Being Brave

****Carmen's P.O.V.*****

The rest of the periods in the day slowly dragged on and on. I was thinking about skipping because math was killing me but then the bell rang for lunch. I was wlking to my locker when someone slammed right into me. " Watch were your going !" I said with a deadly glare. I saw a guy with glasses scrambling to pick up his papers. " Sssory I ddidn't mmean tto." He studdered. " Oh its ok I thought you were one of those obnoxious jocks or somehting." I said flahsing him my brightest smile. He looked at me and then a crooked smile appeared on his face.

" I'm Carmen, what's your name?" I asked there was something about this boy that made me nice to him intstead of my sarcastic self. Maybe it was because I know what it feels like to be picked on and he had the nerd look down. " I'm Caleb." He said with a little more confidence. I smiled and continued, " Hey Cale why, don't you come sit with me at lunch?" I asked He looked completely shocked and it made me smile. He was so freaking adorable, but definitely in a little brother sort of way.

" Are you sure, not many people like me, I'm kinda of a loser." He responded. I grabbed his arm and started to walk , but not before I noticed the small cuts going up his arm. Been there, done that.I thought. Iused to cut myself when I first saved my siblings but I eventually got over it and I intend on helping Cale soon. We made our way down the hall and towards the courtyard received the shocked stares and murmurs of the student body. I galnced over at Cale who seemed a little uncomfortable with the new found attention so I gave his hand a squeeze and walked him towards our group. 

My friends sat in their usual spot by the big tree in the back. I strutted towards them confidently and dragged Cale ,who looked pretty scared, behind me. " Guys, this is my new friend Cale." I said . They looked him up and down and smiled. Callie always the outgoing one, responded first ." Nice to meet you Cale and by the way I'm Cal." Callie said with a smirk on her face probably do to the similar names. " Nice to meet you, but do you mind if I called you Callie?" Caleb asked shyly. " No , but why? Callie asked sincerely curious.

" Because I think Callie is a beautiful name , that's why." Caleb continued with a little more confidence . Callie turned a slight tinge of pink before nodding. " I thought i was going to be your best friend." Oli whined playfully. I laughed and  said " Don't worry Oli , your still my best friend." He nodded and Caleb chuckled. The rest of the group introduced themselves and slipped into their usual conversation but included Cale. I noticed Callie sneaking peaks at Cale and I just smirked. I will be getting them together soon. " Getting who together?" Oli asked from across the table curiously.

They all turned to me and I cursed. " Aw damn I said that aloud." " Yeah you kinda did." Cale said with a laugh. I just shook my head and said. " My lips are sealed." Everyone laughed and returned to their converstaions. In the back of my mind was Cale's cuts and I made a mental note to ask him later. The bell rang and I wrote my number on Cale's arm so he could text me later. I made my way over to honors Social Studies with Oli by my side. He was telling me about a band that he's in.

Yeah, my bff is in a band and drum roll please........... he's the lead singer and guitarist. I promised to come see him play and we walked into Mr. McAllister's classroom. "Welcome to Honors Social Studies , today I'll be telling you about a project that counts for 25% of your final grade." He said getting straight to the point. Many kids groaned and one brave kid said " It's the beginning of the year why do we have to worry about final grades."

Mr. McAllister smirked and said, " This project will take all year so if you want to start late by all means go ahead." The class was finally silent and he continued. " I will assign each of you a topic and you will create a story and give an example in which this topic is demonstarted. The topics will be picked out of a hat and wiil be things such as Freedom, Democracy, Citizenship, Honesty, Loyalty , Integriy and Intiative. Do you understand?" he finished and everyone nodded.

" Ok, Alyssa and Michael , Randy and Lilah, Elizabeth and Joey , Oliver and Courtney , Kristina and Jeremy, and finally Carmen and Derrick. Please sit with your partners." Oli shot me a quick look of sympathy as i made my way over to Derrick. He smirked and said " So, new girl you just couldn't get enough of me could you." " Yeah right , get over yourself." I snorted. Wow what a sucky comeback I really need to stop staring into his sexy eyes and----- wait he's a jerk forget it.

Mr. McAllister came around with the hat and Derrick nodded which I'm guessing meant I could pick the topic . I took a deep breath and reached in. Unfolding it , I read it out loud, " Honesty". Derrick nodded again looking into the distance while I sighed. Of course I get the one topic I don't want because the truth is that I'm never fully honest with anyone especially not myself.