A Little Bit Stronger

Chapter Four

     Walking into school I kept my head down and walked straight to my locker.  I hated going to school, but today was different. Part of me was hoping that the stranger from the park this morning would be here. Realizing what I was doing I shook my head and told myself I was being silly. No one was worth the trouble of a relationship. The more alone I am the better.

     Arriving at my locker I quickly grabbed my PreCalc and history books and started walking to class. I kept my eyes straight ahead of me and didn't talk to anyone. No one looked at me and I was okay with that. When I got to my history class I self-consciously brushed my hair over my cheek. I quietly walked to my normal seat in the back corner of the class farthest away from the door and took out my book.

     The bell rang a few minutes later. The teacher, Mr. Lind, walked to the front of the class and began asking for questions on last night's homework. Not very long into his answer about the importance of globalization, there was a knock at the door. I didn't turn around to see who was there but I heard a boy's voice.

     "Um, is this Mr. Lind's history class?" He asked.

     "Glad you could join us, Mr.?" Mr. Lind began.

     "Miller. Parker Miller." The boy said.

     "Well you can take the seat in the back next to, um" Mr. Lind started to tell him, forgetting the student's name. "Just take the seat in the back."

     Only when the conversation was over and Mr. Lind went back to his lecture did i look up. It was the boy from the park. He was here. He was coming to the back of the class. I glanced next to me and saw that there was an empty seat. I started to panic inside and turned my attention to the ffront of the class hoping that he didn't try to talk to me.

     "Hi, I'm Parker," he whispered

     "Lacey," I managed to squeak out, barley audible.

     "Are you new here too? Mr. Lind didn't know your name," he asked with a little hint of hope in his tone.

     "I've always been here," he noticed how quiet i was being and must have caught the hint.

     "Well, I'm sorry," he whispered as he turned to face the front of the class.

     All I could think about for the rest of the period was getting out of the class. I kept starring at the clock counting down the minutes until the bell. Five. Four. Three. Waiting was killing me. I always was anxious to be done with class but never like this. Some one actually talked to me and i didn't know how to react. Two. One. Finally the bell rang.

     I had never gotten out of a class so fast. I could faintly hear Parker calling out to me but I didn't turn around. I felt a slight twinge of guilt, all he wanted was a friend. No, stop. I told myself. No guy has good intentions, I had to learn that the hard way and I wasn't about to let myself into a similar situation. He can figure things out alone, I need to look out for myself. Only myself.