Her Name Was Lydia

    I continued on with my conversation even though the teacher told us to stop talking. She motions her hand to my right and says "Class, this is Lydia. I expect you to make her feel very welcome." I look at her. She has long brown hair that goes past her shoulders. She seems very shy. She blushes and bites her lip every time someone looks at her. I smile at her because I know what it's like to be the new kid. She smiles back but it doesn't seem sincere.

    The bell rings and everyone hurries out of the classroom except Lydia, she just sits there. I walk over to her and say "You have Art next. I can you show if you'd like." She stares at me for a minute, but eventually she gets up. "I'm Nathan," I say. "Lydia," She softly replies. I hold out my hand expecting her to shake it, instead she just looks away. I decided to become friends with her, and that's how it all started.

    I offer her to sit with us at lunch. My friends give me disapproving looks, and my girlfriend makes it clear she isn't happy that Lydia is sitting with us. I smile at her while patting the empty seat next to me. She doesn't make eye contact with any of us. I try to make it less awkward by asking her what her old school was like, she just mumbles something about her parents getting new jobs. My friend Rob pulls out a bag of chips and starts eating them, and Lydia tenses up every time he reaches into the bag. He gives me a dirty look. I take out my candy bar and Lydia stares at it hungrily, looking away when I notice. "Want some?" I ask nicely. " She refuses. She pulls out an apple and takes one tiny bite, chewing it slowly. The bell rings before she can take another bite. She packs up her stuff and heads to Art class. Once she's well out of ear shot, my girlfriend, Tilly, says "What a freak, I can't put up with her every lunch. She didn't even eat anything." "Maybe she's sick with a cold," I say.

      Something told me Lydia wasn't sick with a cold.