Cool for the summer.

S.O.S

I walk into Hawkins middle school, clutching my backpack. I look around trying to take in any distinct "landmarks". I eventually find my homeroom, walking in and finding a seat in the back. I notice a few people looking at me and whisperings but I try to ignore them.

~

The day goes by pretty fast and easily. That is until lunch. I walk in grabbing some lunch. "Eddie!!" I hear someone yell, running over. I thankfully place my tray down on a near by table before Steve is crashing into me, pinning my arms to my side in a bone crushing hug.

"H-hey Steve." I say as he lets go. I look around at everyone staring at us, with a rose dusting across my cheeks. I look at the bouncing boy in front of me, smiling softly. "That was kinda weird dude!" I say laughing.

"O-oh." He says blushing. "I was just excited to see you." I nod picking up my food and following him as he began to walk back to his friends. "Come I want to introduce you to my friends." He says back to his normal self.

"Guys! This is Eddie! The guy from summer camp I told you about." He says gesturing to me. The group laughs. I wave placing my tray on the table.

"Ooh, ah yeah. Sorry but you can't sit here. Based on what you're wearing I'd say you can't afford to sit here." A girl says taking up the spot I was gonna sit in.

"What?" I ask confused. "I saw you with that weird guy that works at the plant in town the other day. My dad said we don't mingle with trailer trash." A guy says.

"Hey, that's not nice." Steve says quietly. "Steve! He's weird, look at him. I realise that you had slim picking at summer camp but you're in the real world now. Someone like us can not hangout with someone like him." Another guy says, seemingly the leader. "O-oh."

I huff grabbing my food, trying to walk away. "Eddie! Wait. I'm sorry!" He says chasing after me. I swing around. "No! I get it Steve. You come from money, you get to sit at the cool kids table and, and I'm just "trailer trash". I can't believe you got my hopes up like that. Did you just want to embarrasse me?" I say angrily.

"E-eddie, I-" "Don't!" I yell storming off to the opposite corner. As I sit I see him sadly walk back to his group. 'He wouldn't do that on purpose, would he?' I think picking at my food.

'Sweet innocent Steve? Shit he didn't do it on purpose. He 100% thought they would want to be my friend." I growl.

~

I see Steve at his locker the next day and walk up to him. "Hey Steve? Um, I'm sorry I yelled at you. I know you didn't think they would do that." I say fiddling with my hands. He looks at me sadly. "I'm sorry too. We can't be friends anymore. Even my parents say so." I look confused at him as he walks way to his friends.

"What were you doing talking to the freak?" I hear one of them ask. "Ending things." He says.

~

The next 2 years I watch as the sweet excitable boy from camp turns into a rude snob, a bully even. Everytime I said Hi he would scoff. And once I stopped trying to talk to him, that's when the snide comments started from the friend group. Steve would never join in on the name calling but would just smile to himself off to the side.

"Hey freak! What's it like having to eat cat food for dinner?"

Eventually I began to stand up for myself, if they wanted a word fight then fine, I'll give them one.

"I wouldn't know. You tell me. Don't rich kids eat pâté and caviar?" I retort back.

This thankfully helped me find a band of misfits, my own friend group. We did everything together. We had a band, a DnD group, just a nice set of weird friends, until I had to leave for high school.

They were all a year or two below me. But that means no Steve and at least half of that friend group. I'll be all alone again, for at least a year.

"Just let me get through high school." I say to the universe.

--------------

Can you say, short chapter? Seriously though I had planned on making this at least 1000 world but I can't really think of anything else to add.

Also that comeback was weak. You got any ideas for how to write the back and forth? I'll just say it's because they're middle schoolers.

Love you

Drew X