The rest of the morning was a blur and I was hungry by the time I reached the cafeteria. I got my food from the vendor without any stress and sat at an isolated table at the back of the room. The truth is that I feel nervous. Being in the midst of these big kids, though I'm not short also but I'm just fourteen. I just can't help but feel younger. Like i do not belong here. I fixed my ear pods to my ear, trying hard to concentrate. I barely ate, a vague feeling of first-day nausea was still within me. I always expected school to be like this, even worse. I closed my eyes , tried to change my line of thought. I thought of my new home, Sylvia and her perfection, my nausea worsened. Her perfectionism is so overwhelming. I breathed deeply, willing myself to focus on something, anything good in my life.
“Newbie ”
I jumped.
Standing over, tray in one hand and her phone in the other, was a girl. Tall, beautiful and had a brown pony tailed hair. She had a stylish posture.
“Mind if I join you? ” Her voice sounded like one of the playful bunnies I've watched in cartoons.
“ yes-- I mean no” I said, flustered.
Idiot, stop acting nervous. I thought.
She sat across the table. “ I'm Polly ” she looked so much full of energy.
“ Katty ” I smiled slyly. " I'm Katty."
" Nice name. Kat...ty" I watched as my name played around her tongue. “ So, how's your first day?”
From her look and dismeanor, I could tell who she was. A sanguine, talks a lot, loves to associate, kind of a gossiper. I read her thoughts , it was plain, random, clumsy. She was thinking too fast, from one line of thought to another.
“ Not what I expected ” I took a sip of my soda. Trying to avoid eye contacts.
“ Is it boring here? " I was about to speak but she seemed to be answering herself. "Fine, it's a private school and we're few. We can't have all the highschool fun but it's real fun here too, we're trying. Aren't we? We... ”
“yeah...” I had to stop her. Gush! She talks too much and too fast. I wonder if she breathes while talking. “ It's not boring, it's just…”
“Yeah, I understand” She chuckled interrupting me again. “You got the most handsome guy in school on a first day. How lucky…”
Annoying…
“ I don't understand” I arched a brow.
“Joel, the guy who offered you a seat ”
Oh, his name is Joel. I tried not to blush.
“ I never meant to ”
“ I know, that guy's a big freak. He's every girl's dream guy but he loves to be alone. He can be a bully sometimes but I rarely see him with anyone. He's always been my crush, and he still is, but he likes you cause… I don't know but…”
Oh my God! She talks a lot.
I sighed. “ How do you know all these? ”
She swerved on the chair and winked. She's been acting like a doll since. “ Look Katty, I'm the most attractive girl in this school and a very friendly one. I know everyone and I know that Joel has never been nice to anyone. He broke his record by offering you his seat. It's weird and the look on his face…”
I was blushing already and in some way I felt stupid.
“ Nice then ”
“ Well, Joel's not bad though people perceive him dangerous. I get scared of him sometimes. He's very aggressive and he talks to himself most of the time. He has this dark aura always around him. I guess he's lonely. In fact, he's a loner, a very good one...”
Enough, I have to stop her.
“ Can we please stop this stuff about Joel? ” I pleaded.
" Don't you like him or are you trying to say you didn't notice how handsome he is?"
"I do not know him." I said as a matter of fact. " And I'll appreciate it if you stop talking about him."
She chuckled. “ Fine little miss, better be careful now that you have a lot of haters. Watch your back cause most girls are mad at you. Believe every word I say."
Wow! Haters? I've done nothing wrong or have I?
“ Thinking? ” Polly asked while glaring at me.
“ Yes-- I mean no” I sounded more confused than I was.
“ Thinking about what exactly? You're just a young girl. Don't think too much, just live.
Nice, worth a good friend. I'm happy to have you Polly.
“ I wasn't thinking ”
“ whatever, you have Polly now so I'll always keep you updated. You don't have to worry about haters."
“ Alright, thanks. I really don't give a shit 'bout haters”
Damn! I never meant to sound like that but she made me free.
The bell rang and we went back to class. I scanned the room for Joel but he was nowhere in sight. I just wanted to see him one more time before school closes to... read his thought. My bad habit.