Oh, Marcel!

Lunch Time

I walked to the water fountain, my crisp brown paper bag in my hand. This is where I was supposed to meet Ember. She better get here soon.

Kids walked by giving me dirty looks because I normally didn't stand here. I would have normally snuck into the library by now.

Someone said, 'ew' as the walked past and I dropped my head focusing on my polished black shoes.

Maybe I shouldn't be waiting here. Maybe I should just go to the library like I always do for lunch. Ember would make some friends and I would go back to be regular Marcel.

Nerdy, Dorky Marcel.

"Marcel!" I heard Ember yell as she came rushing down the hallway, a blue lunch bag swinging on her wrist.

She stopped when she got closer and smiled at me. Her sweet perfume tickled my nose.

"So where do you normally eat?" She asked breathless, her eyes looking straight into mine behind the thick glasses.

"In the library. But uh, w-we can sit in there if you want?" I say turning my head and pointing towards the crowded lunch room.

Ember looked to where I was pointing and her eyes grew wide.

"The library sounds perfect." She said looking back at me nervously.

My heart pounded. She would rather eat alone with me?

I looked at her face and took in her features.

Her bright blue eyes, her prominent cheek bones, and oh that cute little nose.

"Marcel?" She called, and I felt the blood rush to my face.

"Oh sorry. Let's go. It's this way." I say and take off towards the library hoping to stay in front of her until my face went back to normal.

I could here her slaps on the floor behind me, but this time the were quieter and less frequent than earlier.

She obvious wasn't running this time to catch up.

Did I say something wrong? Was I too rude?

Why are you even wondering about that, Marcel. She doesn't care about your feelings why do you care about hers.

I stopped and waited for her to catch up.

Marcel she's not your friend either. She's using you because you're the nerd and she just needs a 'friend' for the day.

"Stop, stop, stop." I mutter to myself and shake my head.

Ember looks up at me. Even though she was quite tall herself, I was still taller.

"You okay?" She asks, her voice filled with concern.

"Y-yeah." I say and walk over to the door and open it, letting Ember go in first. She smiles up at me as she walks into the library not going to far.

She's waiting for me to show her around. I've never felt so important.

Don't you get your hopes up, Marcel.

"So where do you sit in here? And they don't mind you eating in here?" Ember asks looking conflicted. Almost as if she has already gotten in a lot of trouble.

"No they don't. Come on." I said, leading her to the table in the corner that I always sat at. Mrs. Renn smiled at me from behind the desk and I nodded back.

"This is kind of cozy over here." Ember quips and then sits down across from me.

The shelves made a wall around the table and the books and plants that sat on top of the shelves gave some more coverage.

I always like sitting over here because no one could find me and try to hurt me.

 Before sitting over here, the middle tables seemed to be the best seats to me. There was a lot more light and Mrs. Renn was sometimes talk to me. She was quite possibly a friend. But all this changed when Johnny came storming in one day during our sophomore year. He wasn't quite as buff as he is now in our senior year. 

Mrs. Renn had left to go to the bathroom, so I was an easy target. That day I went home with twelve bruises on my stomach and arms and a bloody nose.

I remember sitting in the bathroom by myself. No one was there to comfort me or clean my wounds.  It was pitiful to look at myself in the mirror, bruises all over my body. I vowed to never let that happen to me again.

And it didn't. At least not in the library.

"So Marcel, what do people do for fun around here?" Ember asked as she took out a sandwich from her lunch bag. She began to pick off the crust.

"Beat people." I said too quick from my thoughts, my face turning red again.

"At what, video games or sports?" Ember said, her face not twisting up in confusion, but staying calm.

"Uh yeah." I say and take a bite of the sandwich I make every morning. The same turkey sandwich, with a little bit of green lettuce. It was the easiest thing to make since I so happened to be allergic to peanut-butter.

Yay.

My parents are never home either, they're always working. So most times its me and my pet turtle Leeroy. I end up having to do a lot for myself. It's why I have very rare free time and when I do have free time, I spend it writing.

"Sounds like a lot of fun. What do you do, Marcel?" She asks looking up at me, stuffing my face. I feel slightly embarrassed.

I chew and think of a good answer to give her.

"Well, I like to write stories." I say and regret saying it. My face yet again turning red. I shouldn't be so open with this girl. She could turn on me in a second.

"Really? That's so cool! I'm a total bookworm. Would you mind if I read some of your stuff?" Ember said crinkling a bag of chips and then popping one in her cute mouth.

What Marcel?

"Uh, sh-sure." I stumbled over my words. I was pretty sure I spit a fleck of lettuce out at her, but I don't think she noticed.

"Yay! That's so exciting! Did you want to bring them over to my house tonight? They are on a laptop right?" She asked her blue eyes smiling.

"Yes and okay. Why do you assume that they are on a laptop?" I say not sure why I agreed.

"Good! You could read them to me while I unpack!" She says excitedly and takes a swig from her water bottle. "It's so stressful."

I nod my head at her, wondering why she ignored my question. Suppose that it's really nothing new for me.

Did I really just get invited over to someones house?

Marcel, what's happening??