Middle Summer Nights

Chapter 3 - The One Who Stayed

       It was another ordinary day. School was rushing itself into the year, and kids were suddenly getting to know each other. We all were about a month into this new schedule and life, so we all decided why not make some friends? I already had Prince and Morgan, we talked a lot at school. Since Morgan and I had gym together, we regularly chose each other as partners. I wasn't so lonely at the two subjects, Band and Gym. But I still had about four other dreadful periods.

       It was during this time that the principal let certain classes have lunch outside. Whichever one was the most respectable, we had a day for lunch outside. Now this, this meant everything. Our huge school had only a tiny cafeteria not even connected to the school. It was small, and only fit about four long, lunch tables. Behind the lunch tables was a small bar for kids to get their lunches. Behind the bar was the kitchen. The cafeteria had only cheap foods that could be made fast, and all their utensils and trays were cardboard.

        Most of the kids brought their own lunch, so they didn't have to deal with the excruciating line and the disgusting food. It was what it was. We couldn't change that.

       It was the period of Math, the only period I had where it felt as if I was friends with no one. The popular girls and guys hung out on one side while the unpopular kids hung out on the other. It was like a civil war, only I didn't know which side to choose. I was in the middle of popular, and unpopular. Spoilers, I didn't do anything stupid so I wasn't in the popular gang in the future.

        The lunch bell was signaled, and everyone dashed to the door to make a line. It was like these people were starving. I grabbed my lunchbox, and quickly made it to the back of the line. We walked down the old hallway, and took a turn. We soon walked down a flight of stairs. As we got down to the stairs that's when our teacher turned around and looked at us.

        "Okay, so here's what's happening. We all are going to go into the line, even the ones with the lunchboxes. I don't want any chaos, or we're not doing this again. Got it?" Our math teacher said, his voice booming around the hallway. He wasn't usually this strict, he was mostly laid back. So we knew he was serious.

       We soon got our food, and as soon as we got outside we all went into our cliques. I looked around, I was the only person without a clique. Of course people knew me, but not close. That was what made me anxious. I was going to sit next to the popular girls, because they had been nice to me in the past, but my heart said no. It was as if the universe was talking to me, because I ended up sitting with the exact opposite people.

       I sat down, and as soon as I sat all their eyes were on me. They were judging me, seeing if I was going to be a spoiled brat or a decent human. I was like pray in the wild, and they were the hunters. It was frighteningly exquisite.

       "Hi,  I'm Gracie! Gracie Sheppard, Mrs. Sheppard's daughter." I said with a nervous smile and an awkward tone. They all looked at me, and soon smiled back. Soon one girl looked at me, and smiled mischievously. She had firey, red hair with dark green eyes. Her eyes had a teasing look in it. Her pale skin made her eyes pop, as her lips were a soft blush. Her cheeks were a red that defined her passion. She was the most important person I'd ever seen.

        "I'm Harlie. Harlie McGuire." She said. She pointed at a kid with tan skin and golden hair.

       "That's Hunter, my boyfriend." She said as he waved a "hi".

       A kid soon interrupted her with a big, goofy smile. He had dark, shaggy hair that was covering a part of his eyes. He was short, and had freckles under his dark brown, silly eyes. He was the jokester of this group, I could feel it.

       "I'm Ethan! Nice to meet you!" Ethan said with a playful tone in his voice.

       "I'm Shay," a girl with a soft voice said. She had medium sized, golden hair. It was wavy, and soft looking. Her eyes were a lovely blue, and her lips were a tainted red from her food. She had a light blush that dashed her cheeks, and her skin was a soft porcelain color. She seemed too innocent for this world.

       The other few people were introduced to me, but they didn't mean as much to me as the four new people I met. They were interesting, each with a different personality but the same heart. I knew they cared for each other, they all had brilliant minds. And so, it was Harlie the mischievous, Hunter the golden, Ethan the jokester, and Shay the innocent. They were who I knew I needed to stick by, and they were who I knew were truthful. It almost seemed like the universe was speaking. And sometimes, I wonder. What if I had sat at the populars? Would I have never met the most amazing people of my life? Would I have never met Harlie, one of the most amazing people of all time? I always wonder. But I am thankful.