The Wallflower's Bloom

Chapter 9: Special

Chapter 9: Special

I continued to do everything as normal from then on--except that I had to sleep on the bottom bunk until I got my cast off, because it was easier. Making my little brother have to sleep on the top, which he obviously had a fuss about.

When I got downstairs, I noticed something different. I couldn't put my finger on it, which really annoyed me. I was always ADHD about these little changes or switches in the normal routine.

I heard footsteps come down the stairs that I could recognize. Yeah, I can recognize who's coming downstairs by the way they walk down. I know, I'm pretty messed up inside.

"Do you like it?" my mom smiled.

"Like what?" I replied, just wanting desperately to know what was different.

"The new lights! They're brighter! Energy-safe! Whiter! And better!" she laughed with excitement. Just remember, this is over a couple of lightbulbs.

I guess I wasn't the only messed up one in the family.

"Yeah, they really bring out the room," I said in an artistic voice, when really, I couldn't care less about those bulbs.

...

By now, it was mid October, and when I got to school, all of our seats were switched up. I couldn't figure out why teachers switch the chairs all around, when all it does is just make people talk more. I stood up, and kept standing, until my name was called, in which I sat down at an empty table so far.

"Next to Jacob on the right is Christa," Mrs. Webbs said neutrally. I couldn't believe it. "Christa is sitting next to me!? What are the odds!?" I smiled internally, afraid to let a glimpse of my crush show to her, her friends, or really anyone.

She sat down and rose one half of her lip, I guess trying to say hello in body language, which...quite frankly... I sucked at figuring out, but everything was so clear with Christa. Everything was so effortless.

When she sat down, she had her bangs rolled over her left eye--which I thought looked pretty damn cool--but I could tell that she was upset, so I nudged her elbow with mine and asked her.

"Are you okay?"

She kind of glared at me with the only eye I could see, and she choked down some tears and said, "I'm fine." Wow, the classic "I'm fine" thing. When, they said they were fine, but they just had so many dark secrets they wanted to share.

I think she might be my friend, I hope she is! I couldn't believe she was not throwing up from the sight of me, this was going well! I didn't know friends would be this cool and fun to be with! I loved the feeling of friends. Someone to comfort you, and I just couldn't deny that this girl was different from any other girl, in one way or another.

I remembered that I had to ask her why she was at the hospital, that she never finished talking, but I decided, right now was not the time for that. "What if that's why she's "fine"?" I thought, sort of freaking out at first.

I quickly decided to make sure I didn't forget to ask her what's wrong, and why she was at the hospital (the first one being the priority) After awhile, I finally decided to talk after it being silent between us for about 45 minutes.

"Well," I began, still nervous to even talk to her, "What's wrong? I know you're depressed about something, I can just tell." She stared at the ceiling for a couple seconds, until I saw a light feathery tear stream down her face.

"I-I'm sorry," I apologized, "I didn't mean to make you upset." She continued to have tears stream down her face until the bell rang mid-tear. She quickly packed up her things, started getting up, slung her head down, and ran out to second academic.

Honestly, I really wanted to know what was wrong. The past week she's been here, she's never been like this. Then I thought, she was special to me, and she makes me feel special, so I think If better leave her alone. I always like to be alone when I am depressed.

I decided to talk to her at lunch, while everyone is too involved in their own conversations to care about anyone else's. So, in the middle of second academic, we went to lunch, and I made sure to find a seat RIGHT next to her.

I did, but I couldn't start up a conversation. It was very difficult to talk to her while she was in this kind of mood. She had cheered up a little bit, but not enough to actually be...well...talkable. Her friends were not around her, so that was good as well.

I finally decided that it's either now or never, so I quickly asked her. "Why are you upset?" I asked with emotion, "You said you're fine, but you're not. I can definitely tell."

She stared at me and replied, "Something bad has happened, but I can't really tell you or...anyone. Not yet." She stopped for a second. "I'll tell you later."

That seemed to cheer me up a lot, knowing that she WOULD tell me and didn't just tell me, she wouldn't lie. I felt sort of guilty for being happy today around Christa. I don't know how!

Well, she didn't tell me today, so I left school--on the bus like I should've been doing, with a little disappointment, but quickly shoved it off, realizing how selfish it was to ask her something like that and demand an answer.

"Look! It's Iron Foot!" One annoying popular kid screamed from the back. I hated him. How come all the bullies were popular? They should take the kids who deserve some friends and make them popular, yeah, that would be awesome!

I sat on the bus, looking out the window, ignoring the name calling, and thought about how awesome it would be if I were popular. Ooh...what a thought I had been having...