Stargaze

Lunch

The rest of the morning went by as usual. I'd go to class, sit down, Brent would pester me, I'd move next to Coal, and we'd draw all hour. Then came the sweet release of lunch time. 

My brother, Eden, packed me a lunch. Eden packed me a big lunch, but I wasn't that hungry. I was thirsty, however. Thank God there was a vending machine in the commons. I ordered my usual energy drink and sat next to Coal, who was drawing. He closed his sketch book when I walked over to him.

"Hey. Mind if I sit here?" I don't know why my voice had a hint of nervousness. I knew I wasn't nervous. Coal's been my best friend for years now. So, why was I sounding nervous?

He nods and scoots over to make room. I set my lunch on the table and he draws on another paper. After a few minutes of silence, he looks over at me.

"Aren't you gonna eat?"

I smile and shake my head. "No. I'm not hungry."

In my head, all I could think was if only he knew. But I'm glad he doesn't.

I pushed my food over to him. "Take what you want."

He shook his head. "I'm not hungry either."

After lunch was over, we went to our classes, the same thing from morning happening over again. We both had choir. I don't even know why I joined Choir when I have a horrible singing voice. Maybe I took it in hopes I would get better, but that obviously wasn't going to happen. Our last class was art. The art teacher was pretty chill. She gave us something easy and as long as we didn't break anything or cause a riot, then she wouldn't get mad. We could even listen to our own music.

Coal and I sat next to each other at the same table. I guess he was done with the assignment because he pulled out his sketchbook again. He saw me there and flipped past a few more pages and started a new drawing.

We didn't talk like we used to before the... incident. It was nice being there in the class sitting next to him like the good old days, though. But sadly, the school day was over far too quickly. I saw him rush to his locker and get his stuff. I was so relived when Brent walked past me with his friends. He would usually come over to my locker and would not shut his trap. He would even walk me all the way to my house sometimes. Totally not creepy, no no.

Coal and I walked the same block before he turned off to go to his house. We still didn't say anything as we walked next to one another. I was about to turn the other way when Coal hugged me. I didn't get a chance to return the favor before he turned the corner.

I know I was smiling all the way home. I know we didn't talk much throughout the day like we used to, but that hug made everything better.