Alone in French

Three- Lewis

Most new kids are nervous for lunch.  Having no one to sit by tends to rattle most kids and cause them to have an anxiety attack at the very idea of eating alone.

I'm not that way.  Back home I usually sat alone.  I had... acquaintances that I could sit by, but I preferred eating lunch in solitude.  However, Keegan won't let that slide.

"Just sit with my friends and I," he insists, "they won't care."

"They might." I reply with a dry laugh.

Despite my doubt, I follow him outside to the hill where a circle of kids sit, and I happen to recognize one of them.

Blond boy.

"That's Grant." Keegan says, pointing to him.

He gestures to the other two beside grant, "that's Kaelyn and that's Carson."

We sit down in the grass to which Kaelyn immediately jumps over Carson to wave to me, "finally another girl!  What's your name?"

"Nevaeh." I say quickly.

Kaelyn hesitates, "hmm, you're name sounds familiar."

I shrug then she adds, "what's your last name?"

I don't say it right away. What if she has another reaction like Ms. Walsh. Is Kaelyn thinking of my mom, why would she be.

"Lewis." I finally answer.

"Nat! That's who I was thinking of!" Kaelyn exclaims.

Carson looks at her confused, "Nat? As in, Natasha Lewis?"

My mom kept her maiden name for whatever reason. My dad decided to change his to match her because he didn't like the idea of having two last names. I can't fathom why my mom would decide to keep it though, it's not helping me in slightest. I wonder if Caelum is getting the same treatment.

I half expect all their eyes to gloss over at the realization that my name triggers the thought of oh-so-famous Natasha Lewis, but they don't. Keegan, Carson, and Kaelyn just look at each other.

Grant speaks next, and what he says catches me off guard, "oh you guys didn't notice? They look like. Some freckles, same bitch resting face, same full lips."

Slowly, Kaelyn, Keegan, and Carson look back at me and come to the same conclusion as Grant.

"Are you and Nat related?" Keegan asks.

"Yeah, she was my mom. She died last year."

Their expressions fall as they realize they've opened a wound. I shrug to indicate that I'm not bothered.  Thinking of my mom doesn't bother me, despite her having passed so recently.  Dad says I've always been this way, things just don't hit me emotionally.  My resting bitch face doesn't weaver in situations, I'm just calm and collected.

"Sorry for mentioning it." Kaelyn says, picking up her salad.

"It's fine." I reply with a wave.

She stabs some lettuce with her fork and consumes it.  I didn't bring anything for lunch, I usually don't eat it.  I'm not anorexic I'm just not hungry for it.  Mom was the same way now that I think about it.