Invisible.

Chapter 2

V A N E S S A

Just as I get to the bottom of my hill the next morning I'm stopped by the school bus. I wait at the hill until the bus passes but frown when I see Hayes running towards it. It's gone by the time Hayes reaches the stop and he looks over at my car. I motion for him to get inside and he doesn't refuse.

"I swear to god that bus has something against me." He laughs a little when he gets inside.

"It's no big deal, I can just drive you, you're on my way."

"Yeah, thanks." He starts texting on his phone "So, homecoming?"

"Oh yeah," I'd completely forgot "I'm sorry about Claire, you don't have to if you don't want to I'm sure you had better options."

"Why do you keep doing that?" Hayes looks up "Why do you keep making it seem like I'm too good for you?"

"Because that's what you do." I scoff "Yesterday, in the hall, with Nico, ring a bell?"

"Nico is really judgmental, I was trying to like save you from his harassment." He says. I roll my eyes "Is this where I thank you or something?"

"Do you honestly think I'm that shallow?" He smiles "Come on, like I honestly give a shit what these people think. Tell you what, come sit with me at lunch. It's not a problem."

"Sit with you, and like your friend? The friends that only know I exist when they need someone to make fun of?" I pull into the parking lot

"Oh come on, they're not all bad, just come sit with us, bring Claire for all I care. If we're going to go to Homecoming together we might as well become friends."

"Yeah, sure." I roll my eyes, it's not like he's serious. Come lunchtime, I'll be sitting with Claire at our secluded table in the back.

Hayes and I go our separate ways once we walk into the building. I make my way over to my locker, collecting my books for the first part of school.

"Her!" Genevieve screeches from a couple of lockers over. She looks over at me and dashes over "Hayes is taking you to homecoming?"

"I assume so." It comes out more like a question

"Why you, who are you anyways, I've never seen you before in my life." She rolls her eyes. False, we also grew up together, we were friends at one point even though she was still a spoiled brat.

"Vanessa Quin." Claire comes up behind me

"Doesn't matter, Hayes and I will be back together by homecoming so, better start looking for another date." She turns on her heals and walks away

I look across the hall and Hayes and his friends are staring. Hayes locks eyes with me and winks before walking away with his friends.

Just as I thought, come lunchtime I'm sitting at the corner table with Claire. I open up my chicken salad sandwich and potato chips. I jump in my seat when someone startles me from across the cafeteria. "Vanessa!" Hayes calls

Everyone looks over at me awaiting my response. I attempt to hide my face and continue eating in hopes that he'll give up and leave me alone.

When the cafeteria goes silent I can't bare to lift my head. A tray slaps down next to me, startling me a little bit.

I look at Claire who is looking at Hayes who is obviously sitting next to me. What I didn't expect when I look up is Nico and Landon.

"Hey." Hayes whispers next to my face.

"What are you doing." I groan

"Hey, I told you you had to sit with me." He bites into his burger

I turn completely to face him "Okay, you don't know me, and you don't want to know me. I-I-I read books on Friday nights and let my mom do my hair when i'm bored."

"Hey, I read, and my dad cuts of hair." He attempts to compare

"Not the same." I roll my eyes

"I've got it." he snaps his fingers "Nico's having a party this Friday, everyone's going, why not come?"

I hear a thud under the table and know that Nico kicked Hayes to get him to shut up. I roll my eyes and  take a bite out of my chicken sandwich. After a silent exchange they think I don't notice, Hayes turns back to me "So how about it."

"Come on Ness, just go." Claire sighs

"Yeah, yeah fine. Whatever." I groan

"Fantastic." Nico sighs

At the end of the day I drive down to Shelly's Diner to apply for a job. My mom used to work here part time while my dad was in the NFL, so I basically grew up here. I stopped coming here a while ago when it became popular because it was always crowded with people I didn't hang out with.

"Is that Vanessa Quin!" Marilyn leans over the counter. Marilyn is Shelly's daughter, Shelly died when I was younger and Marilyn kept the place opened. "Well I haven't seen you in about 20 years." She exaggerates

"More like 3 years Marilyn." I sit at the countertop.

"Well what do I owe this pleasure." She smiles, her tooth gap still evident.

"I need a job." I sigh

"Wow, another Quin working under me. You've got the job sweetheart, just get your papers and I don't see why you can't start Monday."

"Alright, thanks Marilyn." I smile and go back out to my car.

I go to the field when sports are out to pick up Claire. The football players get out before the cheerleaders and I spot Hayes and Nico coming out.

"Hey." He waves over at me before starting toward me.

"Hey what's up." I say

"Nothing much, a couple people were just going to chill at my house did you wanna come?" He offers

"Oh I don't know." I sigh

"Oh, come on. I need a ride anyways." He gets into the back seat. Claire comes out a few minutes later, and hops in the front seat. "Oh my god are you actually going to hang out with people." She squeals. I roll my eyes and pull out of the parking lot.

I pull up at Hayes house and park in the driveway, there are about five or six cars already there.

"Where are your parents?" I ask

"I don't know." He shrugs  and gets out. Claire follows him and I waddle behind.

It seems people have made themselves at home already