Just A Kiss

12 | Para para Paradise...

Chapter twelve: Para para Paradise...

I walked through the crowded hallways, maneuvering through people still in their zombie-like state. It was lunch break for crying out loud but they moved around like it was freaking five in the morning. They really need a big cup of coffee or just a cold bath. I reached my locker, took out my lunch bag and placed my backpack inside. Today was spaghetti day in school so I had begged Beth to make me a chicken sandwich. Water tasted better than what they served, spaghetti, if you can even call it that.

I closed my locker and was about to turn when my head collided hard into the metal. Pain coursed through one side of my head, making me gasp. I closed my eyes, cradling my head in my hands. Ouch, that hurt.

Someone snickered, their icy tone making me want to disappear. “Careful there, you have a lot of those coming your way.”

Diana looked down at me with here minions besides her mimicking her every move. Clone #1, Clone #2 nodded their heads. I kept my eyes glued to the ground, afraid they might eat my head off.

“You and your two little friends won’t be sitting with us anymore at lunch. If the boys ask you, you just refuse. You understand?” the witch said, pronouncing each word slowly.

I nodded, studying the dirt on my black converse. With a satisfied sigh, the witches trotted towards the exit. I looked at their backs, wondering why she felt the need to express her animosity towards me now, today. It’s almost a month now since my friends and I first sat with them. Why did it bother her now suddenly?

I groaned, pushing myself off of the lockers. My head! Ah, not another headache! I cursed my inability to stand up for myself against Diana. My phone buzzed indicating another text from impatient Jess. Rubbing my forehead to ease the pain, I made my way to the cafeteria.

Everybody was too busy to notice me enter. I let out a sigh when I scanned the room to find it Diana-free. My eyes found my friends, huddled together in a circle at the popular’s table, talking frantically with each other. It looked like they were discussing something very important.

Josh was standing, elbow placed on his knee, one leg propped up on the chair. His face brightened at something Danni said and they high five’d. Wow, that... was not like Danni. Aaron and Jess grinned, nodding at whatever agreement they had. Then there was Cody. I chuckled as I saw him throw little paper pieces at Danni and when she’d look at him, he’d pretend that he had been listening to the conversation. They were too cute.

 I stood where I was, thinking about Diana’s warning. Should I listen to her? Why should I? Should I be worried if I decide against it? Would she do me any physical harm, or any type of harm for that matter?

Yeah she would, a small voice said in my head. But she isn’t here, she won’t know.

I approached the table slowly. As soon I was in sight, there was an abrupt silence around the table. Okaaaay, that’s weird. My friends eyed me like I was an alien dropped from the sky, shocked at my presence.

“Close you mouths ya’ll. What’s with the look?” I asked, confused at the abrupt silence when I arrived like they did not want me to know what they were talking about.

“Oh Ann! Come sit here!” Danni pointed besides her bouncing up and down in her seat. I stared at her wondering if she was high or something.

“What were you guys talking about?” I asked taking a bite of my sandwich before it was snatched from me and passed around the table. “Aw man, I was hungry,” I whined.

Cody threw a bag of lays my way and I happily munched on it. “So what were you talking about?” I asked again.

Everyone averted their gazes, avoiding looking at me. My stomach dropped.