The Stories They Don't Want To Listen To.

"you're not even going to ask her why?"

One week later.

"you're not supposed to be in here" said my English teacher
She wasn't talking to me but I flinched.
The girl in front of her noticed but said nothing.
She looks familiar for some reason.
"Oh please Miss!! its my free period and the library..."
I stop listening and head on to my seat.
I've become quieter and pick at my food instead of eat it.

I don't like opening my mouth.

I brushed and rinsed my mouth with mouthwash and I chewed gum.
Nothing helps.

"Hey"
I turn to the voice. Its the girl.
"Are you okay?"  she asks. and unlike Shalewa has been doing she doesn't take my silence for an answer.
"are you good Maya?"
"I don't feel like talking" I whisper and scurry away.

Shalewa and Mazino are busy chittering and living in their own happy bubble.

"Oh hey M!! so Maz and I were talking and we want to go poking around the Home Ec block you up for some exploring?"

"No."

Maz gives Shalewa an 'I told you so' face.

I'd become a lot more distant but not enough to concern anyone.
Or so I thought.

"you're not even going to ask her why?" says the free period girl

"Wha-" Maz starts but FP girl doesn't let her get a word in.

"She's been declining your offers for a week and you just brush it off? She's paler and has got friggin bruises under her sleeves and I know you saw them when she stretched her paper over for you to copy. What kinda best friend are you?"

"I-i don't see how this is any of your business" Shalewa says and my head starts to hurt.

She noticed but didn't care!

I suddenly realize why FP girl looked so familiar.
She's been staring at me all week.

"Silence at the back!!"

Fp girl glares at my "friends" and tells me to see her during lunch.

I get to sit with the eighth graders. Whoopee.