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Chapter 5: Things Have Changed

School the next day. Was hell. The stares I received all day long made me feel extremely insecure. People bumped me and hit me. Saying things like "slut" and "whore" as I went through the halls.

The only people who backed me up all day were Katerina and Emily. My only friends. I couldn't bear to look at Zane all day. His eyes would daze into my soul so suddenly it would make me want to weep. So today, I couldn't bring myself to look at him.

But someone's looks wouldn't break. I don't know who she was, but she looked younger than me. A year or 2. She was really cute. Bright, luminous green eyes. Small rose cheeks, and a bob of explosive olive black colored hair. She was flat chested and short, but extremely skinny. Her braced teeth reminded me of Emily's. The last thing I noticed was her perfectly arched eyebrows. A breath-taking thing, she was.

Why was she staring at me, though? I didn't know why she was, nor who she was. But whatever the reason, she wasn't like the rest. The mystery girl was smiling at me. A nice, sweet smile.

After class was over, and I had packed up my binder, notebook, and pencil. I was on my way to exit the room, before the mystery girl approached me. She grinned and held out her hand.

"Hello! My name is Vienna! It's a pleasure to meet you, Senior!"

Vienna thrusted her hand out in front of me again. Persistent to receive a handshake from me. I finally volunteered my palm and slowly moved it. Then bringing the hand back to my side and wiping it on my jeans.

Senior? This was a new term, but it made it obvious that Vienna was a 6th grader here. Not to mention she looked like one to. Vienna seemed to admire me. The way she stares, the way she talks, and way she even acts around me is formal and proper. She can't seem to believe that I'm a normal human being to here.

Once lunch arrived, I assembled with my friends. Emily, Katerina, Lillian, Avalin, Ellee, and my new worshiper, Vienna.

We weren't a very attractive group. A Starbucks-binger, cowgirl, pop media addict, tech-savvy mega geek, queen of girls, an obsessive 6th grader, and me, an emo self-destructive loser. But we all got together excellently.

People still stared. I tried hiding my face to stray attention away from the group. But it didn't work. Girls pointed and giggled. Boys poked each other in the ribs with their elbows while betting how much I "cost."

My friends looked at me with worried looks, but I just returned a happy smile and spoke "I'm fine, don't worry." And they returned to their conversations. Emily was copying answers for science homework off of Ava. Katerina was painting her nails. Lilly was reading a "Teen Popz" magazine. Ellee was brushing her hair out while texting. Vienna was eating a cup-of-noodle and staring at me. I was picking at a scab on my left thigh. I got it off and blood bubbled out. My lips quirked up in a small smile; as I put my finger to the blood, dipped it in, and licked it off.

I could feel eyes beaming at me. But I ignored it, ignored everything when I heard that voice. I had to be chill when she was around, Pandora.

My eyes welled up with water.

My friends surrounded me. Shaking me, saying my name, holding my hands. I was unresponsive, my head put down, quiet transparent drops falling onto the pavement. I caught Pandoras attention. She pushed her friends away and ran to my side. Wrapping her frail arms around my shoulders and cradling me. Patting my back and saying 'it's all going to be okay', in a calm and soothing voice.

This just made me cry more.

I shoved my knees into my head and rocked back and fourth. Whispering prayers as my head became light. The world started spinning in a nauseating circle. My eyelids became heavy, and I heard high-pitched ringing in my ears. I finally gave in and closed my eyes, exhaling and passing out.