Someone Worth Dying For

The New Kid

Celeste trudged through the large school doors to her locker and opened it with a sigh. Another school day with nothing really going on. Nothing to do, nowhere to go, and no grandfather to lighten her mood afterwards. It would be a long year. 

"Hey, Celeste." Shouted one of the kids that she really didn't like. Liza had everything. She was smart, and beautiful, and everyone liked her. Except the few who knew what she was really like. Last term, she had lied about Sally, and now everybody called her "Slutty Celeste." And they still did. 

"What do you want, Liza?" She asked, annoyed as she closed her locker. "Here to brag about your A in Biology?" Liza frowned, and then shrugged. Celeste added an interior monologue to her actions, and brought a little smile on her face. 

"Actually, I got a B," she said, and Celeste's smile widened a bit more. " No, I was going to ask you if you could tell me what the new kid looks like. He's in your first class. I hear he's...different. Anyway. So, if you could do that, it would really be nice. Okay? Thanks, hon." With that, she turned and trotted away, humming and happy. Celeste rolled her eyes. Kids these days. 

As she walked down the hall, her unearned nickname was shouted by a hundred kids, and struck just as deeply as the first time. She stepped into her class and sat down in her seat. The teacher spoke loudly to get everyone's attention, then quieted down when he did. 

"Alright, today! Today we have a new student. And I want you all to be very nice to him. Uh, Kyle, would you stand up, please?" Celeste looked to her right as the guy stood up and attempted a smile. He looked nervous, but everyone was in a new school. Celeste thought he actually looked kind of cute. He was maybe five foot ten. His short, lack hair contrasted heavily with his dark blue eyes. And he seemed nice. Get a grip, Celeste. She derided herself, and stopped thinking about it.

She was pleased to find that he was in just about every class she had. He was nice, and pleasant to be around, and he made weird jokes that didn't make sense, but were still funny. At lunch, Liza sat across from Celste and scooted next to Kyle.

"Hey, I'm Liza." She said, flirting as subtlly as she could. He just smiled, introduced himself and ignored her. She frowned and Celeste chuckled a little bit. This is probably the first time a guy hasn't been all over her. "What are you doing after school?" She tried. "Cuz if you're free, there's aparty, and you can come. It's a great way to meet the kids in the school. I'll take you." She said, getting a little closer. Celeste shook her head. Both girls were shocked when he politely declined. "How come?" Celeste asked as Liza defensively asked why not. 

"Oh, it's not you. I have church. Thanks for the offer though, I really appreciate it. Maybe next time?" Liza shook her head sadly and left, leaving the two in silence. Kyle ate his salad quietly, while Celeste's mind raced with questions. She finally picked on and went for it. 

"Do you...like going to church? Or do you're parents force you?" She asked, curiosity filing her voice. He laughed and shook his head, and she got a little defensive. "What? I mean...It happens. Right?" this seemed to crack him up more. "Just answer the question." She gave up. He took several deep breaths, and resumed laughing. It wasn't his fault, he just couldn't stop. Eventually, he got himself together, and looked at her. 

"It's a standard/rule/thing that I go to church as long as I live in their house." She nodded and went back to eating. "But," he said and drew her attention again. "I do enjoy it. I'd much rather be there than here. Here, I have to deal with kids, and people and b.s. and...it's not my first vacation pick." Celeste started to laugh, and he smiled a bit. "that's the first time you've smiled all day." He commented. "Now, my question is: why is that? Is school so terrible that nothing makes you happy? You have to have something to look forward to. A boyfriend, a pet, something?" She smiled shyly and shook her head. 

"No, I don't have any of those. It's...nevermind. You don't want to know." She tried tod rop it, but he wouldn't. They argued for a few minutes, but eventually she gave in. "Fine. You really want to know? Okay. So," She looked down, and let her hair cover her eyes, Nobody could see her cry. Not him, not Liza, nobody. "I lost my grandfather. He was everyhting to me. Now, I have nothing to be happy about. School is terrible, my parents hate me, and I'm ugly. There's just...no happiness anymore." 

She was surprised to look up, and see compassion on his face. He nodded slowly, sympathizing. "When did he die?" He asked softly, careful not to be too hard, or too sensitve. 

"Last week, tuesday." She said quietly, and he flinched. He nodded, and went to leave, but she stopped him. "What's wrong?" He sat back down and took a few moments to find the right words. He stopped himself from speaking several times, and then took a deep breath. 

"That was my birthday." He said slowly, and then watched for her reaction. She apologized, and he waved it off. "It's not like you meant for it to happen. Besides, it's not your fault he dided on my birthday. Millions of peopple do, we just don't think about it. Come on, we should probably get to class. I'm not going to get into trouble, but you might." Celeste shrugged her shoulders when the late bell rang.  She hadn't noticed it. 

The rest of the day was nice. She felt like her and Kyle would become good friends. He was nice, and funy, and he actually cared about what she had to say. After school, she invited him to a movie night next week, and he said he'll clear it with his parents and see. She thought that was great, and got in her car. It would be nice to have somebody to talk to for once. She smiled as he waved and watched the car pull out. 

"So, is that the new kid?" Her mom asked, and she nodded, keeping her eyes on the scenery around her. It wasn't interesting, but it was better than talking to her mother. "Is he a nice guy?" She asked, trying to start a conversation, but Celeste wasn't taking the bait. 

"Kyle's cool. He's a bit of a geek, but he's cool. He's nice, and he said he'll try and come to the movie night I'm having with my friends next weekend." She explained. "We're still gonna be able to use the basement, right.?" Her mom nodded. 

"As long as you guys are good. I don't want any...mixing going on. I know you kids are teenagers, but I'll not have that in my house, okay?" Celeste rolled her eyes.

"Yes mom, I know. You tell me all the time."