My Name is Andrew Lee Cooper.

Chapter Eight

"Hey, can I sit here?" A voice I immediately recognize asks. I sigh, disappointed. He sits down without an answer, and pulls out his phone and proceeds to eat. He says nothing else.

"What the hell is Nick doing here?" Andy hisses in my ear. I shrug, trying my hardest not to roll my eyes. Nick is a guy I met last year in my gym class. At first, I befriended him because he seemed lonely and depressed. And no one deserves to go through life alone. But after talking to him, I found that he was really annoying and pushy, and if he has an opinion on something he sticks to it and is in your face about it. He has curly, short black hair, is short (maybe five three), and is pretty chubby. He constantly talks about memes and videogames, and is an atheist (which isn't bad, I am too, but he's really in your face about it). And he is the first person I came out to about my gender. No one else knows, but the way he reacted is the main reason I hate him. His response was "Maybe you're rebelling a bit? I'm pretty sure you're cis... I think you just like dressing masculine. You're not trans." And I dropped it after that. I have an active, burning hate for him.

"Where's Elliott?" Andy asks aloud. I shrug. Lunch is almost over by now and I've spent it all waiting for him. My stomach grumbles and I desperately wish I had some water to make it stop. Nick looks up.

"Who's Elliott?" I, again, fight the urge to roll my eyes.

"No one." I say, sighing in disappointment. Looks like he isn't coming after all. Andy smiles reassuringly at me. I fake a smile back. Just when I thought I was making friends. Sophie eats quietly, staring at her tray. I wonder what's bothering her. I turn on my phone and tool around on social media to pass the last ten minutes of lunch.

"Lily..." Andy is tapping my knee. I look up at him, but he's looking past me with his eyes as big as saucers. I whip around, and as I do, Elliott is right there. He has an embarrassed look on his face, and is accompanied by an upperclassman girl. She is stocky, about my height, and her brunette hair is cut into a short bob with blonde highlights. Her eyes are an emerald green, and she is glued to her phone. Who is she? I've never seen her before.

"Hey, guys. Sorry we're so late, we've been sitting at the wrong table the whole time." He sits down next to me and sets his backpack on the ground. He smiles easily, and sits confidently. Like he's not at a table with three strangers he's never really talked to before. As he props his elbows on the table, He rolls up his sleeves and I all I see is scar after scar. They're bright pink and pop out of his skin. I almost ask him how he got them so deep, but think better of it. I try not to

"Oh, it's fine. I guess we didn't explain it perfectly, but we're glad you're here now." Andy speaks for me. I nod with a shy smile on my face. What if they're dating? What if he's into her?

"Oh, this is Avery." Elliott says, gesturing to the girl. She waves awkwardly. We all say hello, and everyone goes back to eating. My stomach grumbles yet again but either no one notices or they ignore it. We make small talk with Elliott and Avery, and I'm enjoying every second of it. It's nice to talk to new people for once.

The bell rings, and we all stand up.

"I kinda want his number..." I whisper to Andy.

"So ask for it." He says it like it's the easiest thing in the world.

"I can't; are you crazy?" He rolls his eyes and walks over to Elliott, who is still gathering his things. He can't be serious.

"Lily wants your number." He says nonchalantly. I gape at him. Elliott looks from him to me, and I feel sick.

"Sure. Give me your phone, I'll add my number." He responds cooly, reaching out his hand. I fumble with my phone and go to contacts, clicking "add new contact." I hand it to him and he quickly punches in numbers along with his name. I have never glared at Andy harder in my entire life. Handing back my phone, Elliott clears his throat.