Amnesia • hemmings

0.5

School.

Why do we need school?

Well, it's because we need to learn.

But why go to school, if you aren't going to learn anything? Why be there, if you aren't even going to pay attention? Why be there, if all you're going to do is disrupt the class? Why be there, when everyone hates you?

Third block.

As Vivian sits in the back of the class with her friends, the rest of us are trying to learn.

"Vivian!" The teacher yells.

"Huh?" She sits up, trying to hide her phone.

"Bring me the phone, now." The teacher says slowly, holding we hand out.

"What phone? What are you talking about?" She asks, grabbing her backpack and acting like she's getting something, when she's really just shoving her phone in the front pocket.

"Vivian, stop trying to hide it. Give me the phone." She said again.

"I don't have a phone!" She yelled.

"Just give me the phone!" The teacher said.

"I don't have a freaking phone!" She yelled, slamming her hands on the desk.

"Oh my god." I mumbled to myself. I just wanted to get through the class without any problems.

Lunch.

I sat at lunch alone, once again.

I sat near Vivian's table every day, watching her sing and beatbox, with people crowded around her. She even brings her guitar to school sometimes, carrying it around like it was no big deal. She has a beautiful voice. Her brother was sat at the table across from her, listening to her from far away. As much as most siblings hate each other, Vivian and Ashton are closer than any other people I've ever met. Ashton is a senior, he won't be with us next year. Whenever anyone talks about it, they both get really sad, because they won't be seeing each other much anymore. Apparently Ashton is going to some college in New York, literally all the way across the country.

Someone runs past the table I'm at, over to Vivian and her 'friends'.

"There are two girls fighting out on the quad! Come on!" The girl yells.

Everyone runs out of the cafeteria, even Vivian's friends, going to see the fight. She stays in, getting out her guitar and starting to play a song I love.

There is no one in the cafeteria except me and her, and I sit quietly while looking down at my tray, listening to her play and sing my favorite song.

She stops playing, and I keep my eyes on my food.

"Luke Hemmings?" She asks, and my eyes widen. How does she know me.

"Yes?" I ask, not believing what's happening.

"Um, I'm Vivian." She says quietly.

"Yeah, everyone knows who you are." I said, shrugging.

"Oh. Were you getting texts from an unknown number this weekend?" She asked, setting her guitar down and walking to my table. I finally let my eyes travel up to meet hers.

"Yes. How do you know?" I asked, furrowing my eyebrows.

"Well, you can't tell anyone, but it was my friends, Carolyn, Amelia, and Natalie. Well, the only real friend I have is Natalie. I've known her for as long as I can remember. The other girls just hang out with me because 'I'm popular'. They do things like that to everyone. The texting thing." She said sitting down and staring at the table as she talked.

"Why would they do that?" I asked, tears forming in my eyes.

"I don't know, I hate it when they do. I'm sorry. I know you have stuff going on, Carolyn told us she hears you and your mom." She said quietly.

"It's okay, you don't have to apologize." I said, letting a tear slowly slide down my face.

"Hey, don't cry. It's okay, I'm here for you." She said, scooting her chair closer and grabbing my hand.

"Thanks, but, why would you care about me?" I asked, wiping the tears away with my other hand.

"What do you mean?" She asked, tilting her head to the side.

"I mean, why would you care about someone like me? I'm a mess." I said, looking down.

"Well, that's exactly why. I don't want you to be like this, Luke, you deserve better. Everyone does." She said, shaking my hand back and forth as she held it.

Oh, I get it now. She's Vivian Irwin, she cares about everyone, even if she doesn't know them. That means she tells them she cares, even though she doesn't. She does that because she thinks just telling someone you care, makes them feel better. It does, for some people.

But it doesn't for me.

"Oh, crap, they're coming back." She stood up and looked out the window, letting go of my hand.

"Oh, did someone finally break up the fight?" I asked.

"I guess. I have to go, sorry. Bye, Luke!" She yelled, running to the door of the cafeteria.

She doesn't want to be seen with me. That's why she said she has to go. Wow.