the outsider

'𝑑𝑒𝑡𝑒𝑛𝑡𝑖𝑜𝑛'

𝑓𝑜𝑢𝑟 : 𝑎𝑛𝑛𝑖𝑒
"so, the new kid?" kenzie asks as i flip my locker open, piling my books into my bag.
I wasn't planning on doing the homework i had, but just in case. i never know how long i could have to stay in my room for and if i'm stuck in there a long time, I may as well get something done.
"hayden? what about him?" i ask, a devilish smirk peeling onto her lips.
kenzie was my only friend beside caleb, not that it bothered me remotely.
i was more of a lone wolf up until sophomore year, when kenzie was kicked off of her throne. believe it or not, she used to be one of the most popular girls in school. that was until she came out.
no one really had a problem with it, apart from her boyfriend at the time of course. he wasn't open to the fact his girlfriend liked girls and spread petty rumours.
they might have just been rumours but there's something poisonous about highschool ones, they were more deadly than regular ones. they had the power to destroy everything you'd built for yourself, like kenzie had cruelly found out. thankfully for her, it was quickly discovered they were merely just rumours and kenzie got her life and friends back pretty quickly.
however, she and i bonded in those two dark months and i guess she chose to stick around. she still spoke and hung out with her other friends, but for whatever reason, she insisted on sitting with me at lunch.
"i don't know why you're looking at me like that for" i scoff, slamming my locker shut a little harder than intended.
"i'm just saying. i saw you helping him out at lunch and you don't help people"
she was right. i don't.
i shrug.
"caleb made me"
she laughs in disbelief as we begin walking down the halls and towards miss dutton's class, for detention.
as far as teacher's go, most of mine think i'm a lazy kid who occasionally manages to pull it out of the bag. unfortunately this leads to a misconception that i'm 'wasting my potential'. they seem to think i'm a smart kid who just doesn't try. after countless talks with countless teachers, they eventually run out of sympathy and revert to detention, which truthfully i didn't mind. anything to stay out of the house for a little longer.
"annie, you and i both know you have more control over your brother than he does over a pen" kenzie pointed out.
i silently cursed her. she knew me too well.
"i wouldn't call it control" i say defensively.
caleb and i both love each other a lot, but we're very different. while he's busy playing football and keeping his grades up, i'm locked in my room, drowning in my thoughts and feelings.
"okay maybe that was the wrong word, but you know what i mean. he does anything for anyone"
she was right. caleb and i have our differences, but the biggest one? he cares. he cares about other people and making a difference. i don't.
he's a good person. i'm not. and i'm fine with that.
"whatever. hayley forgot an important project at home and caleb had to run her home, leaving me with him"
kenzie nods, unconvinced.
"that's it" i reinforce.
"whatever you say" she grins as we reach miss dutton's class.
[...]
"are you kidding me?" i mutter, lurking at the school entrance as i watch the rain hammer down. i picked a bad day to piss off miss brian.
it was a twenty minute walk home and in this weather it didn't appeal. the thought of calling caleb or kenzie crossed my mind but i came to the conclusion it's better to buy myself time and be wet.
after ten minutes of hoping the rain would miraculously clear, i realise my chances are slim and begin my walk home.
after being splashed by almost every car that passed, one came to a hault beside the pavement at a red light.
naturally, i glance over to the driver. big mistake. just my luck, hayden summerall. i didn't need a second glance to ensure it was him. i don't think anyone could forget a boy with a pair of eyes like his and such wild curls.
"hey, you need a ride?" taylor says, a lob sided smile taking place across his cheeks. this kid reeked of rainbows and smiles.
i shake my head, continuing to stride through the puddles. he drives his car slowly beside me.
"it's the least i could do after you helped me today" he insists.
i roll my eyes to the back of my head. i was really starting to regret that.
"i'm good" i insist, fighting off the shivers that ran through my spine.
and of course then thunder decides to strike in the distance, cutting me short.
"one last chance gracie. three, two..." he pauses, as i debate wether it's worth it, "one"
he seems almost surprised at my silence.
"wow i guess you really want to freeze huh?"
the calls of my frozen fingers and clattering teeth can no longer be ignored. i was going to regret this.
"fine. open the car" i cave in.
"is that a please?"
"open the fucking car" i growl. he listens, clicking the door open almost instantly.
"jesus, it's cold out there" he mutters as i climb in and shut the door behind me. i scowl. he wasn't the one who had just spent ten minutes walking in that cold.
he shifts closer to the passenger's side of the car, reaching over the gears and i panic.
"woah what was that?" he grumbles in response to me shoving him back to his side of the car.
"did you really offer me a ride home to try and kiss me?" i growl, the first excuse sprouting to mind.
his brows furrow and his mouth almost drops open I'm disbelief.
"no! of course not! i was getting a blanket because you were shivering" he explains, slowly leaning back over the gears and pulling through the maroon blanket.
"see?" he says, settling the blanket over my lap. i should say sorry. but i don't. i don't say sorry in general and he's not special. his hazel coloured eyes would beg to differ.
"whatever, take a left down this street and then I'll tell you when to make a right" i say, snapping myself out of it.
"alright bossy"