Changing the World

Chapter 2: Always so Quiet

Chapter 2

Always so Quiet

  I'm sitting on the floor in P.E. with Lilly and Katie and I sigh and look as the football team comes in. There was not a whole lot of "physical" in physical education- or education, for that matter. Most of the time, the football players would come in and use the gym instead because it was starting to get too cold outside for practice. The football players were hot, I'll give them that. I sigh and look at them over the top of my book. Wouldn’t it be nice to have a guy like that like you? Or just have someone like you. I always fall for the losers who I know will not say no to going out with me because I’m too scared of what will happen otherwise. The thing is, however, they were losers, and I didn’t realize it until they were driving the knife through me. By then it was too late. At first, you think the problem is them- that they are the screwed up ones. After three, four, five, six guys you begin to wonder if you’re the screwed up one. When you find out the guy who gave you a bear for Valentine’s Day and the guy you shared your first kiss with made fun of you behind your back about how “you always seemed so sad and depressing and stuff” because you were still getting over your depression from the summer before, you begin to question yourself and what is wrong with you- not them. You.

  I wonder what it would be like to be one of those pretty girls all the boys want. I’m not trying to sound conceited, but I am pretty. I do look good, so it has to be my personality. I shake my head and look down at my book. It doesn’t matter. I’m fine. I could have it worse. I have my health, my family, and a roof over my head. I’m doing alright.

  Lilly turns to me, “What are your plans for after school?”

  I shrug and put down my book, “I’m not sure. I’ll probably watch TV, go on the computer, or something. I don’t know.”

  Katie looks at me, “Could you help out with Student Council? We need need help on the posters for the football game tomorrow.”

  I give Katie a wary look, “I don’t know, Katie. You know I’m not into that kind of stuff.”

  Katie nods, “Yeah, yeah, I know. We just need all the help we can get.”

  I sigh, “Katie…”

  Katie clasps her hands together and brings them to her chest, “Grace, please.”

  I groan, “Okay, fine. Just today.”

  She smiles at me, “Thank you so much.”

~~~

  After school, we go to the cafeteria to find rolls of paper, paint, and glitter all over the tables. Katie grabs my had and drags me over to a table with two girls and one guy painting claw marks and a bear paw on the paper.

  Katie clears her throat and look at the guy, “Jason, this is Grace. She’s going to be helping you.”

  Jason looks up from the paper, “Hey, I’m Jason. You new here?”

  I slowly shake my head, “No.”

  He squints his eyes, “Really? How long have you been going here?”

  I shrug, “Since day one.”

  He dips his brush in more paint, “Oh, I guess we just don’t have any classes together.”

  “You sit in front of me in Government.”

  He look back up at me and is quiet for a moment, “Oh, yeah, I do. Sorry, you’re always so quiet that’s all.”

  Katie nods and smiles, “Now that is all sorted out, I’ll leave you guys be.”

  She begins to walk off and I ask, “Wait, where are you going?”

  “To help other people. You’ll be fine.”

  I nod and look back to the group of strangers, “Um, okay.”

  She wiggles her fingers, “Call me if you need anything.”

  I nod and slowly slide my bookbag of my shoulder, “Okay.” My stomach twists as my shakey hand grabs the paint brush and dip it in the black paint. I’m doing this for Katie. That is what friends do.

~~~

  I get home and sling my bookbag onto the hardwood floor. As I walk to the kitchen, I see my parents at the dining room table looking at an open book and laughing. I walk over to them and my dad notices me first, “Hey, sweetheart. How was your day?”

  I shrug, “Fine. What are you guys looking at?”

  My mom pushes out a chair, “We finally found the box with our old yearbooks in it and we were just looking through them. Come sit down.”

  I smile and Sit down in the chair and look at my dad’s yearbook.

  He goes through everyone in his class and he had a little something to say about everyone of them. Then he passes a girl by the name Gigi Clare in the 5th spot of the third row.

  I stop him and point to her picture, “What about her?”

  My dad looks at her and places his index finger under her picture, “I’m not sure. I don’t really remember her. She had one or two friends and wasn’t in any clubs. She didn’t ever really talk to anyone else. She was always just really quiet.”

   My mom nods, “Yeah, I don’t remember her.”

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  There you have it! the second chapter! The first commenter will have the next chapter dedicated to them! Don’t forget to comment to give me feedback. Thanks, guys!