Bashful Beings

04 Uncomfortable Caleb

Gosh. About yesterday. I know something was suspicious about Bill but I'm still dazed by it. This is not probably gonna change my mind. Okay. Let's go to school. Just a normal day. It's easy to pretend. Caleb, just pretend that you have no idea about your friend's Dad being a fucking drug lord. He is pretty nice but I have issues about drugs. I know I used it but I was too drunk to remember. I put on my headphones and played I'll come running. Walked through these hallways like I'm isolated. And suddenly, someone tapped on my back. It was Nathalie.

"Nathalie?"

"Caleb, hey."

"What's up?"

"School."

"Oh okay. I'm going to my first class now."

"Um. Where's room 21?"

"Wait. What's your first subject?"

"Chemistry."

"Oh, okay. Come with me, we're in the same class."

"Really? That's great."

We walked inside the classroom and I sat beside Sam, something I haven't done since, I don't know.

"Why are you sitting here?" Sam asks.

"Because I can?"

"Okay. So, how was the investigation?"

"That's classified."

Sam laughs "What the fuck?"

Our teacher came in.

"Good morning everyone. So, I've been informed that you guys have a new classmate. Please step forward and introduce yourself."

Nathalie stood up and walked beside our teacher.

"Good morning everyone. I am Nathalie Summers. I came from Orlando."

"Why don't you go back to where you came from?" Someone in the class says.

"You're the one who needs to get back to where they came from. I mean look at you. You look like you're not full developed. Go back to your Mom's womb" She retorts.

Well, things didn't change. Still savage. Everyone in our classroom laughed 'cept the guy who was totally burnt. Same old Nathalie. That is clearly one of the reasons why I liked her.

Lunchtime, I sat in our table. Still can't get unweird by the fact I found out yesterday. I can't hear anything they're talking about. All I can hear are buzzes. Unaware that Heather was trying to get my attention.

"Caleb!" Heather says, loudly.

Nervous. I reply "Yeah?"

"Dude what's wrong with you? I've been saying your name for like, 6 times" She says.

"I was just thinking"

"About what?" Josh asks.

"Just things" I reply.

"So, I was saying. We need to rehearse because the battle of the bands are on Friday" Heather says.

"Sounds good" I reply.

"So, guys. Have you heard about the new girl here?" Sam asks.

Everyone else said no. But I didn't answer because I knew it was Nathalie.

"Her name is Nathalie Summers. She's also from Orlando" Sam says.

"Oh yeah, Nathalie. Um, she was one of our childhood friends" Josh says.