Corpulent || N. Horan

Two

Maleah

For the past three days, Niall has followed me every where around school. The kids always pass us with questionable looks and Niall always looks towards me with a curious glance, yet I shrug it off.

It's Thursday today and we had our Phys. Ed. class switched with our fourth class period, since our teacher had to leave earlier for an important meeting.

Niall was across the room from me with people surrounding him like airheads. The girls were twirling their hair and attempting to flirt with him, while the boys kept fist bumping with him and giving invites to their parties over the weekend. Honestly, I wanted to barf.

Well, I was the one looking like the loser, standing in the corner, being my fat self. So basically, I shouldn't be talking.

The floors were scuffed up and scratched, as usual. The smell always had this musty and old scent that was sickening to stay there, but we had to. To add more to the misery, the gym was fairly small, so it was always humid as soon as you walked in.

I wondered what we were going to do for gym today. I was usually the one who failed at the games we played, except a couple of them.

Coach Barnes walked in from the doors with a basketball in his hand. I sighed in relief that it wasn't something painful, like dodgeball or even whiffle ball. In fact, I was pretty good at hoops. When I was younger, papa wanted me more fit, so he made me join a little league.

" Listen up Scrawnies, we are playing some basketball." As soon as those words left his mouth, many groans and grunts spread across the room.

" Don't start whining just because it's a little earlier than usual. Now, let me get some captains here."

Suggestions were shouted and one guy fairly loud screamed, " Niall!"

Coach Barnes than spoke again. " Okay, New Kid and Josh."

Both boys went to the center of the gym where Coach Barnes was and stood on either side of him and began picking.

I was chosen as one of the first by Josh. Soon, everyone was on their own team and we set up plays in our five minute pre-game.

Niall walked up to me and whispered, " Get ready to lose Maleah."

I sarcastically curtsied to him. " Pleasure." His hands shot up in defense, and he finally left to talk with his team.

The class was only fifty minutes, but it felt like an eternity. When the bell rang, a girl missed a shot from the other team and my team ended up winning. Of course we cheered, and I skipped towards Niall cockily and taunted in his face.

He only rolled his eyes and playfully pushed me to the side. Sticking my tongue out, I left him to change my clothes in the locker room.

When I reached my gym locker, I quickly took my sweaty shirt and shorts off and into my other outfit so no one saw my body.

I successfully made it out of the room and into the cafeteria on time. Looking at the back of the lunch room expecting Niall there, I walked over finding no one.

I skimmed the room finally finding him sitting with Zooey and Jackson, the star siblings and their posse. I knew this day would come soon, but I expected it to be at least till next week.

It's too good to be true, I think to myself as I slam my asset on the cold, metal seat. Seconds later, another person sits next to me and I look hoping it was Niall, but it turns out to be Aaron.

" Hey buddy." He greets while taking out his sandwich and biting into it. " What's up?" His talking was muffled.

" Nothing. Showing the new kid around for the week." I reply with no enthusiasm.

Aaron stops chewing and looks up at me. " Is he that much of an ass? I talked to him a couple times. He seems pretty cool."

I shrug. " He's nothing special. The Sibs already have him under their spell, so no use of trying to get him to be my friend."

He looks at the table where Niall was sitting at and back at me. " Oh well." That was the end of that subject, and then we started conversing our daily subject: books.

<><><><><>

" Maleah."

" Maleah."

" Maleah." He dragged my name out this time.

Final period has just ended and I speed walked so I wouldn't have to see Niall. I don't get why he was trying to get my attention. He could annoy so many other people. I wouldn't say I have been ignoring him; I was just keeping distance from him.

Finally, I stopped when I reached outside of the school and sat down on the steps.

Movement was heard behind me and a body sat next to mine. I already knew who it was, so there was no need to look.

" Can I call you Val?" Niall weirdly asks. That is when I glance at him. " Where did you get that idea from?"

" I don't know. Maleah is a beautiful name, but I want to call you something probably no one calls you."

" And why is that?" I question further.

He simply shrugs.

" Did you skip lunch?" I ask even though I already knew the answer. Niall shakes his head.

" No. I was going to sit with you, but you weren't at the table yet. I was waiting for you before Zooey offered me a seat at her table. I said I was sitting with you already, so she told me to wait with them until you came. I saw you already at our table, but then Aaron was already with you. Since you haven't seen him for the week, I decided to let you have some time with him." He explains.

I couldn't help but repeat the words 'our table' over and over again. It made me smile inside.

" Are you guys, like together or something?" Niall asked.

I snorted and answered. " Gosh no. No guy here would want this." I say pointing to my body hoping he would chuckle, but no laugh came out of his mouth.

" What do you mean? You are pretty! Don't let anyone ever tell you different." His voice raises at every word. I sit there, stunned.

His eyes are furrowed, and he turns his head forward. I do the same, yet with a confused look.

I finally see papa driving up the culde sac and I feel relief spread through my body. Getting up, I turn to Niall who is still scrunched down on the step.

" I got to go. My ride's here."

" Maleah Russetto! We have to leave right now. I have to drop you off at the session today, it got moved." Papa shouts from the car window.

" What session?" Niall asks. " Just, don't mind about it." I scurry to the car and wave at Niall before going in.

Strapping in quick, papa drives off and out of the school driveway.

" Who was that boy you were talking to?"

" He's no one. Just a foreign exchange student." I say, looking out the window.

" Should I be alarmed about this boy, Maleah? Because school always comes first. No good grades. No boyfriend." He sternly says.

" Papa.-" I cut him off before he could say anything else. " You have nothing to worry about. He means nothing to me."

He says nothing more and we arrive at the local library, where the sessions are held at. I kiss him goodbye and enter the building.

It's quiet. I feel comfort every time I go here. My route to the back of the place is always the same. Peace and content. Just the way I like it.

I bump into Louis, an anorexic boy who has been attending the sessions as long as I have, and he jumps. Louis moved from Great Britain to California two years ago. His mother couldn't afford living in their home with her five children, Louis included. So, they bought a small house near this place, and their life continues.

He notices it is me and relaxes. His smile grows wide as he holds out his arm for me to take, which I do, and we skip off to the group of health problem kids.