A Different Kind of Normal

chapter 1

So it was just another morning. I dragged myself out of bed after clicking the snooze button on my iphone about five times. I liked sleeping, its a way I temporarily escaped out of this world. Also, I didn't like school, therefore I didn't want to get up. But I had to.

I got up, put on my favorite pairs of jeans (which I wear almost every day) and got a dark blue hoodie from my closet. You could call my style basic considering that I wear pants and hoodies every single day. Then I put on socks and my black converse, which were really worn out.

I headed to the bathroom. There I brushed my brown hair. I never did anything to it because it was straight and looked fine. Plus, I was just too lazy. I didn't put on any make up either. Occasionally, I put on some mascara, but I didn't feel like it today. All I did was brush my teeth and spray on some old perfume. I could tell that it is gonna be a crappy day.

I didn't care about what i looked like. Partially because no one else cared, and because even if people cared, I wouldn't. I don't have a big interest in people. They don't have one in me either, and I'm fine with that. I barely had any friends. No one wanted to hang out with a depressed, boring person, like me. But I don't mind it, I don't mind being alone.

When I packed my stuff for school I walked down to the kitchen. My mom was waiting in her pajamas to give me breakfast. While I ate some cereal, my mom went and sat down next to my dad on the couch. They were watching the news. I never watched the news. It was boring, and I didn't need to know about the world around me. I am a dull person, and I know it.

I finished eating, so I got up and went into my mom's car. I sat there waiting for her. In the car, she tried to talk to me. I feel like my parents worried about me . They were the type of parents that tried to have a perfect family. They always pretended everything was fine even though they knew i'm not really the typical teen.

Then I got to school. I walked through the hallways while everyone was hugging and greeting each other. A couple of girls came up to my locker. I knew they were going to try to insult me.

I could see it coming, when one of them said, "Where are your friends? Ohh wait...you don't have any."

They burst out in laughter. BAHAHAHA. Really funny..

I wasn't annoyed, I just didn't understand why they had to do this. I mean make fun of everyone. It never made sense to me, and I don't think it ever will. I didn't understand many things. School is supposed to be a place where children learn. All I have learned is that i don't belong here. 

Well I was supposed to "learn" something in Mr Schmidt's class. He was a young teacher, very energetic. He thought me Calculus. It was boring, even more boring than me. You could see that Mr. Schmidt tried to make it fun. But to be honest, he wasn't that great at it. I don't blame him, I don't think school can be made fun. 

Books are often associated with school. Of course i hated text books but one thing i was actually interested in was literature. It's fascinating how I could go on an adventure through a book while maybe just sitting on my bed. I guess thats why the only class I had an A in was English.

Anyway back to calculus, so when I entered the classroom I went to the back, like i always do. I was there before anyone else. I got out my books and got ready for class. People started coming in and the bell rang. Another usual school day began. Well I thought it was going to be the usual school day.

I got out my notebook. A small, black notebook, nothing special. It contained a couple of notes, and a lot of doodling. I wasn't an artist or anything, but I just got bored and didn't have people to talk to. After about ten minutes of class, I stood up and went to sharpen my pencil ( I don't like mechanical pencils). As I was returning I realized my notebook was missing. Since Mr. Schmidt already started today's lesson I decided to sit down and look for it later.

"Good work Brooklyn. I didn't know you're an artist." whispered Kevin as he flipped through my notebook. I didn't know if he was being sarcastic or not . I didn't care about him seeing my drawings, I was just a little surprised. I didn't say anything back, I kinda thought he might make a joke soon, or something, I mean why would he be nice to me?

Kevin was my age. You could consider him one of the "cool kids". He was about six feet tall, with dark brown hair in a quiff. His face was the typical popular guy that all the girls fell for, with his perfect teeth, nice cheekbones and a toned body. Except for that it was a little different due to his big green eyes. He seemed like the typical jerk.

I never really talked to him, i just knew that his parents often came to my house. My parents really liked having dinner with them and discussing intellectual things. His parents seemed like nice people, it was hard to imagine that he was from the same family.

So yes, I always imagined him like a jerk, but at this moment it was different. It was just a compliment, but it seemed like he actually cared about the little pictures I drew in that notebook, he kept on examining them carefully.

Finally I decided to say something back. I didn't know what to say, so all that came out was a quiet little, "Thanks." and a smirk. I was nervous, not because of Kevin, but because I didn't know how to respond to compliments. I didn't get them very often.

Soon he gave me back the notebook. I opened it, and inside I found a little slip of paper. I wasn't sure if he left it there on purpose or on accident, but I read it anyway. It said:

Meet me where the stairs after school.

I had no idea why he wanted to hang out, but I didn't want to ask. Therefore, I just slipped the tiny piece of paper back into the notebook and got back to listening to Mr. Schmidt. Actually, I tried to listen, but all I could think about was Kevin and why he wanted to meet me, no one ever wants to meet me randomly. I got a little suspicious, but hoped it wasn't a joke. 

While I was packing a heard a voice above me say, "Well see you later then." It was Kevin.

This time I immediately responded with, "Yeah, see ya!" but as I looked up i realized he was talking to someone else. Awkward.

I didn't feel that awkward though, things like this happen to me all the time. Instead of worrying, now I was actually thinking about what Mr. Schmidt had just discussed.

I just left the classroom then. I acted normal, as always. That's one reason why people didn't notice me. But then suddenly I felt something that I hadn't felt in a very long time. I was excited, but couldn't tell if it was good. My mind can't help but think negative. Unfortunately, I was overthinking the situation and i hate it when I do that but I couldn't help it.