The Dilemma of Being a Weirdo

Chapter 2: "I've never seen you around here before."

I sit alone on the bus, demonstrating the perfect cliché. My headphones are jammed into my ears, playing depressing music. My head is resting against the window as I watch all the houses and trees fly by. I think about how many heads have rested on this window. Crying kindergarteners who've been getting picked on by the third graders, middle school teens and preteens feeling depressed as they go through puberty, and lastly, myself. I lift my head up from the window because I'm slightly germophobic.

Across from me is a freshman girl, Kyra. She's nice I guess. Not the brightest crayon in the box, but very pretty. We talk on occasion and it looks like today is going to be such. Her hands are placed on top of each other, her lips are moving quickly, showing the baby blue bands on her braces. Regretfully, I pause my music before taking out my headphones.

"So anyways now I need to get a tutor, or else I won't be able to go to Samantha's Halloween party. Ugh, I hate my dad!" She slams her head on the seat in agony.

"At least you got invited," I smile hesitantly. The memory of Samantha saying she'd rather die than have me at one of her parties runs through my mind.

Lifting her head up, her brown eyes soften, "Justin," She says lightly.

My stomach twists, I hate getting pity, makes me uncomfortable, "It's fine. I don't even want to go."

False, I'd love to go to one of Samantha's parties. Anything sounds better than either doing puzzles with my mom.

Kyra raises a perfectly trimmed eyebrow, "You should just sneak in. I doubt she'd even see you."

I shrug, "I said I don't want to go to that. Those people hate me and the feeling is mutual."

Her face hardens. She doesn't like me much either considering she's on the cheer squad. Not an important member, keep in mind she's only a freshman. Kyra likes me just enough to keep things civil and have a weak conversation once every few weeks.

The bus lurches to its third stop out of eight. We wait until the six people in this neighborhood file out of the yellow vehicle.

"Fuck you Justin! 'those people' are my friends, my family!" She whips her hand around, adding emphasis.

Since we're sitting in the two closest seats to the exit, the bus driver can hear everything we say.

"Watch your language," He groans.

Kyra flips him off from behind him. I roll my eyes at her, "Oh yeah that'll show him."

Her eyes light up in rage, her voice lowers to almost a whisper, and her hands clench into fists.

"Shut the fuck up Justin."

I scoff, "You don't scare me."

Kyra looks pissed. I feel slightly guilty that I have such a wild effect on people. At the same time, it pleases me.

"You should be very afraid of me Justin. I-" She's abruptly interrupted by my howling laughter.

The bus comes to its fourth stop, my stop. Through my chuckles I stop to take a breath.

"Thanks for the laugh!" I call, slinging my backpack over my shoulder and running out of the bus.

________________________________________________________________________________

"Hey Mom," I greet after I pull my house key out of the door.

"Hi honey, how was school?" Mom says, looking away from the Friends reruns.

My mother knows exactly how school went, "Great Mom, I only got punched once today."

I walk closer to my life giver so she can inspect my wounds in more detail.