What Is Normal?

Bully

     "What's up, stupid?" The voice of Marina Lake, Sky's lifelong enemy, was heard. Sky ignored her. Marina whipped her around forcefully. "I said what's up?"
     "Hullo, Marina," Sky mumbled, staring at the floor.
     "So, are you finally going to the stupid school?" Marina asked. "'Cause I heard you are leaving."
     "It isn't a stupid school," Sky snarled, whipping her face up to look Marina in the eye. She clenched her fists, uncomfortable with it, but made the effort, regardless.
     Marina's acid green eyes never wavered. She merely flipped her blonde hair and said, "Whatever kind of school it is, it's good you're moving. You don't belong here."
     Sky rolled her eyes. "I'm not going until next year, when I start high school. So you're stuck with me for another couple months." Marina glared, her cheek twitching, then turned on her heel and stormed away. Sky heaved a sigh. Marina was out of her hair for today.
     "Sky!" A new voice made her jump. "Late as usual, I see?" Her math teacher walked up.
     "Sorry," Sky said.
     "I now see why you're always late," her teacher said, "and I have to say, I'm relieved you aren't just skipping. Don't you worry about Marina. I'll take care of her. Now, hurry along before Mrs. Klondike gets mad." Sky nodded and rushed to class. Sky slipped in. Mrs. Klondike gave her a glance and went on with the lesson. It didn't surprise her anymore when Sky was late. Sky sat down at the back of the class, like usual, then pulled her hood over her head.
     "Sky," the girl next to her whispered. "Psst. Sky."
     "Yeah?" Sky whispered back, glancing over.
     "I heard you were going to a private school next year," the girl whispered. "Is it true?"
     "Yeah," Sky replied. "And to be honest, I'm glad. I can't stand this school."
     "I think we are going to the same school next year, then," the girl said. "I'm also leaving for a private school."
     "What's your new school called?" Sky asked.
     "Scholam Enim Divinitus Donari," the girl said. "It's Latin. It means School for the Supernaturally Gifted. Kinda generic in English, but the Latin name sounds cool."
     "Yeah," Sky said. "I think that's the same school I'm going to."
     "Wanna be friends?" The girl asked. "I'm Denise, by the way."
     "Sure!" Sky exclaimed, looking up at her new friend. She noticed for the first time what Denise actually looked like. Her dark hair was pulled back into a long weave, her brown skin dotted with black freckles. Denise's brown eyes glittered with joy.
     "Great!" Denise said happily. "Now we will both know someone when we get there!"
     "Yeah," Sky said. "You're my first friend, by the way..."
     "WHAT!?" Denise nearly shouted. "But you're so nice!"
     "People are a bit put off by my disorder," Sky explained.
     "Oh," Denise said. "Well, I don't mind. The only reason I haven't talked to you before now is because I was afraid of that girl who bullies you. She's big."
     "Marina is pretty scary," Sky agreed, smirking. "I actually looked her full in the face today. I hate doing that, with anyone, but I had to throw her off her game."
     "I thought autistics couldn't make eye contact," Denise said.
     "Stereotype," Sky said. "I can do it. It just hurts."
     "That makes sense," Denise said. "Tell me more!"
     "Okay. So..." Sky spent the rest of the class prattling off facts about autism. At the end, both of them got pulled aside.
     "I'm glad to see that you girls hit it off," Mrs. Klondike said. "However, I would love it if you engaged with the lesson more tomorrow. Got it?"
     "Yes, Mrs. Klondike," Sky and Denise said together. Mrs. Klondike nodded once and sent them on their way. Sky couldn't wait to tell her parents about her new friend. She and Denise got to lunch, and Sky froze, wondering where to sit.
     "Sit with me," Denise said, dragging Sky by the wrist. They got their lunch, and Sky followed Denise to a semi-crowded table.
     "Ew," a small brown haired girl said. "You brought the disabled girl to sit here?"
     "Yes, Karin," Denise said. "We are attending the same private school next year, so I decided to risk the bullying and talk to her for once. She is really very nice and it isn't fair that people isolate her."
     "Nice to meet you," Sky said, staring at her tray. Denise sat, and Sky followed the suit. "Soooo..." Sky was unsure of what to say.
     "It's okay," Denise said. "You don't have to speak if you don't feel like it." Sky nodded and began eating. Lunch was spent in silence. Sky waved after and hurried to her next class. At the end of the day, she couldn't wait to get home. She rushed home as fast as possible.
     "Mom!" She shouted as soon as she was in the door. "I'm home!"
     "Welcome home," her mom said. She resembled Sky a little bit, with brownish red hair, brown eyes, and pale skin. The difference being Sky kept her hair trimmed at chin length. "How was school?"
     "I made a friend!" Sky exclaimed excitedly. "Her name is Denise, and we have fifth period together!"
     "That's wonderful," her mom said. "We can tell your father when he gets home. He was getting worried. You're thirteen, almost fourteen."
     "I can't help that people are put off by my disability," Sky huffed indignantly. "I'm different. People hate different."
     "I know," her mom sighed. "Autism is such a misunderstood disorder."
     "The haters need to realize that it isn't bad," Sky said. "My social deficits, messy hair, occasional nonverbal moment, and rare but occasional stinky day are nothing. I don't have horrible meltdowns as often as I used to. I cope better with overloads of all types. I've gotten used to my issues. They are the only ones with the problem."
     "Very eloquently put, dear," her mom said. They walked into the kitchen. Sky immediately began helping with dinner. When her father got home, Sky relayed her story to him.
     "That's great," her father said. "I'm glad someone thinks you're great."
     "She said she never talked to me because of Marina," Sky explained. "She wanted to talk to me. She just wasn't brave enough."
     "That's so sad," her mom said. Dinner was a quiet affair. By then, Sky had exhausted her ability to hold a conversation. Her parents didn't complain.