The Cub in the Water

SOMEBODY LIKE YOU

Around all this mess, things at school weren't half bad. I was happy because most of my friends had the same schedule as me and our teachers seemed cool. Besides, after everything that had happened, school became some sort of a safe place. I felt happier and safer there than at home. I loved spending time with my friends and so I made up excuses to stay late and hang with the people who were into extracurricular activities and clubs.

One of those people was Rox. Even though she was a graduate student at the time, she managed to still be part of the school's dancing program. Thanks to that I got to see her almost every day after classes. Most of the times we saw each other when she arrived at school and after her class. And there were also times when I had nothing to do in school or everyone else had gone home, that she took me with her to practice.

The team was filled with students of all ages. Anyone in middle school or high school could join. They were all amazing dancers and most of them were nice people, outgoing and cool. They started to identify me as Rox's pal, and they greeted me every time we spotted each other at school. Meeting new people that didn't know about the last few years of my life story made me feel good. It kind of took some of the pressure off my shoulders.

Most of them became no more than acquaintances. I hung out with them from time to time but there was no friendship developing there. It wasn't until one day when Rox and I found a browned wavy hair girl waiting for the rest of the team, that everything changed.

"Hey, Callie. How are you?" Rox said.

She turned her eyes away from her book and with a big rather unusual smile, returned the hello.

"I don't remember if I've introduced you two before. Mia this is Callie, Callie this is Mia," Rox said looking at us.

"Yes, I've seen you around. How are you? It is nice to finally meet you," Callie said smiling.

She was a rare specimen. I've never seen anyone smile like that at everyone. I've never seen anyone be nice to another person just because they are standing right there. I mean who does that, seriously? You don't come across that sort of people often and especially not in middle school where you are surrounded by moody hormonal teenagers.

She was different.

"Hi, nice to meet you too." I was a little weirded out by her smile. "What grade are you in?" I asked trying to place her among the rest of the middle school students.

"I'm in 7th grade. You are in 8th, right? You take English with Mr. Riordan."

"Omm... yeah." 'How does she know that? I thought.

Their coach arrived. "Nice to meet you," I said to Callie.

"I hope I'll see you around," she said a bit too excited.

She caught me off guard. I answered back with the most awkward smile I could pull off. I didn't expect her to say that. We talked for about two seconds and she is eager to meet up again, why? I walked out of there thinking, 'Wow that girl is weird. She is different. I like her,' I smiled to myself.

A few days later she spotted sitting under the tree that was just outside the girl's bathroom. It was one of those days when it all had been too much. I was feeling overwhelmed. I asked to go to the bathroom to clear my head. I needed to shed a tear or two where no one could see me and then carry on. I sat at the tree and let it all out.

I was drying my tears with my sleeves when, "Oh, Mia. What's wrong?" she sneaked up on me.

"Jesus! You scared me!" I managed to laugh a little.