Rising Up

Two

    I wake up thinking to myself maybe I was right.  Maybe I should keep to myself like I normally do.  I don't even know why I wanted to have friends.  I take it back I know exactly why I want friends. I am lonely. I am tired of keeping to myself all the time.  I shake my head to clear my thoughts and remind myself that I need to find my determination again. When I am done giving myself a pep talk I get ready and go to school. 

    It's Tuesday so my first class is chemistry which sucks not because I don't like chemistry or anything.  I just don't like how the class makes me feel like I am the dumbest person in the room.  I decide to work on the current assignment about chemical nomenclature. I look around the room to see that everyone in the class appears to have paired off. Each person having some else to talk to. Finally class is over. I walk quickly to my next class which is math.  The class go by quickly for me because I found myself sleeping through most of it. I am happy to find it is now lunch time. I begin to heading toward the hallway outside of the gym to find a quiet place to read. 

    When I turn the corner to the hallway I have to duck to avoid running into two guys who are doing their bro handshake greeting thing. I hate it when guys do that right in the middle of the hallway like really can't you guys at least stand to the side of the hall. I sigh before sliding down to sit on the ground with my back against the wall. I pick my backpack off the ground and start going through it debating on if I should read or do homework. While I am still hunting through my bag I hear somebody saying hey near me. I am about to ignore it until I hear them say it a second time. I look quickly over to the left and right but see nobody which is weird. Finally, I look right in front of me to see a guy standing a little bit away from me. I am about to look back down realizing that there is no way that he was talking to me. 

    "Hey" he says again this time I know he is talking to me.

    "Umm..hello. Am I in your way?" I ask in a quiet voice. 

    "No you are fine. I just wanted to say sorry for earlier." the guy says to me. I am surprised by his response. Normally, the guys would have just kept on walking they wouldn't stop to acknowledge what happened. 

    "It's alright. It was my fault for not stopping. Thanks for apologizing." I respond finding heat rushing to my face because I am nervous. 

    "Do you mind if I sit next to you?"     

    "No, I don't." 

    "My name is Brian by the way. What is your name?" he asked now sitting next to me. I turn to the right to look at him. I notice that he is really good looking.  He has black hair that he keeps short. His eyes are hazel and he has to look down at me because of how tall he is. He must be at least six feet. I have to pull my eyes away from him to keep myself from staring. 

    "Nice to meet you.  My name is Aubrey." I answered. Brian then begins laughing. I look at him again now embarrassed. "Umm well I am going to go sorry for bothering you." I say now about to get up and flee this conversation. 

    "Don't go. I am sorry for laughing." he says. I look at him then decide to stay. "What grade are you in?" he asks. 

    "I am a junior. What about you?" 

    "Nice! I am a junior too. Are you on lunch right now?" 

    "No, I am just skipping class." He makes a face as if he is shocked. I start laughing a bit before saying, "I am kidding. Yes, it is my lunch right now." he chuckles a bit at that. 

    "Me too. Why are you sitting all the way over here? Do you not have lunch with your friends?" he asks me. I look down at his questions. I am not sure if I should answer him honestly or not. I don't want him to think I am weird or anything. Then again why do I care what he thinks he probably won't talk to me again. 

    "I don't have any friends so I spend my lunch time here reading." I tell him. 

    "Oh" he responds probably not sure what to say in response to me.

    "Why are you here and not with your friends?" I ask

    "I don't know honestly. I just felt bad for earlier and wanted to apologize." i could hear his sincerity in his voice making me feel bad about how rude I have been to him. 

    "I am sorry Brian for being rude. I am just not use to people talking to me unless they want something from me. I really am happy to meet you though." 

    "It's okay Aubrey. You know there is still thirty minutes left of lunch do you want to come sit with me and some of my friends?" 

    "I don't know...I am honestly not good with people." I say now flipping through the pages of my book. 

    "Come on please they are really nice. You don't have to stay for long." 

    "Okay I will" He smiles before getting up. I pack my things up and make sure to zip up my bag. When I am standing. I smile at him.  "Lead the way"