Unconventional

Chapter Four

As I walk into the cafeteria I notice that the cliques seem to never change throughout the years. There is still that one table where are the popular people hanging out at. All I can see is cheerleading uniforms, jerseys, and a couple of leather jackets floating around the circular woody material. The girls are picking parts of their salad and leaving it on the table as if that particular piece of lettuce is contaminated with fat. The boys are either chucking the football around or leaning on their chairs modeling their supposed good looks. I'm sure the populars goal is to make everyone feel inferior and that we should be blessed by their presence. Would it be inappropriate if I didn't bow?

My stomach starts to growl a little and I make a beeline towards the food service area. I am hoping I can find something that resembles food. Since I was out late last night with Nate I didn't get to pack my usual brown bag lunch. Unfortunately, the smell is repulsive and the sight of this so-called food is ten times worse. Most of the items look like slop or vomit and I fear for the lives that are in front of me. I cannot believe they have the courage to order pasta that looks extremely lumpy. And why is the sauce brown? Isn't marinara sauce red? I begin to shake my head and settle on something that I can actually trust- an apple.

When I head towards the cashier, she gives me a depressed look and tells me my total. Was she surprised that I didn't get the daily special. Yeah, I am sorry. Food poisoning isn't on my check list for today. I hand her the money and look around the room. Nate hasn't texted me and I can't seem to find him in this crowded room. He must have gotten in trouble again. That is my guess.

I shrug and attempt to find a place to eat. This was always the hardest part of lunch. If you didn't have a group of friends then the odds were stacked against you at lunch. I see an empty table in the corner; however; it is covered with trash. I debate on whether or not I should just clean it off so I can sit somewhere. As I am about to walk towards the table, I feel someone poke each side of my waist and it causes me to jump.

"Boo." He whispers into my ear.

I yelp loudly and drop the apple that was on my tray. Some random people are staring at me and I foolishly look down. "You are such a jerk." I mutter and head towards the dirty table.

"Hey, where are you heading?" Nate grabs my elbow and jumps in front of me. He dances a goofy dance to get my attention and I just look at him.

I laugh a little, "I am trying to get a table. What else would I be doing?"

Nate looks at the table and shakes his head, "Yeah.. No, we are not sitting there. Come on follow me." He drags me towards the exit and all I can think about is how I left my apple behind. Man, I am going to be so hungry until I get home.

We stop at his locker and I lean on the one next to his while students pass by. I don't know why I like to people watch but I just find it fun. Sometimes I like to make up stories about them-Oh, like her. A girl with a plain white dress passes us and she glances at Nate. I have no idea what her name is but the story I have for her is a fabulous one.  

Her name is Isabella and she just moved her from Iowa. The reason she moved is because she was caught having sexual relations with her pastor's son in the confessional. Did I mention that the pastor was the person who caught them? Well, aren't you a scandalous girl Isabella. Anyways, she wears this white dress as a symbolism for her supposed purity. She wants everybody to think that she is a goody two-shoes.

"Got it!" Nate waves his headphones in my face.

"Where are we exactly going?" I stop looking at Isabella and glance at him.

"We, my dear, are going to have lunch in the back of my truck."

"Come again?" I am a little surprised because we have never done something like that during school days. Usually, we would drive at night and park near the airport. We would lie on the top of his hood watching the stars and planes take off.