Freaks

::Eleven::

The next day, December 2nd, I went to school full of happiness and went home full of fear. 

Teachers murmured, students talked, and the principal finally gave up and gave an assembly, knowing no one would forget.

"Today is the 5th year anniversary of the suicides." Principal Lias started, sighing. "The four kids who committed suicide this very day, as a group, planned but in different situations and different reasons of act." He sniffled. "We all know the names of those four teenagers, so I'm not naming them off again, because it's inappropriate and may bring trauma. I'm giving this assembly because I was hoping my students here would learn that the past is the past. Unfortunately, you all haven't and still talk about it." Principal Lias closed his eyes, "Let's have a moment of silence."

We all stayed quiet although there were words scurrying through the bleachers and my mind. "God, it's horrible," this girl cried next to me to her friend. "I miss them so so much."

"I bet," the other nodded, pulling the girl in for a hug. "He would want you to be happy though."

She cried. "Why would he do this though? Why would they do this to us?"

After the silence, he thanked us and we all went back to our normal classes. Plenty of people were crying or sniffling, maybe just teary-eyed. It was just my junior year and I hadn't heard of anything about this, till now.

"I can't do this." A guy mumbled, shaking his head and then sighing. His friend grabbed his hand and shook his head.

"Don't do anything stupid, Phil."

"I won't." He nodded. "I just want to go home." So Phil went home. And so did Tiffany. And Stephanie. And Jackie. And Lola. And Tyler. And Freddy. And Ben.

**

By the end of the day, not even half of the students were at school and teachers had gave up on trying to give out assignments people were too upset to do.

When I got home I was angry. Why didn't I know who these four people were? If I asked I'd most likely be told I was rude or they'd screw me off saying I'm a freak.

My phone rang. I grabbed it. "Hello?"

"Hey," Bea said. "What are you doing?"

I sighed while I walked over to my nightstand and grabbed a sketchbook and sat on my bed, starting to draw just two circles. "Drawing." I replied. "You?"

"Just hanging out with Jessica." She told me. "We're going to a party and I want you to come. If you don't wanna come, I need help choosing an outfit, so do you wanna help?"

I groaned. "Sure. I've got nothing else to do."

**

I went to Bea's house and saw Jessica, who was a redhead with freckles and green eyes. Jessica said hi and then went back to texting, but I picked through Bea's clothes and gave her a few choices. She said no to all of them, then sighed. "UGH!" She whined. "Ian's not even going to be there and I want to look good."

"Call him." I suggested. I wondered what Cole was up to, considering he always stops by my house.

"No!" She shrieked, "I cannot do that! It's against boy–asks–girl–code!"

"Well you're not asking anything so it doesn't matter.."

"That's not the point!" She wiped her eyes and sniffled. "I miss him."

I sighed and got up, wrapping my arms around Bea as Jessica stood up and did too till we all considered going to the mall to look for an outfit for Bea and her.

**

The store we went to was Avalon, which was a hipster/girly store for girls. The racks were covered in colors from white and black to turquoise and mahogany brown.

Bea picked out a few cute gray/white T-shirts and a new set of dark blue leggings. As she tried them on, I helped Jessica find a dress that could go with flats, which I saw a purplish/bluish dress that had long sleeves and a open cleavage. "Here," I offered her, "this might look good on you."

She smiled. "Thank you." She went into the fitting rooms and tried to put it on.

"What's your name?" A boy stalked up to me. At first I was surprised, since he had come up to me. "I saw you through the store windows so I had to meet you."

"Anastasia," I replied.

"I'm Steven," he told me, brushing a hand through his dirty blonde hair. His eyes were a dark green and his skin a light milky color that attracted me towards him. I stared at him as if he were a god, while he waited for me to talk to him.

I cut short of drooling and smiled. "Sorry." I told him. "It's been somewhat of a long day."

"Yeah, it has for me too." He nodded. I noticed plenty of the girls in the store either drool over him or stare at him weird for coming into such a girly store.

"What school do you go to?" I asked.

"Verplancks." He shrugged. "They're... Different you could say."

I laughed. "Yeah, they're different. I go there too."

His eyes lit up. "Really? I've never seen you. If I have I would've noticed."

I blushed but smiled again. Just smile and play along. You need a date for prom anyways, Ana. "Thank you. I haven't seen you around either."

He shrugged. "I'm mostly on the soccer field. Coach always wants us to practice although we're pretty perfect already."

I laughed a little. "Well at least you don't have much work to do."

"Missing class gives you misunderstood work. I never understand how to do it, since I'm never in class. I'm thinking about leaving my soccer team."

I furrowed my eyebrows. "Well I'm sure you're amazing at soccer. You shouldn't have to quit. Maybe I can tutor."