The Boy Who Cared For My Bruises And Scars

Part 1

My first class of this new day was in Mr. Mary's room. English. I had always loved the class. And always been known as the 'writer' because I wrote so much. It could be called a passion, or a hobby. But what could that do for me? Certainly not make me anymore visible in this new world. So my feet almost glued to the floor, I pushed myself into the dreaded classroom. What would people think of me? There's no better way to find out then to see for yourself. That was something Dana has always told me. And I cherished when she said that. It gave me a boost of courage when facing new things. I just wish she was there now, without anyone seeing her of course, to whisper those words in my ear again. Oh how I wished that more than anything.  

The man who seemed to be Mr. Mary was sitting at his desk eating a donut. Odd, I thought. I could feel my face giving his clueless face a queer look. He started at the ceiling as if he didn't want to be there just like the rest of us. He was bald. This man was in shape, but had a belly. Man, I swear he could be in labor any second! His glasses were perched on the edge of his nose. And he also looked as if he hadn't shaved in a day or two. I scanned the room. 

There was a couple in the back corner, flirting and obviously playing footsie across the aisle of desks. In the other corner was a kid trying to finish his homework he didn't do the night before. And right in the center of the back row, was a girl. She had bright red hair, and she was chewing gum like a cow. Her eyes were locked on me, looking to see what I was. How I wanted to know what she was thinking when she looked away for a second. Then she looked back at me. I decided to take a chance and go talk to her. I slowly walked to the back of the classroom with my books in hand.  

"Hey," I offered. She nodded her head like a guy would, saying: "Sup?". "I'm Sky, and I'm new here." There was a moment of silence. She just started at me. Her face blank. I didn't know what to do.  

"What's your na-" 

"Rachel. It's Rachel." she snapped before I could say my last word. Then she started playing with her piece of gum. Inside, I tried not to gag. Gum was one of the grossest things to me. Just the thought of chewing on a piece of rubber, and the NOISE it makes! I could kill myself if it was out of control. 

"Can-can I sit here?" I dared to ask. She waved her hand as if saying: "Go right ahead." But it was in a snotty kind of way. Well, at least I was talking to somebody.  

I set my books down and took my seat. I always sat in the back at my old school, next to Rob... But I didn't need to think about him. I didn't want to think about him. I didn't want to see him either. I needed something to distract me. 

BRINNGGGG!  

There was the distraction. Kids piled into the classroom like sardines, trying to fit through the door. Tall, short, fat, thin, popular, nerdy, or just plain weird kids walked through the door. There was probably 40 in the classroom. It hadn't seemed this small when I first walked in... 

"Good morning class," Mr. Mary said. The class mumbled: "Good morning Mr. Mary." And one smart aleck said it in a voice that almost sounded like Mr. Mary's high pitched voice. Maybe he just didn't hit puberty... Yet.  

"I need to take attendance now," he flipped open his laptop and looked at a list of names. "Andrew Bell." 

"Here." I looked at him, he was meaty, with broad shoulders. He was probably a jock.  

"Josephine Carol." 

"Here." She was dark skinned, with a long braid. I couldn't tell what she was like. 

All the rest of the names were just normal kids that I didn't see anything magnificent about them. Then one caught my attention. 

"Ted Parker." I heard laughter come form a corner of the room. A group of jocks were joking around when one looked up.