Odd

Part Two

This is it. The last time I’ll see my mom for almost a year. I said goodbye calmly, while she sobbed.

            “Be safe. Learn a lot. Have fun!” My mom said, smiling through her tears. “Oh, and don’t talk to strangers!”

            “Mom. Come on.”

            “You’re right, sorry, sorry. I’ll stop. I’m just going to miss you so much.” My mom hugged me one last time, and this time when I hugged her back, tears starting to form in my eyes.

            I left after that. I was picked up by some government people and we flew to The Center of The Change. I was shown my room, it was in an apartment that held another room, a dining room, a living room, a kitchen, and two bathrooms. 

            “Why are there two bathrooms and two bedrooms?” I asked one of the government people. This wasn’t the standard apartment for one person. This wasn’t even the standard for two people, it was bigger and had more stuff.

            “Because you’re not staying here alone,” he answered, and then walked out before I could ask a follow up question.

            Who else could be staying with me? Scarlett? Would they allow that? My questions were soon answered as Scarlett walked through the door.

            “Oh, hi,” she says, looking surprised.

            “Hey, um, I guess we’re staying together.”

            “They allow that?” She asked as she set her bags down and walked over to the couch, sitting on the arm of the couch.

            “Apparently.” We stayed quiet for a few minutes, until I broke the silence. “So, Future Leaders . . .” I said awkwardly.

            “Yeah . . . you scared?”

            “More confused than scared. Why us?”

            “Because we are ‘The most promising’,” she mocked The Mayor.

            I laughed, “Oh, how could I forget? So, how come we never met before?”

            “Well, I don’t really have any friends. I know, I know, it’s pathetic.”

            I just stared at her. Her? No friends? She’s gorgeous, and funny. How is that even possible? “You, no friends? No way.”

            “No way? All I ever did was read and do school work.”

            “Seriously?” I asked, more shocked.

            “You can be done making fun of me now,” she replied, and she tilted her head down.

            “No, I’m not making fun of you! I’m exactly like you! That’s exactly what I did!”

            “What? Nu uh. Not possible. You’re tall, and handsome, and funny!” She just called me handsome, right? Or am I hearing things? My mom said I was ugly.

            “No one’s ever told you that?” I shook my head side to side. “Well,” she laughed, “I guess that’s what having no friend gets you.” I laughed with her, quietly at first, and then we ended up on the floor laughing harder than I ever have before. Is this friendship?