Is Anyone Out There?

Chapter 6

A/N: Wow! I can't believe that so many people like Is Anyone Out There?! I never thought that it would get to almost 300 reads! It makes me so happy! I hope that you enjoy this chapter as much as I enjoyed writing it! :)

Once I finally come out of my daze, I rush to homeroom. I feel like I'm floating on a cloud I'm so happy. I know that both of my parents won't be home all weekend, so I don't have to worry about them finding out. I don't think I can come down from my little cloud of happiness, until I see that Mandy girl staring straight at me.

I look away and try to ignore her, but I feel her burning gaze still on me. I turn my head down to my notebook and start to draw. I'm drawing a girl crouched on the ground in a fetal position, crying, while zombies are all around her, coming for her. The zombies are telling her that she's fat and ugly, gross, disgusting.

"Ew emo," I hear Mandy squeal. "You are so weird, I think you should get some help, freak," Before I can stop her, she's grabbed my notebook off of my desk and is flipping through it laughing. She's mocking the drawings I take hours, days sometimes, to draw perfectly how I want them.

She shows one of a girl hanging by her neck to everyone in the classroom. "Little emo girl is having suicidal thoughts! Aw, too bad for her," she starts snickering.

One of Mandy's "clique" girls starts laughing and then so does everyone else. I'm starting to lose it, but I can't. I have to stay so the school won't call my mother again. And then I hear it. "If she wants to kill herself so badly, why doesn't she just do it already? No one would care, no one would miss her," That gets a laugh from everyone.

My eyes are prickling and tears are threatening to spill over. I am biting my tongue and digging my nails into my skin. This will all be over soon. I will be out of here and free from this in 10 minutes. "Take your cryptic, suicidal journal back punk," Mandy sneers, throwing the notebook back. Everyone laughs, but I just keep my head down and try to bring back that feeling of complete elation I'd had just a couple of minutes ago.

It doesn't come back. It's been murdered by the mockery and bullying of the kids around me. I want to run and cry and cut and feel better, but I can't. I can't run or hide because they will always find me.

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I have finally made it through half of the day and I couldn't be in more of a depressed mood. From behind me in Biology, people were throwing spit balls and paper at me. In English, someone "accidentally" stuck gum on my back so I had to take my sweatshirt off and stick it in my backpack. At least I'm not wearing a t-shirt.

"Hey Kitty!" I hear Jake say from behind me. Part of me hopes that he'll sit with me and talk with me, but the other part wishes the best for him, to walk past me and find other friends. He chooses the first and takes the seat to the right of me.

I turn to fave him and smile slightly. Seeing him makes me feel a bit better. "Hi Jake," I say. I see he has a bag of chips and a soda in front of him. Doesn't look like he's leaving any time soon.

He rips open the chips and pops his soda. He starts eating but then realizes that I have nothing. I don't really eat lunch. Before yesterday, I hadn't eaten lunch since the beginning of the school year. It doesn't really bother me though. Some people don't eat breakfast, I don't eat lunch. Besides, I can't afford it and there is nothing at home for me. "Do you want some?" he asks, pushing the bag of chips towards me. I nod a take a few so he doesn't think that there is something wrong with me like so many people do.

"Having a good day so far?" Jake asks, trying to make conversation. Why couldn't he have asked anything else? Anything but if I'm having a good day. No! I'm not having a good day! Not one little bit.

"Yeah, I guess so," I lie to him. I notice the cafeteria has gotten a lot fuller and louder. I feel like everyone is staring. I know they're whispering about Jake and I sitting together. It's odd, unusual, and when I look over at the cheerleaders, I can tell that they aren't happy.

I quickly avert my eyes from them and stare at the last chip I have in my hand. I pop it in my mouth and look at Jake. "You?"

He nods, but doesn't say anything. That doesn't seem right. Even though I've spent little time with Jake, I know that's not like him. I don't ask him about it, I know I would want him to do that with me. Jake breaks the silence that has settled over us. "So you finally took off that sweatshirt, huh?"

I smile slightly and nod. "Yeah, I got a little warm,"

He smiles back at me and those butterflies are set loose again. "I thought you would, in that thick thing," I laugh softly. I don't know how he does this, make me forget about everything and change my mood from horrible to better with just a couple words and a smile.

I become a little insecure about wearing this tiny, thin sweater now that we've brought up clothes. It clings to my body and it feels awkward, like I'm not wearing clothes at all. I tap my fingers on the table. "It wasn't that big," I argue with him. It really wasn't, and it didn't bother me wearing it at all.

Jake shrugs and looks closely at my face. My heart rate picks up as I remember the bruise on it. I had been so caught up in the events of today that I had completely forgotten until now. I hope that no one has noticed. "Are you okay?" he asks. "Your cheek looks a bit swollen,"

My eyes go wide and I try to quickly think of a cover story. "Yeah, I'm fine. I just accidentally walked into the door his morning," lame, lame, lame! He's never going to believe that! But just my luck, the bell rings right at that moment. I am up and out of there before he can say anything. "Bye Jake!" I call over my shoulder as I run to art.

When I make it into the art room, I collapse in a chair at one of the white tables. The classroom fills up quickly and then we are allowed to get our projects. I get my painting and paints then I head outside to the little grassy area right outside of the art room. No one else ever comes out here because I'm here and I am alone to think and paint.

I should've come up with a better story as to how I got the bruise. Then I wouldn't have sounded so stupid. I sigh and paint the big oak tree that takes up the white canvas space.

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School is finally over and I am walking home. I am so ready for the weekend ahead. I need this break from everything. I am planning to just sit a home and watch the tv. I'm not usually allowed to but since my mom will be at her fuck buddy's house and my dad will be cheating on my mom a million miles away, I have the whole house to myself. Thank goodness.

I get up to the door and unlock it then walk inside. There's a note on the fridge from my mom. She gave me $15 for food for the whole weekend and warned me about consequences I would get if I used more than that. No 'love mom' or 'have a good weekend'. She didn't even sign it.

I go upstairs to my room and empty out my bag on the floor. I do this every Friday so I can go through my things and make sure I have everything. I put all of my school stuff in a pile and place it in the corner of my room. No need for those over the weekend. I put the make up I took from my mom and put it in a pile. I put my iPod on it's charger. I search through all he pockets until everything is out, including my razor. I'm glad that Jake didn't go snooping. Then he would know. There is a piece of paper at the bottom of the bag. I take it out and look at it.

Can't wait for tomorrow :)

Call me: 683-489-1251

-Jake

I smile slightly and hold the note, not letting it go. I can't wait for tomorrow either.