My Encounter With Boo Radley

Really? You Have A Medical Degree Now? How Nice For You.

By the time Monday has come, Susan has assured me that everyone is talking about me, and even the teachers are joining in at times, which I just find completely inappropriate.

          I'm still wearing the sunglasses when my mom drops me off, since she still doesn’t feel I'm ready to drive, and when I get out of the car I feel like my every move is being analyzed by the students around me.

          I ignore them as I walk, but nearly turn back when I get inside the school.

          The halls literally get quiet in an instant when I enter, and I mentally roll my eyes. Has society always been this pathetic?

          I walk through the halls, and I notice every set of eyes and every word whispered.

As I walk, I keep thinking about how I hope I will see the new guy as little as possible now that I'm back. Susan told me on Saturday that she had been talking to him each day and that he was friendly and “oh so attractive,” a very Susan comment to make. I told her I didn’t trust him and that she should be careful. She responded by laughing and saying they hardly talk about anything but me anyway. That ruined the rest of the weekend.

          When I reach my locker, which I'm pretty sure hasn’t been used once yet this year, I see a person leaning against it, or one near it. I have the combination and locker number written on my hand, since I have no idea what either is.  I got them from the sheet they send in the mail before school starts.

          I realize it is new guy, and he is talking to Susan. Her locker is next to mine?

          When they see me approaching they quiet, and Susan stares at me as if busted,

          “Oh by all means finish Sus, I'm sure it isn’t something I haven’t heard already this morning just by walking down the halls to get here,” I say, and then square my shoulders to new guy.

          Even leaning against a locker he is almost a head taller than me, which is impressive since I'm 5’8’’.

          He stares back, looking me over.

          I sigh, “Unless the paper I read this morning was mistaken, I believe you are on my locker Boo Radley, so if you wouldn’t mind,” I say.

          I know I'm coming off bitchy, but I also know he has something in common with the guy from the beach party this summer. I'm not sure what exactly that common factor is, but I am sure that I don’t trust him.

          He merely slides down so he is in front of Susan’s locker, and Susan grins at me,

          “Was it bad in the hallways?” she asks.

          I mentally roll my eyes-for the second time already this morning- and say,

          “No, this place is use to crazy girls coming back from the undead. It is just so common,”

          I know the sarcasm is a little overdone, but I have a lot of time to make up for, and Susan knows not to take me personally ever anyway.

          She giggles, happy and sweet as always, and I don’t miss the eye contact she makes with new guy, “Well I'm going to go, because I have to, uh, talk to Mrs. Harmon before class,” she says, and turns to leave.

          I glare at her, “Are you kidding me?” I snap.

          She giggles again, “Bye kids,” and then she hurries away, tossing her brown hair over her shoulder as she goes. Susan has always reminded me of a pixie considering she is so small and bubbly. She is barely five feet tall, has straight, shiny brown hair, and fair complexion. Her nose is cute and tiny, and her blue eyes are wide and innocent. She is on the curvy side and petite. She is also very much on my shit list right now.