Safe

New People and Unwanted Attention

Hopefully my second week of school will be just as easy as the first week. The first five classes of the day were pretty simple. Nobody talk to me. Nobody said anything, however, the small group of cheerleaders that used to give me a lot of shit kept showing up everywhere. I started noticing them places so I didn't notice them before. Only one weekend they're already starting to show up.

"Sky! Hey! How's your mom?"

"Fuck off."

The group of 4 girls leaning against some lockers called out to me. I tried to walk as fast as I could away from them. Scanning the hallway I tried to find a bathroom. There was one on the right it was a boys bathroom. I tried to swallow the golf ball in my throat. I kept walking to the lunch room. I got my tray and went outside. Sitting under the tree I ate my lunch in silence.

"Hey! Cloud Girl! Don't you think you should put the pudding down? I think maybe you should switch to an apple."

"Seriously, Lexi? Leave me alone."

The group of girls came up behind me and I stood up so they didn't feel superior to me, leaving the tray on the ground along with my backpack.

"Look! Little fatty's got a voice" the girls 'aw'ed at me. I didn't want to deal with this right now. I picked up my back pack and shoved through them. I couldn't care less about my tray or their designer shoes that I stepped on. I heard whispering and then an eruption of laughter coming from the group of girls. I ran faster away. I found a bathroom and hid myself in the stall. I couldn't cry here, I couldn't let people see me weak. I knew my quiet disguise wouldn't last long. But I had hoped it would last longer than a week. I don't know why they don't like me. I never really did anything to them.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

I texted my dad and told him I was walking home. I walked past the football field and saw the guys practicing. I stopped for a second and admired number 34's speed. He ran really fast. I caught a glimpse of his last name. Hood. I wonder who he is. He couldn't really catch the ball or dodge people but he could kick the ball over the goal thing. I'll have to look him up in the year book. Maybe he'll be on the track team.

I continue to walk home listening to my Spotify playlist. I was almost there when I got a text message, from an unknown number. 

Unknown:  You have no idea how long it took to find your number. You don't have many friends do you?

Me:  Sorry? Who even are you?

Unknown:   I'll let you guess   1) I run pretty fast   2) I've never talked to you before   3) I'm not a football player

Me:   I don't talk to a lot of people. You'll have to be more specific.

Unknown:  My last name's Hood.

Me:   Oh. But I saw you playing football.

Unknown:   That doesn't mean that's my sport. I play soccer.

Me:   Okay? Why do I care? And why are you telling me?

Unknown:  You looked interested in me. I thought I'd clarify.

Me:   Well. Thank you?

I still don't know who this guy is. And I don't really care. It would be nice to have him on her track team, but he already plays soccer, so. I don't know why he told me all that stuff about him. I don't actually care. I finally get home and I walk up the steps. From inside I can hear arguing. My dad and my brother never argue. I quietly open the door and place my stuff next to my shoes. I stand in the entryway listening.

"So what! I don't care what my degree will be in!"

"Alister! Do not raise your voice at me!"

"So you can yell at me but I can't yell at you?!"

"That's not the point of this conversation Al! You know that!"

"Yeah. The point is that I don't want to become some computer geek. I want to be a councilor! They make plenty of money." 

"Yes, but you've been working on becoming a engineer for so long! You've been taking extra classes, summer camps, all this stuff. For what? To be thrown down the drain?"

"I was doing it because I thought that's what you wanted me to do! I couldn't find any joy in it. I did it to please you, dad."

I walked into the kitchen where they were standing. I looked both of them in the eyes and shook my head.

"You never fight. And now you're arguing because of this? Both of you need to calm down and grow up."

I retreated to my room. Today's been hectic. I was hoping to come home to my loving father and happy-go-lucky brother and talk to them about my day. I know it sounds selfish, and I know I should be there for them. But I needed them there for me today.

I change my clothes into a pair of leggings, a sports bra, a loose tank top and my running shoes. I jogged back downstairs and told them I was going for a run.

I don't know how long I was running. I lost track of time. That happens when you think and run. I felt like I was running away from all my problems. But no matter how far I ran. Or how fast I ran. Or how sore my legs will feel when I'm done. I couldn't run far enough. I felt like I was trapped in this terrible paradox. For the first time I felt like I couldn't go back home. I had nowhere really to go. My legs finally gave out. I couldn't run any further. I stopped and put my hands above my head. Wishing I had brought a water bottle with me, I looked around. None of this neighborhood looks familiar. I didn't know where I was. Even the street name looks funny. I noticed a blonde haired girl sitting on her porch. The bench attached to the roof swinging back-and-forth. I could see her gently sobbing. I walked up to her and then realized who she was.

"Ruby?" Her head snapped towards me. Quickly brushing the tears off of her cheeks, she stood up and straightened out her skirt. Trying to hide the fact that she was crying.

"Um. Hi? Do I know you?"

"Yeah. My name's Sky. I go to school with you."

"Oh. Cloud Girl." She rolled her eyes with a chuckle to herself and I could tell that my reputation exceeded me.

"Are you okay?"

"I'm fine. I'm fine. I just..." And then she broke down sobbing again. Covering her hands with her face sitting back down on her swinging bench.

"Hey. Hey. Don't cry." I carefully walked up the steps and sat down next to her. I put one arm around her and one hand on her shoulder.