The Reject

Him

I woke up this morning grumpy because I slept in. I thought about faking sick today when I remembered my lunch with him. I saw the time as I got out of bed and freaked. I threw on some leggings and a crewneck sweater, ran to the bathroom to get ready, grabbed my lunch and school bag, kissed Annabelle and my mother goodbye and headed out the door.

This morning dragged on way longer than I thought it would. Thoughts swarmed through my head and my stomach formed knots thinking about yesterday.
As the bell rang for lunch and everyone rushed to their lockers, I stayed behind in class until the halls were empty. I swung my bag over my shoulder and walked out the back doors of the school. Out of the corner of my eye I saw him sitting up against the brick wall in the shade and mentally did a happy dance. His eyes were closed, headphones were on and his music was blaring as he drummed away on his lap. I slowly walked up to him dropping my bag, sliding down the wall and sitting beside him.
He opened his eyes noticing my presence, looking a little embarrassed for jamming out in front of me and took his headphones off. His cheeks quickly became rosey. "Hey, Mia" he said trying to hide his excitement. "Hey." I nodded trying to act calm and cool. He chuckled and shook his head. "Oh are you too cool for me now too?" He replied sarcastically. I sighed digging through my bag for my lunch. "I guess so" I replied dramatically, looking up at him. His eyes lit up catching on. "Oh.. okay" he replied sadly pretending to sniffle and get up and walk away. I laughed and called him back.
I opened my lunch noticing him glaring at it as he plopped down beside me. Two bean burgers and a side of potato wedges. "I brought one for you in case you didn't pack a lunch." I whispered. "Thank you." he whispered back. I handed him one and he took a huge bite of his burger. "Hey, this ain't meat!" He exclaimed in a burly caveman voice. "I never said it was.." I smirked. He tried to convince me he thought it was still a good burger. "What is it beans and corn?" I nodded my head. "I love beans and corn!" He stated over dramatically. I laughed and told him I didn't take any offence and that my mother is attempting to convert us all to her vegan lifestyle.
A few minutes of silent eating passed when I decided to ask him the dreaded question looming over me for the past month. "Why aren't you afraid.. of me ..of giving me a chance?" I pushed it out of my mouth looking straight forward into the parking lot hugging my knees. He was quiet for a second. I looked over and his eyebrows were furrowed thinking. He wiped his mouth and looked up at me with warm eyes. "..because I have seen what others don't see in you. Nobody else has cared to try to be nice to you or give you a chance." I smiled and thanked him for eating with me. He told me he would bring us lunch tomorrow even though he "liked" the bean burgers. I didn't take offence to it.
We both felt immediate comfort around each other to be ourselves. I don't know why but let him see more than I want him to. But at the end of the day I don't regret it one bit.