Finding Family

Chapter 4

Rory and I walked down to dinner together. We got in line in the cafeteria and grabbed our food. As we searched the room for a place to sit we both froze like we were staring at a jungle. I saw Peyton waving at us to join them and we walked over. Peyton was sitting on Nate's lap and tossing grapes in his mouth while laughing when they missed. Next to them was Sabrina and then Ben who had his arm around her. I took a seat next to Ben and then Rory sat next to me. We were pretty quiet for the meal, just watching the way the older students talked to each other with such confidence and ease.

"So Amy," Ben said to me. "Nate tells me you like to horseback ride." I nodded looking down, embarrassed of my immature hobby. "That's way cool! What's your horse's name?"

I smiled at Ben, encouraged by his sincerity and enthusiasm. "Spartan."

"Man, that's so intense. I'll have come watch you someday."

"That'd be awesome," I said smiling widely. I looked over and saw Peyton frowning. She was staring at a boy all alone at a lunch table, staring at his food unhappily. As I looked closer at the boy I realized he was the smaller boy Peyton and I had seen earlier in the hallway getting picked on.

"I'll be right back." Said Peyton as she removed herself from my brother and walked over to the table. She said something to the boy and then walked right back and sat back down on Nate. A few seconds later the boy stood up, grabbed his tray, and walked over and sat at our table. Nate stared at Peyton with a look of admiration and pride in his girlfriend.

"I'm Peyton, I'm a junior." The boy only looked down at his tray.

"I'm Sabrina." she chimed in cheerily.

"I'm the Benster."

"Call him Ben, I'm Nate, and we're all also Juniors."

"I'm Amy, and this is my roommate Rory, we're freshmen."

The boy looked up to say something, but just froze with his Mouth hanging open.

"If you don't introduce yourself we're just going to have to call you Mouth little man." Said Peyton with a wink.

"Mmmmarvin, my, my name's Marvin."

"I like Mouth better." Said Peyton calmly. "I think we'll call you Mouth." Mouth just nodded staring at Peyton all wide eyed.

"See Ben, that's how you get a nickname." Said Nate. "You don't just assign yourself one." We all laughed as Ben pouted. The rest of dinner was really fun. We had just started what would become a family for a bunch of kids who didn't even know what family meant. Our family would build and grow until it collapses and cuts us all on the way down.