The Edge of Creation

New Kids

      I arrive at home in 10 minutes and walk through the front door. I smell the fresh scent of meatloaf and mashed potatoes... my favorite. I messaged my mom I was coming home early because of D-Drama. She knew what I meant and I guess she assumed I hadn’t eaten lunch. She assumed right. I toss my back pack on the couch and make my way to the kitchen to find my mom setting up the plates of food for us. 

      “Mmmm smells good mom” 

      “I know. Help me get things to the table” I grab the bowl of mashed potatoes and the one with gravy in it and I walk to the dining room behind my mother. Once we began to eat, everything just kind of fell into place. Like it did every night. We chatted about my day at school and her day at work, then we talked about upcoming events and my birthday since it was a little less then a month away. Then I helped her clean up and departed to my room for the rest of the day. 

     I sat on my bed doing homework, thinking about what I’m eventually going to do about Derick. No matter what, I still loved him... but I couldn’t just forgive him for what he put me through. 

     As I continued with my work and my thoughts, an uneasy feeling came over me. I felt eyes on me.. watching me.. I glanced around my room and didn’t see anything. I didn’t know why I thought I would but I guess it made me feel better knowing I was alone in my personal space. Although seeing I’m alone and feeling that I’m not just made my nerves go haywire. 

     I peeked over to my window thinking maybe some cat had decided it would be cool to watch me from outside. But to my disappointment I saw no cat. Nor did I see anything else. 

     “Nope” I said to myself and scurried out of my room into the living area to watch TV with my mom. I felt much better sitting next to her and no longer felt the uncomfortable presence of somebody or something watching me. 

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    The next day I woke up 30 minutes before I had to be at school. I fell asleep on the couch last night and my mom woke me up around midnight and walked me to my room. I was half asleep and so exhausted that I just smacked face first on my bed and fell right back asleep. 

      As I looked at my alarm which I guess had been going off for over an hour now I groaned and threw myself off my bed. I dragged my body to the bathroom and quickly took a shower before dressing in some comfortable clothes. I’m not one to dress to empress. Don’t get me wrong. I love getting all cute and fancy but I would rather dress according to my own liking than to everybody else’s. And today. My liking consist of jeans and a  “Panic At The Disco” t-shirt. 

      I made my way down to the kitchen to grab a cereal bar and my keys. I saw the note on the counter that read,

    “Be back tomorrow evening. Running a couple towns over for a client visit. Xoxo.” 

     I sighed at the note and left through the front door to my car. 

     When I arrived at school guess who the first person I was greeted by was. 

    “Am.G, I know you’re still upset with me but at least let me try to make it up to you..” Will the squeaking never end!? I block him out and head toward the doors of the school. I was then greeted by a more pleasant person. 

     “Hey girl. You gotta mouse following you around. Want me to take care of it?” Kyla says loud and proud glaring at Derick. I winced, expecting to look up and see never ending eyes on us. But to my surprise there were none. Almost like nobody even heard Kyla practically scream with her loud voice. Her more likely they just didn’t care. Everybody seemed distracted by something else. Or better yet, someone else. Actually.. several someone’s. A group of teenagers walked out of the front office chatting with each other, holding papers in their hands. I’m guess they’re new? So many kids at once though... that’s weird. 

    I was observing them with the rest of the school. Not particularly caring about them being new but more interested to know why they all came at one time and by the look of it, together. When suddenly everything got quiet. I pulled myself out of my thoughts and realized everybody was looking over at me. Did Kyla yell again? I didn’t hear or say anything.. confusion was written all over my face when I finally realized why everybody was looking at me. Those new kids. All of them. We’re waving at me. Like they had known me all my life and were my best friends. What the f**k. Maybe they were waving at somebody else? I glance behind me to see if that theory was true but there was nobody behind me. Not even Derick or Kyla. Again. What the f**k. When I turn back around the group was already headed in the opposite direction. I’m assuming to check out their classes. 

      “Do you know them?” Kyla asked me a little confused herself. 

       “No...” 

       “Hmmm. Weird. Maybe they thought you were somebody else?” 

         “Yeah. Probably” With that we began walking off to first period. Once we got to my class we separated. Derick and Kyla both had English while I had History. Derick said a quick, “I’ll see you later Am.G, maybe we can talk some more..” and Kyla just rolled her eyes and game me a wide smile to let me know she was going to give Derick hell their entire class. I smirked at that. 

      I was sitting in my seat drawing invisible picture on my desk with my finger. Secretly listening to the conversations around me, waiting for the bell to signal class was starting. Then everything went silent again. What is it with sudden and awkward silences today? I look up to see a stranger standing at the front of the classroom. He had dark brown hair, light green eyes and I small dimple in his left cheek. He was smiling at the class. We was pretty tall, maybe 6’2”? He was lean but also built like a football player. Not too shabby.  

       While I took in his features I couldn’t help that he looked quite familiar... then it hit me. He’s one of the new kids from earlier. I quickly put my head down hoping he wouldn’t see me. It’s embarrassing enough he thought he knew me, how embarrassing would it be once he realized he really didn’t!? Gosh just kill me now. Finally the teacher came in the room and began to introduce the guy. 

        “Class, this is Mr.Evans and today is his first day. Make him feel welcome and comfortable. Mr. Evans.” 

        “Hi! So my name is Kris Evans and I just moved here with some of my family. We all start here today and are really excited to get things going!” He said that way too enthusiastically I thought. Keeping my head down I heard the teacher, Mr.Noris, telling him where to sit. I began to think about the few empty seats we had in the classroom and hoped that out of all of them he didn’t get seated next to mine... OH! Just my luck. 

       “Hi there!” Kris said with a big smile on his face. 

        “Huh? Oh! Ello! I ditn’t see ya theh. Haha...” What. The. Actually. s**t. Why am I like this? Fun fact. When I get nervous, I talk in a British accent. Which is what I am doing right now. Why am I nervous? Who the f**k knows. The worst thing that could have happened was this kids would be disappointed I’m not the someone they thought I was. But my overthinking skills are on point! And I freaked out worried he would shun me for not being somebody else and the entire population would hate me for upsetting the new people in town. 

       He looked a little taken back but then asked, “Are you really British?” Excuse me? Is this him judging me because I might actually be British? What did the British people every do to this guy!? Whatever. I took a deep breath and sighed. 

         “No.. I just got a little nervous. You’re new and I would like to be friendly toward you and the rest of your family. I just tend to be awkward sometimes...” 

        “Oh I see. Well don’t worry I won’t judge. I can be a little awkward too.” He said with a small but reassuring smile. With that class began and we would chat a little when Mr.Noris wasn’t paying attention. He didn’t bring up this morning which was a little weird but made me feel a little better about it. Maybe he forgot? 

    Right before the bell rang and we were getting our things together he asked me, 

       “Would you like to have lunch with me and my family?” I was a little shook at his words.. then I remembered that the others who came today were his family and I realized what he meant. 

       “Sure. As long as my friend Kyla can join too?”

        “Of course! I’ll see you then.” He smiled and then we walked out before going our separate ways. I only had a couple classes before lunch and one of them was my study hall. Oh gosh. Study hall. That means he’ll be looking for me. Ugh. I’ll just have to think about where a good hiding place would be. I head to my next class which was Math. And decided I’ll figure out in there where I’ll be running off to for an hour after that class ends.