CHAPTER ONE; TRANSFER STUDENTS.
“Please stop, I am claustrophobic,” I plead for the third time but they just laugh. As they stuff me in a box and close it off with tape. “I can’t believe he fits in a box,” I hear Mike say. “Told you he would,” Randy says boastfully. “Please God, don’t let their faces be the last thing I see,” I am starting to feel out of air. But I haven’t been here that long, so it is probably just a panic attack. I hate my panic attacks and a little bit myself. “We’ll be late for class,” Alex says. “Should we just leave him there?” Mike asks. “I don’t see why not.”
No one speaks for five minutes so I assume they are gone already. “HELP!” I scream at the top of my lungs. “HELP! HELP! HELP!” Now I am really running out of air. Just then I hear footsteps approaching. I start knocking on the box. I hear the tape being unsealed on the top. “Henry, what are you doing in there?” It is the principal accompanied by five new students and who I assume are their parents. “Nothing madam principal,” I say and look down embarrassed.
“Did Randy and his friends do this?” She asks, clearly concerned. “No, I was just hiding, so I wouldn’t have to go to biology,” I say, forcing a smile. She clearly doesn’t believe me, but the last time I reported them, they increased their torture. “Are you lying to me, Henry?” I hate that every one of the new students and their parents are all looking at me, some seem amused, others seem to pity me. Only one of them looks bored. “No ma’am,” I say lightly. “Okay. Run to class, but this conversation isn’t over.
“You know the drill, Henry. You come to class late you sit closest to me,” Mr. Matthews, the biology teacher, says as soon as I get to class. The rest of the students snicker like it’s a punishment of some sort. Why would I like to sit near my bullies and their girlfriends of the month. Mr. Matthews is a good teacher. He is honestly one of my favorites. The lesson is almost over when two of the new students I had seen in the gym get in accompanied by the principal.
“Excuse me, Mr. Matthews, we have new students. Let them introduce themselves,” she says, signaling for both of them to come to the front of the class. They are both obviously jocks. Immediately they are in front, the girls gasp followed by whispers. They look like they are already used to such reactions. I am a guy, and even I see they have extraordinary looks. “I am Brandon,” the blonde one says. “Hey handsome, want to come sit with me?” Tamara, one of the popular girls says. “I’d prefer not to,” he says, and everyone cheers. He moves a step back, so the other kid may speak.
“I am Zack. Nice seeing you again,” he says, giving me the warmest smile I have ever seen. I blush and look down at my notes. The other students start whispering. “Settle down,” Mr. Matthews says. “Where do you want to sit?” He asks both of them and just then the bell rings. “I guess we will get acquitted in our next class,” he says, taking his books and walking out. “Hey handsome, as good-looking as you might be no one talks to me like that,” Tamara says approaching Brandon. “Someone should,” he says. “This is my school. Be careful who you make your enemies,” she walks away so pissed.
I wish I had the guts to piss her off. I start putting my books together when five girls surround my desk. “Hey, how do you know them?” One of them asks and the rest look at me eagerly waiting for the answer. “I just met them,” I answer and look up at them. They are talking, and I swear they both looked at me. I feel like my bullies have just increased in number. They already know I am easy prey. I try and take off, but the girls won’t let me.
“But Zack said it was nice to see you again,” another one says, and they all nod in agreement. “We honestly just met,” I say, exhausted. “At least give us their number,” another one pleads. Just as I am about to say that I don’t have their numbers, I see both of them approaching us. “They’re walking towards here, ask them yourself,” I start thinking of an escape plan. The girls are all over them and I take that opportunity and run off.
I walk with my head down trying not to attract attention. I put my books in the locker. “Hey Henry,” it’s my best friend, well my only friend in school. “Hi,” I say without looking at him. “Are you mad that I left you on your own?” He asks, giving me his puppy dog eyes. “Of course not. You needed to pee, plus you couldn’t have known,” I say closing my locker, and we start walking down the hallway. “But still I shouldn’t have left you alone,” he’s clearly feeling guilty, but he’s almost as small as me.
I can’t see what’s going on, but people are moving to the side. That is when I see them, the new students. The one who looked bored before is in the middle with Zack and Brandon on his right side and the other two on his other side. They are walking like they are oblivious to anyone else but themselves. Everyone is staring some with their jaws open. They seem to have a weird effect on people, myself included.
The closer they get, the more mesmerizing they get. That is when the one in the middle looks at where Tim and I are standing and our eyes meet. I want to look away but find it impossible to. He looks serious and somehow like he is mad. As soon as they have passed, I make a mental note to avoid him. “Damn, I wish I looked even half as good as they do,” Tim says as we start walking again into the cafeteria.
The cafeteria is full like always. We sit at the farthest table from Randy and his friends. The new kids sit near the only window in the cafeteria. Everyone keeps stealing glances at them. “How do you think they feel being new and already the most popular kids,” Tim asks, looking at them. “Exhausted,” I say, feeling weirdly pitiful towards them. “I think they feel like gods,” Tim says, and I let out a small laugh hoping he drops the conversation. “I just hope they stay away from us,” I say looking at them in time to see the ‘bored one’ looking at me. I have to know his name somehow.
“Hey, he’s alive,” Mike says, approaching our table accompanied by Randy and Alex. “Maybe he has nine lives like a cat,” Alex says before opening his milk box and pouring it all over my food. “Drink up kitty cat,” he says, and they all stare. I am allergic to dairy. “We don’t have all day,” Randy says, putting his food tray on the table. Twice in one day. “Are you looking down on my generosity, Henry?” Alex asks. “No, I am allergic,” I whisper. “That is why you don’t grow tall, you should really try it,” Randy says, faking a smile. "What the hell?" I think as I take a big gulp of the milk. They start walking away just as my throat starts closing.
