Counting Stars

Chapter 4

I sat in the front seat of her car feeling out of place. Why would she be offering me a ride? I thought as she drove with her hair flying wildly in the wind. She stopped at a stop light and looked at me while I just looked at my feet.

“So kid…I’ve seen you around school.” I just stayed silent.

“It’s ok…I won’t bite.” She put her hand on my shoulder and I tensed up. She pulled her hand away like she did something wrong. She started driving again and continued talking.

“I’m just a little bit…nervous…” I finally said after a minute.

“Oh so you can talk.” She smiled as she looked at the road.

“I just feel like you want something…” I said as she stopped at another light and turned on her turn signal.

“I swear that I don’t want anything. I just felt like doing something nice. Also I have you in some of my classes and you always seem…secluded and depressed. Plus I just feel like I can get you to open up a little.” The light turned green and she turned towards the school.

“You know…some people say that you’re a freak.” She said and I froze. I knew people other than my friends avoided me but…

“But I think that there’s more to you…and that you’re not a freak.” She turned into the parking lot of the school and parked. I got out of the car and turned to run away.

“Not so fast…we haven’t finished our talk.” I slowly turned and started walking next to her.

“How about I sit with you at lunch today?” She asked as she took her sun glasses off. A small smile grew on my face.

“Sure…I don’t think my friends would mind.” She smiled.

“Ok then. Besides if you ran away back there I would’ve seen you in first block anyway and I sit next to you remember?” I chuckled slightly.

“Yeah I forgot.” We went into the school and started heading to our first block. We got half way there when I heard a voice from down the hall.

“Amanda!” We both turned and saw her boyfriend, Scott, the school top douche bag and captain of the football team. I saw Amanda roll her eyes and put on a fake smile.

“Hey Scott.” She said in a fake tone and gave him a kiss then he noticed me. He had a look of slight disgust in his eyes.

“Oh…it’s the fre-ow!” He was interrupted by Amanda elbowing him in the gut and she pretended like she didn’t do anything. I gave her a grateful smile which she returned.

“Anyway…I’ll see you at lunch Amanda.” He then ran down the halls toward his class.

“I hate him SO much!” She whisper-yelled.

“I could tell by that fake persona you put on.” I said as we continued walking and she looked at me in surprise.

“You could tell?” She asked.

“I could…I’ve used it many times.” I opened the door to our class and we walked in.

“Well I guess I can’t trick a professional.” She said as we took our seat.

“Why don’t you break up with him?” I ask as people start filling into the classroom.

“I can’t. Peer pressure you could say.” She said as the teacher came into the room and started class. I guess I can trust her…she’s not like other people think of her.

*****

Lunch came around and I sat down next to Ryan and I saw Amanda come into the lunch room with Scott waving her over. She looked at him then at me, walked over to me and sat down.

When I looked at Scott he had anger and jealousy in his eyes.