Bookstore girl

Books give me friends.

The next week would be so eventful I don't even know where to start. Somehow the popular guys all stood in line, at my locker, apologising about how they had acted towards me, with Owen as last, grinning widely as I shook their hands, hugged them back and listened to their apologies with big eyes, on Monday, so my week started weird already.

Owen was last and hugged me, making me feel butterflies. ''Well, I thought it would be nice if they all apologised. And if you met the guys that dragged me into the popular squad.'' He said and I had to make it awkward.

''It's almost as if I'm your girlfriend, getting introduced to your friends.'' It was meant to be a joke but it made us both awkward and so three guys stepped forward from the group and introduced themselves. I liked Samuel the best. He seemed like the guy you could just be with without having to do or say anything. Oliver and Ken seemed more macho to me but also quite nice.

I smiled at Owen and just talked to the four of them until the bell rang and Samuel and I had to go to History, which we had together. I said goodbye to all of them, and thanked Owen for doing something that wasn't that necessary.

And also, that Tuesday, Hotel Boy arrived and on Wednesday I lost my friends to boys, making me have lunch alone. But Samuel joined me and shortly after so did Ken and Oliver and Owen, so I hung around with them.

I didn't see my friends much anymore. Hazel in English but she kept secretly texting Mark, almost getting caugh but I took the blame. So I had detention. But Hazel didn't notice, she kept texting Mark, slightly hurting my feeling as I had hoped she'd notice my effort to be a good friend.

So far the promise of not letting boys tear us apart was a joke.

You can understand my relief when the Friday turned into a Saturday and I could get lost in my favourite bookstore.

I was there and sat down in a comfy chair when I found the sequel to If I Stay. I didn't feel like going home, and Owen was nowhere to be seen so I could curl up on the chair and read.

I wasn't even far yet when I heard a voice behind me. "They are making a movie out of the book.'' It was Owen.

''I might have to see the first one on DVD.'' I said and closed the book.

''I meant the first book. They don't know about the second one.'' He said, and I saw he had a pile of books, and I helped him with it.

Again I stayed until I was called by my mom to go home and I almost dreaded going home. But I had my book with me so I knew I'd be fine.

Too soon Monday came around and I was searching for my friends. But again they were nowhere to be seen until I saw them, all three of them, kissing their boyfriends and I walked away.

I don't know, but it's probably not incredibly romantic to be kissing someone while your friends are doing just the same, right next to you, but I don't know. They stopped talking to me.

And I had detention that Tuesday, my very first one. There were about ten people in the room. They all had to write a few paragraphs from their textbooks. My English teacher gave me one paragraph knowing it was my very first time there so I quickly finished and left as early as possible.

So when English came around I sat down somewhere else, not next to Hazel.

Guess what?

She didn't notice.

Chloe was the nicest, and she talked to me when we were both at the lockers and I was grateful for it. She sat with me from time to time at lunch but she was off with Gideon most of the time, as she always had done, so I didn't really blame her.

But when Grace got her Hotel Boy, whom I still didn't know the name of, it was like a free-card to them all to go of and get laid. Or whatever they did when they were alone.

But I start to sound bitter, and that isn't what I'm aiming for in life.

But I was alone again on Tuesday and I didn't expect anything from Owens side nor my friends. But the first one surprised me by letting me 'enjoy his marvelous company', his words, not mine.

I was standing in line when I felt someone poke me multiple times in the ribs and when I was about to ask if they could stop when I saw it was Samuel.

''Hi Samuel.'' I said and stepped aside so he could stand next to me.

''Hi Olivia, how are you?'' I snickered at his formal tone but I kept it quiet.

''I'm fine. You?'' I grabbed something to eat and let Samuel get something as well before I paid for both of us. I had caught a glimpse of his wallet, which was nearly empty.

''You didn't have to do that.'' He said, keeping up with my rather quick pace.

''Yeah, you didn't have enough money and I wasn't about to let you starve.'' I winked at him and went to sit at my usual table, even though it was deserted.

''You can sit with us, Olivia.'' Samuel said and pointed at the popular tables. Yes, tables, they needed three. The popular bunch was like rabbits. They kept multiplying. You'd casually walk through the hall and there was a new member of the popular kids.

But they were all known and pretty and special and I didn't fit in one bit.

''No thanks, it's not really my scene.'' I said and sat down. My friends were still nowhere to be found and I sighed.

Suddenly Samuel was in my sight again. He had sat down next to me and was looking at me.

''I'm not leaving you here all alone but you are depriving me from my friends.'' He sighed heavily and looked dreamily at the table, obviously trying to make me feel guilty.

It kind of worked.

''I didn't ask you to stay with me.'' I said, lightly kicking his chair and was about to eat my lunch when Samuel sighed again. And again. And again, and again.

''Fine! We're going to the table. Gosh, I thought you were the nicest out of them.'' I stood up, grabbing my tray with food, following Samuel shyly.

''I am, but you learn from them.'' He smiled innocently, but I didn't buy it, at all.

''Hi guys! Sorry I'm late. This is Olivia. She's a friend. Be nice.'' He said, jokingly looking around with a stern look before sat me and himself down. I found myself sitting next to Owen but before I could say hi someone spoke up.

''Hi Olivia. I'm Ben.'' A boy said with blond hair and a girl on his lap. ''And this is my girlfriend Lilly-Anne.'' She stuck out her hand. ''Just call me Lilly, nobody has time to say Lilly-Anne. I could burn to death by the time someone gets that out of their mouth," She said happily and Ben behind her mouthed along her, obviously mocking her.

''Ben, stop that, now I'm trying to be friendly.'' She said without looking at him and I chuckled.

''And by the way, I'm quite new here too, but you'll get used to it.'' She smiled warmly before Ben claimed her back, and she rolled her eyes.

''Hi, Olivia.'' Owen said and I turned to him. ''You can call me Liv, or Livy. I just heard I could burn to death if my name it too long.'' Owen smiled.

''So you met Lilly then. Yeah, she's a bit the odd one out, but really nice. You'll like her. And I like Livy.''

''Okay, and I'm sorry if I'm intruding. Samuel dragged me here.'' I smiled apologetic, but Owen shook his head. ''That's no big deal. I like that he dragged you here, Livy.''