Across the pond

Hay, I made a friend

Sam walked into the cafeteria, he was just behind Nick and Andrew. He copied Nick and took a lunch tray, he started to slide the tray across the bar picking up food and putting it on

"I still don't understand why you took their side" Andrew said, spooning tater tots onto his tray

"Because I just want everyone to get along" Nick answered, waiting for Andrew to be done. He looked over at Sam "we're gonna sit over there" he pointed to a table in the corner witch Jay was sat at

Sam was still upset with Jay and didn't want to hear Andrew complaining all through lunch. He looked around from somewhere else to sit and saw Caleb sat by himself "uh, actually I was gonna sit with Caleb.. if that's ok"

"Oh, yeah sure." Nick and Andrew walk over to their table. Sam finished putting food onto his tray and looked over at Caleb's table, he started to walk over when an all too familiar buzzing sound appeared

"You can't just walk up so someone and ask to sit with them! What if he says no??"

"He deffinetly will say no" another chimed in

Benji walked beside him "well he seemed to like you.. he didn't tell you to fuck off like most kids do. I mean I'm pretty sure the kids autistic too"

Sam nodded as he got closer to to table, he swallowed a hard gulp before standing in front of Caleb "hi.. can I sit here?"

Caleb looked up "there is no one else sitting at this table"

Sam took that as a yes and sat opposite to Caleb "How was last lesson?" He asked, struggling to find a conversation starter

"It was how it always has been" Caleb continued eating, looking over at the pile of backpacks every now and then

"He's not interested, quick move!" Teto flew around his head

"Where would he move? There are no free tables and I am not sitting next to that crazy fuck" Benji gestured towards Jay, who was drinking cups of radioactive looking liquid while other boys cheer him on

"So.." Sam cut in, feeling awkward "what kind of things are you interested in?"

"I like studying maps" Caleb looked up at Sam

"Oh! We made maps in my old school, I loved it." Sam slowly began to eat "they dropped us off in the country side and had to follow maps to get to the check point"

"We do map orienteering in map club. I have map club every third Saturday. Would you like to join map club?" Caleb asked in his usual monotone voice

"I would" Sam smiled, he really did enjoy maps he made them quite a lot in the group home "but I'd have to ask Mr and Mrs Birch first"

"I will print out a flyer in free period for you to show your adoptive parents"

"There you go! Your first mate that Nick didn't instigate" he ruffled Sam's hair "you're doing great"

Sam smiled "thank you" he continued to eat, the buzzing had disappeared and he was actually relaxed. He was never good at making friends, and when he did they weren't actually his friends.

The boys enjoyed their lunches together, talking about maps and eventually backpacks. Sam didn't really have anything good conversation starters so was grateful that Caleb took control of the conversation. Sam enjoyed listening to people talk about things they were interested in.