A Different Kind of Normal

chapter 2

After another four classes, it was lunch time. Many people called it "their favorite part of their day" but for me it wasn't really like that, since I didn't really hang out with anyone. I took out my sandwich, which I had made quickly this morning, and a coke. I loved coca cola, but only the original. Coke zero, diet coke, vanilla coke, cherry coke, and all the other kinds sucked in my opinion. I never bought lunch at school, because it was terrible. I remember trying it one time in 5th grade, and puking.

When I came, I usually sat down at a table with no people. I sat wondering if anyone would join. Of coarse when all seats were taken people finally came, but they didn't talk to me. I looked through my backpack and found a book. I read it about a thousand times, but it wouldn't do any harm to read it once again.

I sat quietly reading it backwards. I started from the ending and went from there. I could be a little weird sometimes. From somebody else's point of view I would be described as "normal", which I guess I was, but not quite. I was..hmm..a different kind of normal. Yes, I liked that. It seemed very poetic.

I sat quietly thinking about myself and the book. I wasn't as depressed today and I didn't know if it was because of the quote, because of Kevin, or because it was just that kind of a day. I shouldn't worry about it, so I continued reading the book.

The book was about a girl a bit like me. She thought about things way too much. The difference between me and the girl was that she ended up being super popular with a hot boyfriend, lots of friends, and being prom queen. That was definitely not me. Not even close.

Honestly I don't know why i liked the book, i usually don't like very cliche books like this one. I guess it was because i knew a thing like that would never happen to me.

Then it was time for class again. I was average in school. B's and C's were my grades. I payed attention and all, I just wasn't that smart. I also did my homework. On a normal day I had lots of free time, in which I did this homework. I didn't get how even though I listened and did homework, I got worse grades than some students who didn't do these things.

I didn't get a lot of things. But that's fine, because I liked asking myself questions, and wondering what the answers could be. Yes, as you can see, I'm pretty lonely.

So school was fine and all...except for P.E. That is one thing I absolutely hate! I can't stand it. I can't do sit ups, I can't do push ups, I can't run, I can't do  sports, I just can't. It's not that I was fat or anything, I just didn't like it. Plus I always got hit with the ball. Whatever sport it was, I would always get hit.

Finally when it was over I ran into the locker room. As I was taking a shower I remembered I had to see Kevin. I quickly got dressed, got my stuff and headed out.

He was outside the school. As I was walking towards him, it didn't seem to me like some sick joke, it seemed like he actually wanted to talk. He wanted to talk to me. Just thinking about it was a little unreal.

As I was walking over to him, I kept on thinking. He was looking straight at me, which made me feel a little uncomfortable.I started over thinking everything. And boom, of coarse, I fell. All my books fell out of my hand, and I was on the ground.

"Wow Brooklyn, you're such a klutz!" He laughed. "Here I'll help you get up." He gave me his hand and lifted me up. He picked up most of my books too. I wasn't hurt, just super embarrassed.And I was thinking about how he new such a word as klutz. I guess I judged him, and didn't really know who he was. I mean, a gentleman and smart.  

That made me think. Maybe he was thinking the same thing. I mean, maybe, just maybe, he just wanted to hang out and see who I am. But why, I mean it's not like anyone else does that, no one ever just randomly talks to me. People usually just talk to me when they need something. Weird, I don't know, I doubt it though. I doubt that he actually wants to hang out with me.

Wait, no, what am I saying. He's doing that thing. He tries to make it seem like he's perfect so he gets what he wants, but I'm not gonna fall for that.

 So there we were, me super embarrassed and him just standing there. There was a moment of silence, but then I said, "What do you want?" I just wanted to get this conversation over with.

He replied with, " I see you're already falling for me, literally." Ha ha ha, very funny. I just rolled my eyes at him. Uh can he stop. Then he said " What's up with the bad mood?"

I'm usually not this straight forward but I said "Look just tell me why you wanted to meet up, because if it's because you want to make fun of me then I will gladly just go home now."

" I'm sorry, I'm sorry, but look there's something i need to talk about with you. But lets not do it here. I know a coffee shop near here, wanna go?"

"Sure." I said even though I was annoyed. I pick up coffee from there every day after school, but I have never actually sat down there. I didn't care about being alone, I just didn't like people seeing me be alone. It's weird. Even though I don't care much about people's opinions, I didn't want them to feel bad for me, because I wasn't sad. Well, I guess everyone cares, even a little. 

So we walked. It was about ten minutes away. I was carrying all of my stuff, and he was carrying all of his. We didn't talk until he asked, "Do you want to drop off your stuff in my car, I'll drive you home."

"Fine" I said. I didn't really want him to drive me home but it's better than taking the bus. We walked toward his car. It was a big red truck. It wasn't old, but it wasn't the newest. It was alright. Better than not having a car at all, like me. We put our stuff in and continued walking.

"So, the reason I called you is because of my parents. I'm kinda failing some of my classes. My parents always knew and didn't care too much. They wanted me to make more effort but it wasn't a big deal. Well not until you're parents told them the importance of college and a good job." Kevin said as he looked at me. 

Wow, that's it. I thought about it all day, and it's just his stupid personal problem. Uh of course he just wants something.

Then I started talking. "Um okay, well... whats the problem with that?" I didn't really get what his point was.

"Can you just tell your parents to stop talking about this. I don't really have to have good grades, im gonna be a football player. So can you just tell them to stop convincing my parents about me having to have good grades, because i really dont want to start having to work now, my junior year". He was saying it like it was my fault.

This was such a typical thing of him to say, but I didn't really care. I just told him I would try. I didn't ask for anything in return since i knew that I'm not gonna make a big effort myself.

Our conversation already ended, and we didn't arrive at the coffee shop yet.

Then we arrived. We ordered our drinks and sat down in a corner next to some windows. It was a nice sunny day.

We didn't really talk, until he asked me about what sport i like the most, and what team. I told him about how i didn't really like sports and we had a short debate. I could tell that we could never be friends, we are two completely different people.

There was a moment of silence, and then he took out a camera. He snapped a quick picture of me drinking my coffee. I got a little upset, but remembered to calm down, i don't really want to seem too bad tempered.

"Why did you take a picture of me?" I asked.

He started telling me about his love for photography. I was a little surprised. He showed me a few pictures. The way he talked about them, you could tell he was fascinated, and I was too.

We sat there talking, and looking at all the people outside. Mainly we just talked about his photographs. He didn't talk about sports or girls or anything, which surprised me to be honest. Then it was time to go.