backpack and my phone from off of my bed and made my way downstairs.
“Ready, Kitten?” Dad asked while patting my back as I walked past him towards the car.
“No,” I replied.
Dad sighed and said, “Yes, you are.”
I rolled my eyes and slid into the passenger seat.
“Ready for school, Emma?” Ethan asked from the back seat.
“Sure. Are you?” I said flatly.
“Yes! I'm so excited!”
“Good,”
I was a little to nervous and preoccupied to pay much attention to him.
Dad climbed into the drivers seat and pulled out of the drive way. I turned on the radio and sat back in my seat. I followed each object outside with my eyes. Soon enough, I saw the Norberry High School sign on the right side of the road. We pulled up to the front sidewalk that led to the main entrance of the school. I heaved my backpack over one shoulder and sighed.
“I love you, Kitten. Have a good day at school,” Dad kissed my forehead and smiled.
“Love you, Emma,” Ethan echoed.
“Thanks, super star,” I grinned at my little brother before I opened up the car door.
As I walked towards the front doors, the usual cliques were scattered amongst the front lawn of the school. One by one, everyones gaze fell upon me. I felt insecure and uncomfortable. I heard the occasional, “I feel so bad for her," and “Poor Emma”. I knew it. People only recognized me because they felt bad for me. I was tempted to turn around and run after my dad's car until he stopped and I could get in and he'd take me home.
“Emma!”
Maddie. Thank, God.
She raced over to me and hugged me until I thought I was going to suffocate.
“Hey,” I said.
“How has it been so far?” She asked, clearly seeing the disgust on my face.
I groaned.
“What happened?”
“People only notice me because they feel bad for me. I find that pathetic,” I shook my head.
“Whatever, blow it off,” Maddie smiled as she slung her arm around my shoulders.
“Yeah,” I said.
“Did you eat this morning?”
“No,”
“Let's go to the cafe in the commons,”
