Never Lost, Always Found

Chapter One

   I stare out of the window while sitting at my desk.

I'm alone in the classroom watching the middle schoolers relax in the schoolyard. My hand props my head up as I look at the teens sitting with other people, their boyfriends mostly. I only have amounted the same as a grain of rice to them.

I look away from the window, a tear sliding down my cheek. My hand slides from my head and onto the pencil on the holder on my desk. I brush a strand of hair from my eyes and sigh. I tap a simple rhythm on the desk edge and start to hum. I close my eyes and start to break into a captivating chorus.

The door creaks open. "You okay, Paige?" I hear. I stop singing and face the door. The lights turn on and reveal Benji, my only friend I have here, standing in the doorway. He looks genuinely concerned about where I have been. He has a beautiful head adorned with chestnut brown hair. He has beautiful blue eyes that sparkle in the sunlight. He's super smart and loves the Titanic, something of which he always shows me maps and blueprints of constantly that he draws himself.

Benji walks over to me. "You sulking again?" he asks. I nod. "Yeah." He gives a small smile to me. "I'll sulk with you," he says. He drags a chair over to my desk and sits right next to me.

"So, what's up?" he says quietly. I shrug. "Nothing much, other than me being basically ignored again," I say. "As a matter of fact, you are the first person to talk to me today." He pats me on the shoulder. "You can't have them all wrapped around you," he says. "I at least know that if I slip away from them all, I can't ever slip up," I whisper. He shakes his head. "You can't go about it that way."

I peer out the window again. The people are still chattering loudly outside, sitting on benches and the green grass. I sigh. "Why can't I be like them, Benji? Why can't I?" He sighs and turns to face me. "I don't know," he says. "I guess it's the way the world works."

We both stare out of the window in silence.

That silence is short-lived when I ask, "Benji, does nobody like you?" He looks at me, taking his gaze off of the window. "Some people at my other school did. I'm grateful I was able to come back and see you again," he says. "I'm glad too," I say, giving a smile. "It took us a couple of years, but we are finally fixed," he says, returning my smile.

"You mind singing again?" he asks. I shake my head, "I don't, why?" He looks into my eyes. I feel my face turn pink. "I want you to sing for me," he says. I take a deep breath and sing again. When I finish he seems super calm. "That's my favorite song," he whispers. "It's mine too," I say.

"You want to go outside of here?" he asks, gesturing towards the door. I consider his thought. Best I get some fresh air. "Yeah, sure," I say. He stands up and puts the chair back. He walks back over to me and takes my hand. We both blush.

He weaves me through the rows of desks and out into the hallway. There are people talking by their lockers, laughing, hugging. I get bumped into a few times in the shoulder like I'm invisible. Benji makes a few jokes as he passes by people, getting a few laughs and finger points. All I think I'm getting are laughs. Not with me, but at me.

I want to hide and disappear, but Benji grabs my hand and leads me through the crowd. When we get outside and onto the courtyard, we find an empty table. Tears start sliding down my face as he sits down next to me. I suddenly start to sob. I bury my face in my arms. Benji wraps his arm around me. I hear him place his head on the table.

"It's okay," he whispers. I lift my head out of my arms and gaze sadly at him. "It's never okay!" I shout. "All I get is ignored! N-nobody appreciates me." "I do," Benji says calmly. "You're okay. He lifts his head. He stands up. "You think we can leave the schoolyard now? Going home sounds like a good option for you."