Stronger

Chapter 4

Nash, Mallory and I skipped into the cafeteria and got into the never ending food line.

" So guys... I was wondering. What should I get to eat?" I asked.

"The chicken salad sandwich is to die for!"

" No its not!" Nash whined. " It is disgusting! Get the spaghetti. That stuff is amazing!"

I pondered what to get as Mallory and Nash bickered about lunch meals. I got lost in thought and came back to reality when someone yelled my name.

" Ali!"

" Alison!"

" Ali over here!"

I turned my head to see a beaming Ryan walking towards the lunch line

" Hey Ryan!" I said.

" Hey! Jason and Connor are already at a table waiting for us." He turned to Mallory and Nash

" Um what are they fighting about?"

" Lunch options." I said as he burst out laughing.

" You cant be serious! Really?"

" Yeah. I asked them what to get and they disagreed so now they're arguing." I said

" So what are you going to get?"

" Not sure... Still." I said

" You should get the spaghetti. Its really good."

" That's what Nash said. I guess I should get it then."

By the time I decided we were at the front of the line.

" What can I get you sweetie?" The lunch lady asked me. She looked like she was in her mid thirties and had a warm smile. She must know I'm new.

"The spaghetti please."

" There you go!" she replied as she handed me a heaping plate of noodles and tomato sauce.

" Thank you." I said as I stepped out of the line and waited for Ryan to show me where the drinks were.

" Here I got you a smoothie." Liam said handed me a cup with a pink liquid filling it.

" Lets go. I'm starving!" Nash said pulling me along to a table where Jason and a curly haired boy were sitting.

" Ali! Hey!" Jason said.

" Hey Jason."

" Connor, this is Ali. The girl I was telling you about."

"Hey! Its really wonderful to finally meet you. The guys have told me about you."

" Hi its nice to meet you. The boys have told me a lot about you. All good things. Don't worry."

. " Where's Carlos?" Zayn asked.

" Not sure. I saw him in English. Haven't seen him since." I said.

" Here I am!" Carlos came running to our table and sat down.

" Sorry guys. I got held up in line. Some bastard pushed me and I got in trouble. Good thing though. I probably would have beat the shit out of him."

" He loves his Mac and Cheese and will do anything for it." Nash whispered loud enough for everyone to hear.

" Nash's right. I will."

" So Ali, how's your first day going?" Connor asked.

"It has been great! Guys I can't thank you enough for being my friends it means a lot to me. Probably more than you'll ever know." I said in response to Connor's question.

" That's great I'm glad." Connor said.

" Ali thank you for coming here and introducing me to this dumbass." Mallory said as she playfully smacked Nash's arm.

We all laughed but then all got silent when Carlos pointed and we turned around.

" Oh great." Jason said.

" Well fanfuckintastic. Here comes the queen of bitches." Mallory said.

I watched as a beautiful brown haired girl came striding toward our table.

" Oh how nice of you guys to show the new girl around. It must be tough coming here not knowing anyone." She said snarkily. " Hi. My name is Raquel."

"Hi..."

" So Connor, the party I invited you to..." She paused as if pondering how to insult him or most likely me.

"What about it Raquel? I told you I had plans. Please go now you are bothering me." Connor said through clenched teeth.

" Hold on. I have some questions for the newbie."

" Don't call her that." Ryan said rising to my defense.

" Chill out. Geez. So Ali. What is it like living as a cripple?" Her friends that were behind her began laughing.

" Oh come on sweetie. I mean your brace. And your hand. Seriously. I'm interested. Enlighten me."

" Stop it." Jason said.

I can hold back tears. I can. Come on Ali. Shes just like Chastity, all she wants is to break you. Don't let her get to you. I cant. Tears spilled from my eyes. I sprinted to the bathroom hearing Amber and her friends high pitched laughter once again. Once I got there I locked myself into the big stall at the end of the bathroom. I sunk to the floor and sobbed harder.

Why cant I be normal? If I was normal none of this would ever happen and I would be happier. But no. What did I do to deserve this? I mean now that my friends have seen my brace and hand they won't want to be seen with me. I will have to eat my lunch in here everyday and on top of that deal with Raquel and her bitchy minions. All I want is for people to see me as a normal teenage girl but only in my dreams I guess because that for sure isn't going to happen in my lifetime. I wish people would stop judging from the outside and look deeper. Like at the good things. I'm friendly and nice to everyone even if they don't like me but I guess society and social class is better than doing that. I hate being different. Its like I am trash. I get picked last for lots of things and people treat me differently. It's like i am a newborn puppy and they don't want to break me. Sure I am sensitive but who cares? I just want to be treated like a normal person even if it means getting hurt by the ones I love.

I heard the door of the bathroom open. Someone's in here.

" Ali?" It was Mallory. I let out a sigh of relief and unlocked the stall door.

" Do you want to talk about it after school? Nash had this brilliant idea to go out for ice cream because as he says it's bloody hot out. Only if you want to of course." I sniffled.

" Yeah. Let me just call my... uh Lena and make sure it's okay."

"Great! You can call her after seventh period right?"

" Yep."

" Okay. Are you good?"

" I think so."

"If you want to talk about it sometime I am always here."

" Thanks." I said and hugged her.

" Let's go! We are going to be late!" Mallory said as she dragged me out of the bathroom.