Different Is Good

Chapter two

Stevie awoke the next morning to her mother knocking on her door, "I'm up!"

"Tee, we aren't going."

"Why not?"

"That boy...Lindsey-he doesn't sit well with me."
"What? But why?" Stevie scrambled to open her door and stood in front of her mother.

"I told your father I wasn't thrilled with the idea and he gave it a pass."

Stevie wore a crestfallen expression. "He's not dangerous, he's just a guy."
"I don't like the looks of him...I passed him the other day on my way home...he was just standing in his yard staring at nothing. It didn't seem natural..."

"Maybe he was just lost in thought," Stevie defended

"I don't want you around him..."
"I have to be around him. I was told I will be making him feel welcome and school. I'm going to be friends with him."

"You will not. I will speak to that principal of yours myself. You will not talk to him, congregate with him..."

"Mama, you're being unreasonable."
"He could be a psychopath, Stephanie!" Her mother freaked, tossing her hands up

"Or he could just be lonely..." Stevie argued, "Maybe he needs a friend. I feel like I should help him, Mama."
"Daddy said he spoke to Lindsey's father, maybe he knows more about him."

"Out of the question, young lady. I won't have you pestering your father about some boy you seem so utterly enthralled with. Maybe your brother is right after all. Why else would you want to spend so much time with someone you don't even know."

"He certainly is not right."

"I've been reading all about this...this fascination with outsiders." Her mother lowered her voice. "This is how cults are started."

"Once again, you're being unreasonable. Please..." Stevie gave her the puppy dog eyes which usually worked on her father but her mother looked unwavering.
"No, Stephanie. You will not go over there."

"Then I'll just see him at school," Stevie sassed

"Stevie, I forbid it!"
"What if we have classes together?" Stevie questioned, knowing that wasn't the case. "I can't just pretend he doesn't exist. You and daddy taught us to give everyone a chance. You told me yourself, different is good. Now you're telling me I shouldn't even give him the time of day? That's not fair and that's definitely not showing respect to my fellow man." Her mother looked at her and Stevie sighed, knowing she would probably either be grounded or ignored. Her mother's mind seemed made up.
"You will not go anywhere alone with him at school, got it?" Barbara raised her brow, speaking with finality, "Am I clear?"

"Crystal." Stevie gritted, sighing as her mother closed the bedroom door behind her

Stevie's sighed. The barbecue was out of the question now, so that was another option she could to exhaust when trying to get to know Lindsey. She would have to wait for school. Maybe lunch would be a good time, since everyone's has to eat at some point, right? She went to her window and looked out. She saw Lindsey walking down the sidewalk in the distance. She knew it was him, he was so distinctive. Another sigh. She couldn't even try to bump into him because she knew her mother would be watching her like a hawk. She was shaken out of her own mind by another knock on the door. She opened it to find her brother on the other side.

"Can I help you?" she asked.

"Did you get in trouble?" Chris asked, seeming as if he hoped that was the case.

"No. what's it to you, anyway?"
"The fact that Mom and Dad are downstairs arguing over your crush."

"What are they saying?"