What It Takes to Survive

Brielle         "Bye Mom! Later, Nugget!" I yell to both my mom, and to my little brother, Dylan, before I step onto the school bus. I look to my right and instantly regret it. Joshua White eating a girls mouth. I internally gag and find my best friend May. I sit next to her and my eyebrows shoot up. She's smiling at her phone like a lunatic...      "What are you smiling at?" May's eyes widen. I sense her praying that I don't find out about her staying up, talking to her boyfriend, Asher. Right, I have a 'special ability,' the doctors called it. I was one in twenty people born with it. My ability? Telepathy. I hate being able to read people's minds, but it does have it's perks, if you know what I mean. My eyebrows shoot up. Typical. "Asher?" She gasps and reaches over to hit me on the arm. And because of her conditioning for volleyball, it hurts like hell.      "Ow! What the f**k, dude!" I rub the spot where she hit it. She smirks and, before she can say anything else, thankfully, the bus stops and the bus driver yells at us to get off. We file off of the bus and onto the sidewalk. Joshua walks past me, his hand on the girls butt as they walk. Disgusting. Well, at least Adam isn't here. If he was, it probably wouldn't have ended so peacefully. I would have had to listen to him brag about getting picked for the 400 meter swim meet, which is a pretty big event. Damn it Adam, why do you have to be good at swimming, and just so happen become the team captain?!      As May and I walk down the hallway, I remember something. "May, I'm hungry," I whine. She rolls her eyes and continues. I continue pleading, being the annoying human being I am. She finally gives in with an eyeroll. "Fine, we can grab something at the cafeteria. But I'm not going to pay for you. Grow up and be responsible." I sigh.      A few minutes later, I'm sitting peacefully in the cafeteria, eating one of two breakfast burritos that I bought. I'm about to take another bite out of the one in my hand, when an unfamiliar hand reaches out and snatches my uneaten burrito. I gasp and whip my head towards the person who stole my food.      "Adam Kim, you asshole!" He smirks and takes a bite out of the burrito. May looks up from her phone and stands with her hand on her hip. Slowly, he stands and places the burrito back down into it's wrapper. He looks like he's going to leave, but he bends down instead. "I'll see you in class..." I start blushing, at not what he said, but at how close he was. I could feel his lips brushing against my ear. He finally leaves, of course, winking first.      "Jesus, that guy has some serious problems. What'd he say to turn you into a tomato?" I ignore her, losing my appetite, and stand, gathering my trash. I throw them away, May following behind as she starts talking on the phone. As I'm about to leave, I get the feeling that someone is watching me. I turn and look around, only to meet Joshua's gaze, as he kisses another girl in his lap.       Ew, gross. Feeling a bit creeped out, I scrunch up my nose and turn away. I walk out with May, who tells me that she has to use the bathroom. Since I still have to grab my Math book, I tell her that I would meet her outside of the restrooms. We part ways, and I weave through the crowd of students to my locker.       After grabbing my book, I'm on my way to meet May, but bump into someone. Ouch... Not caring who it is, I mutter an apology before I start walking away, only to get pulled back. I look up and my eyes widen. Hell no...      The son of a female dog has the balls to drag me to the soccer fields. "What do you want Cody?" I cross my arms over my chest, feeling uncomfortable.       "How long do I have to keep apologizing to you for? I've apologized for years now. Why won't you just f*****g forgive me, Brie?" I flinch at his tone of voice, but I don't let him notice. He continues to stare at me with his dark eyes, waiting for an answer.      "How do you expect me to forgive you that easy, Cody? Almost everyday at school, you tormented me!" Frustrated, I tug at my hair to hold back my tears. He has no idea how I felt when he did that. For almost five years of my life...      Thankfully, the bell rings, saving me from yelling at him further. With blurry vision, I make it to the classroom. Sadly, Cody follows, since we have homeroom together. When I walk into the classroom, Adam raises his eyebrows at me, while Josh looks like he's about to laugh.      And yes, they're also in my homeroom... I sit down in my usual spot, which is conveniently next Adam and the window. At least, that'll distract me. Ignoring the weird looks I'm getting from Adam and Joshua who's in the row in front of me, I stare out the window.