I sighed as I walked down the long school hallway. Alone. Most people have their little groups of friends that they walk with. Not me. I'm... and i'm speaking lightly here, an outcast. I'm more or less invisible. I used to have a best friend but that was a long time ago. I don't talk about him a lot. It hurts.
I walked into my classroom and was greeted by a substitute with very red curly hair that bounced whenever she walked.
I took my seat in the back of the class, took out my notebook and doodled until someone sat next to me. I sit all alone in the back so this is very, very strange.
"Hi," an energetic voice says as I look up curiously. "I'm Alyssa!"
"I-i'm Taylor." I say, and look back down, assuming that she's gonna leave just like everyone else does.
"Whatcha drawing? She leans over to get a better look. This girl, Alyssa, must be new. Nobody is ever this interested in me. Nobody ever sees me.
"Nothing, i'm just drawing. Nothing in particular." I say. I'm curious about this girl.
"Oh. That's cool."
Then the bell rings and Alyssa goes to the front of the room to go and retrieve her bag. She walks back towards me and sets her bag down... next to me.
"I know we're in high school and this isn't really an appropriate question to ask but do you wanna be friends?"
I stop what I'm doing. I haven't had a friend since I was in the third grade. Nobody has ever wanted to be my friend. What do I say. I've forgotten what it's like to have a friend.
"Umm."
"Sorry," she says quickly, "That was a little weird."
I guess it would be kinda fun to have a friend. Mom will probably be happy.
"A-Alright." I respond.
"Cool. Do you wanna hang out after school today?"
"Sure." I smile weakly.
"Girls! In the back! Is there something you'd like to share with the class?" The substitute says sternly.
"No miss. Sorry." Alyssa answers.
"Pay attention." The teacher says.
Alyssa throws a note onto my desk. I don't know whether to label this girl childish or funny.
I open the letter and it says
"I have to stop at my house after school. I'll text you though. What's your number? -A"
I grab my pencil and write my number on the paper. I toss it back to her.
She looks at me and smiles.
I smile back and resume what I was drawing, but I can't focus on that for very long. Another person walks into the classroom. Two new people in one day. Wow.
I look up to see the newcomer. It's a guy. He's taller than me, and has the typical popular jock look. Blonde hair, blue eyes. The only thing that's different about him is that he has piercings. Lots of them. He has a septum piercing, a snake bite piercing, three ear piercings and tattoos. It's like he was a bad boy but then decided to become a jock.
"Hello sir," the teacher says looking at her clipboard. "Hmm you aren't on the seating chart. Are you new?"
"Yea. It's my first day. My name's Luke."
I hear whispers and giggles and look around to find the source of the annoyance. It's the popular girls. Of course. He'll probably sit with them, so I have nothing to worry about.
I feel someone poke my side and I look over at Alyssa. She's the one who poked me.
"He's cuuuute!" She fan girls over the new kid Luke.
"Eh. Not really my guy." I say.
Then I hear the chair next to me squeak on the tiled floor.
"Hey." I look over and there's Luke.
"Why'd you decide to sit back here? With the outcasts. No offense Alyssa." I ask.
"You think I want to sit by the girls who probably have lip injections? I'm offended!" He laughs.
"I mean. You seem like a jock kind of guy... and don't jocks usually go after the cheerleaders?"
"You think I'm a jock? Hell no. My parents made me dress nice for my first day. I hate this outfit. Have you seen my tattoos or piercings?"
"I figured you were like, a bad boy gone good."
He laughs out loud at my statement.
"Nope. Just bad boy."
"Alrighty then." I say.
*BRRRRRING*
The bell rings, signaling the end of class.
"What's your next class? I'll walk you." Luke says, picking up my books.
" No, that's alright. I already have an escort," I say, motioning to Alyssa, whose been keeping her distance probably because she's too nervous to talk to this boy. I take my books and start to walk over to her. "Thanks though."
"Oh my god. He's totally into you!" Alyssa says excitedly once we are outside the classroom.
"No he's not."
"I can tell when someone likes you, and he likes you... and he's cute." Alyssa says matter of factly.
I sigh and keep walking. "Like I said. He's not my type."
"Ughhh, you're so frustrating sometimes." Alyssa huffs.
"You've known me all of what... 30 minutes?" I laugh.
"Whatever."
