Strings Attached

Chapter Three

I felt bad for telling Louise that Henry was not different from the rest of the guys in our school, but she was my only friend, and I was not going to let anyone hurt her. I had to protect her because, in this school full of judgmental and gossiping people, we only had one another.

We arrived at the cafeteria, and we sat down at our usual table. I noticed that Theodore was sitting a couple of tables ahead. He was sitting with the girls in the dance team, and one of them seemed to be flirting with him. He simply ate his lunch and said something to the girl every now and then, but he did not look as though he were flirting. Either he was completely oblivious to the girl's attempt to flirt, or he was not interested whatsoever.

"There's a new kid," said Louise, staring at Theodore. It was the first thing that she had said since we arrived.

"So I see," I said, pretending not to know who he was. I instantly felt bad, so I decided to tell Louise about Theodore's staying with us. I took a deep breath. "He is staying at my house."

Louise tilted her head. "What?" she asked.

I sighed. "He's my mom's charity project, I assume. His parents didn't want him around anymore, so he left his house. My mom took him in, and he is staying in my room. Talk about misfortune."

Louise smiled. "I think that's very kind of your mom. Nobody likes to help others anymore."

"Do you really think so?" I asked.

"Yeah. Poor boy. Not even his parents wanted him. That must suck, don't you think?"

"Maybe he did something really bad and that's why his parents didn't want him around. Maybe he robbed a bank!" I exclaimed.

"He'd be in jail if that were the case," Louise said. "Besides, perhaps his parents just were assholes, and they didn't love him."

"Not all parents are assholes," I said. "Not all parents are my dad."

Louise shrugged. "You never know." She took a bite of her burger and wrinkled her nose. "This doesn't taste like meat."

"Maybe it isn't." I said.

Louise smiled. "Not everything is what it looks like."

I turned to see Theodore and nodded. "You're very right."

***

"How was school?" asked Mom as I entered the house.

"Good, I suppose," I said.

"Where's Theo?" she asked.

"He insisted on walking again. Said he wanted to lose weight," I told her. "It smells delicious!"

"Thank you, dear," she said. "It's broccoli soup with cheese."

"Sounds great," I told her. "I'll go take a bath. I had P.E. today, and I feel all sweaty and nasty."

"Okay," said Mom. "Please tell Brianna to come eat once you're done."

I nodded and rushed upstairs. I knocked on the bathroom's door, and I was surprised to hear Brianna saying, "Not available!"

I sighed. "Bri, I need to use the bathroom!"

"Sorry! I came in first!"

"Are we seriously having the same fight as yesterday?" I asked. "Please, Bri. Hurry up!"

"I haven't healed!" she exclaimed. "My stomach still hurts as heck, and I am regretting eating that papaya more than I have ever regretted anything in my life!"

"The effect should've worn out by now!" I remarked.

"Maybe... If I hadn't eaten another one last night!"