Socially Awkward

II.

I'm walking out of my dorm to no place in particular.

From across the square, I can see someone waving. Surely, they aren't waving at me so I continue towards... nowhere I guess. Maybe I'll go to get some food from the café.

Eh...

I see a flash of blond hair and suddenly I'm being tackled.

"Hey!" the strange girl says. I notice the balloon boobs she has before I realize who she was.

I think I unintentionally sent off the wrong message.

"Thanks so much for getting me home. You're like one of two people that has talked to me at this school so far."

Aw, that is so sad. She's giving off lets-be-friends vibes. Time to retreat!

"Yeah, they act pretty antisocial here." One normal sentence out.

"Are you going to grab lunch?"

"Yup." Dammit! That isn't what I meant to say.

It's too late because she smiles at me and grabs my arm. "Let's go together, unless you're already going with someone else."

I shake my head. "Nope. Not at all." Dammit! Curse this social person inside of me, making me speak to people.

"I haven't been to the café before but I've heard that the food is top notch."

"One can only hope."

She giggles at that and continues to lead us to the café.

I was supposed to go, grab a meal, and then sit in a dark corner somewhere. No threats of social calamity. I've just set myself up to climb up the social ladder. Let me be a hermit in peace!

"The bonds of our interracial friendship have begun!" the girl proclaims. "I'm McKenzie by the way. What's your name?"

I blink a few times, amazed that she hasn't buzzed off elsewhere by now. She seems like the type that is off her meds.

"Kalen."

"Cool name!" She exclaims. "Do you have any friends that go here?"

I look at her in defeat and she offers me a wry smile.

"It's pretty cool to be out of your element."

Ha! I was completely in my shelly, island, element until you came and disturbed me.

"Did you hear about the psycho that tried to blow up the science building yesterday?"

I crane my head to face her. "Huh?"

I completely spiral into the void inside of me. I have failed mission: be invisible. I've made a name for myself and lost my favorite pair of sneakers. What has my world come to?

"I heard she went on a rampage and mixed some explosive concoction then ran across campus wet and naked."

What the hell. Leave it to the rumor mill to mash up a story like that. If it weren't about me, I'd find it funny.

"I don't think she was naked." I tell her.

"I wish we could get footage."

I snort out a fake laugh. "Nah, I think she's already been humiliated enough."

"Hell yeah! Way to make a name for yourself mystery girl!" McKenzie shouts ecstatically.

No no no no no!