Alone

Chapter 1

I walked into English with my head down as always. No one ever really paid attention to me except Kevin Brody. I am the reason his best friend is dead. It's been four months since I made James Madison drive me home and it's been four months since he died. James was my boyfriend. He was a senior and I, a junior. I loved him so much and after he died, my mom sent me to a hospital because I stopped eating. That lasted a month and they sent me home. Some times, my older brother, Matthew threatens to send me back when I have an episode as he calls them. I feel fine though.

As I sat down, a girl I've never seen before walks over to the teacher's desk and hands him a slip. A blue slip that said she was a new student. He slowly stood up.

"Everyone, this is Abigail Monroe. She is coming here from Denver, Colorado. Okay, Abigail, you can take the seat next to Lori Daniels. Lori, raise your hand please." Mr. Maco can always be trusted for pointing me out. Although I didn't have to since the seat next to mine was the only one left, I raised my hand. She smiled and made her way down to her seat, James' seat.

"Hi." She said, nicely to me.

"Hey, don't talk to her. She's not someone you want to be friends with." Dana Nialls told her. Abigail stopped smiling and just looked at me.

"Is that true?" She asked. I never looked at her, I just stared straight ahead.

"That's what everyone seems to think." I answered. She didn't seemed to be convinced because she kept talking to me, all period. Even when Mr. Maco would shush us. She still went on and on about her brother and her family back west.

"Lori, can I please speak to you for a moment?" Mr. Maco suddenly said once he finished the lesson. Abigail quit talking and I stood as I heard the "OH's" coming from the rest of the class.

"Yes, Mr. Maco?" I asked. He looked up from the test paper in his hand.

"Lori, I'm worried about you. I know losing someone close to you is hard. I lost my wife but I still managed to get over that and move on. Maybe you should too." He explained. I chuckled. He stopped and looked at me. He had to be kidding. He really was giving me this speech.

"Mr. Maco, you lost your wife to a divorce. It's hardly the same thing." I said before walking back to my seat. He looked a little stunned as I sat down. Abigail chuckled once and I smiled. I never liked Mr. Maco. Since, the accident, he has tried to 'help' me. I didn't need or want help.

"Okay, guys. Homework read Act 1 of Macbeth and finish the study guide. There may or may not be a quiz tomorrow." Mr. Maco said. I started putting my books away and stood as the bell rang.

"Lori, right?" Abigail asked. I nodded. "Do you mind helping me with the homework? I don't have a copy of the book." I looked at the clock.

"Um, you can get everything you need from Mr. Maco." I answered. She looked over at his desk.

"Oh, okay. Thanks." She said. I nodded once and walked out of the classroom. Since James died, I kept to myself. Everyone, including me, knew it was my fault. I hated myself everyday. I made him drive me home from the annual senior's party. He had been so excited about it for a while. Since his junior year, he would go on about how much he wanted to go to the seniors only party. And I made him drive me home, that's when we got into an accident. I was okay but he didn't make it.

The day went on as usual. Abigail was in my math class and a few of my other classes. I was now in lunch and I went to the bathroom like I always do and I heard voices outside the door.

"Nate, come on, this isn't fair. I need someone to talk to. I'm going crazy here." It was Abigail. She was yelling at someone. I wondered if it was her brother.

"Abby, we go through this every time. It's not worth it. We just need to get through this school and then move on like we always do. Okay? Dad will eventually come back and move us somewhere else just like always. So just hang on a little while okay?" I heard a boy say. He obviously didn't like our town. Trevorston isn't a bad town. It's not New York or Chicago, but it was nice. It's not so small that everyone knows everyone but it's also not so big you have to drive a mile before you find a store.

"Nathaniel, please, just because you don't want to make friends doesn't mean I can't." Abigail yelled.

"No, Abigail. I'm tired of picking up the pieces. No." He said. I heard a huff and footsteps walking away. I waited a few minutes and then walked out of the bathroom.

"Leave my sister alone." I heard a voice behind me. I jumped and whirled around. I didn't recognize the guy but he was gorgeous. I waited for my heart to slow down before speaking.

"Excuse me? Who are you?" I asked. He took a step towards me and I took a step back.

"Doesn't matter. Leave my sister alone, I don't want her getting close to anyone. She's been through a lot so leave her alone." He tried to walk closer but I kept walking back.

"I've been through a lot and i don't know who you are so don't tell me what to do." I said. I seemed to be angering him. He tried once more to close the distance between us but I continued to refuse. I stepped away. He seemed to give up as I walked away. I could still feel his eyes on my back as I walked back to the lunch room. I sat down and recapped on the conversation I just had with Abigail's brother who she called Nathaniel. I didn't like him but I couldn't push the image of his shaggy brown hair or piercing green eyes out of my head.

The bell rang and I grabbed my bag. I looked up to see Abigail and she waved at me. I waved back as I saw her brother standing in the doorway. He smiled at her warily. He then looked over at me, actually more like glared at me and I just walked right passed him and went to history.