I barely managed to complete all of my homework last night. The one thing I hadn't managed to complete was the essay I had to do for "The Great Gatsby".

"Joe, why didn't you finish your essay?" Ms Riley asked with an edge in her voice. "You were well aware of the fact that the deadline was today."

I scratched my neck. "Uh, I know...my computer broke. So I had to print off what I had so far." Honestly, I'd went straight to bed after I'd come home from therapy.

"You didn't even bother to start a week ahead."

Yeah, bitch. Some of us have lives you know.

I shrugged. "Yeah, sorry about that."

She looked at me for a long time before waving me away. "You can do much better than this young man. I'm nice enough to pass you with a C."

"Seriously?" I said quickly, in utter disbelief. My eyes widened, and I stood up a bit straighter. "But I thought you were gonna fail me?"

Ms. Riley sighed and put her hand on her forehead. "Next essay, I better see progress. No excuse. Now get away from my desk." She waved me away again.

As I walked back to my desk feeling a little better about today, someone just had to stick out their foot and trip me in the aisle.

I heard snickers and mean-ass quips when I fell to the ground.

Unsurprisingly, it was another dude part of the wrestling team I used to hang out with. His name was Ethan.

"Shit-head," he whispered before turning his head the other way to avoid my look of dislike towards him.

Ethan and I used to be pretty cool, but I didn't know why he joined the pool of people who had it out for me.

Ms. Riley had stood up from her desk, with her arms folded, and asked everybody, "Who did that?"

She sounded pissed.

Nobody said anything.

I got off the ground. "It's fine Ms. Riley. I accidentally bumped into a chair...and fail."

She nodded, sat down, and went back to grading essays.

♢

I ate in the student center today, and thought that was the best way to avoid the wrestling team. Besides, I was better off eating a bag of potatoe chips, rather than the nasty chicken stew being served in the cafeteria today. Some days the school lunch is more edible, but I didn't think I could stomach a stew that had chicken that still clucked in it.

"Hey, can I sit here?" I looked up from staring at my phone and saw that it was a girl who stood across from me. She had auburn hair, freckles, and a petite nose. She was cute.

"Yeah, sure you can."

She smiled widely, and sat down. She put her bag on the floor beside her and pulled out what looked to be a turkey sandwich and a small bag of Doritos.

Damn. I wish I had a sandwich.

"My name's Ryan by the way," she introduced herself with. "I don't mean to intrude on your lunch time. I just hate sitting alone. My friend's in Mexico City with her family for vacation, and my sister missed school to go and look at a college she might be attending. They usually eat lunch with me."

I nodded and didn't say anything. Maybe I didn't want to admit that I was at least a little grateful for her company.

We ate in silence.

♢

I wish I had my own car, but Mom couldn't afford one for me right now. She said that when she had the money she'd go out and buy me one. But it couldn't be right now, due to the fact that she had a job as a temp at this one company which paid very little. She had a waitressing job at this one bar on Thursday, and the weekends at night.

Since I didn't have a car, consequently I walked home. Aaron went to school an hour drive away from Havendust. So, he couldn't pick me up. Sometimes he dropped me off at school, but most times I was walking.

The chilly air hit my body and I felt myself shiver. It was only the beginning of November, and it already felt like winter. I should've bought a coat from home. But my jean jacket would have to do.

As I kept walking I spotted the park a couple feet away. The same park I ran to after Mike and his cronies humiliated me at Lunch. For some reason I felt compelled to go to the park. Maybe, I needed a rest.

I sat on the bench and set my binder beside me. I closed my eyes and started to doze off like before, but I heard her voice.

"So, you decided to show again, didn't you?"

My body jumped a little from fear and I opened my eyes immediately.

She was the same girl from yesterday. She looked at me like she was annoyed, with those brown eyes again. She wore a red scarf, a buttoned up brown pea coat, leggings, and a pair of riding boots. "Are you doing this on purpose?" She asked.

"Doing what on purpose?" I replied. "You think this whole park is yours. Like hell it is."

She crossed her arms. "Whatever. I'll find somewhere else to be alone."

I didn't mean to react abrasively. School and life had that effect on people dealing with shit like me.

"Sorry. Wait!" I said. "Please don't go."

She stopped walking and turned around. "Why? Are you going to be a jerk?"

I frowned, and laughed. "What the hell are you talking about?"

It was her turn to laugh in disbelief. She threw her hands up. "Your name's Joe, right?"

How did she know my name? I was pretty sure we didn't go to the same school. Don't get me wrong, Warner High was a big school. But I would know who she was, because I would.

Or so I thought.

"You go to Warner High?" I asked her out of curiosity. "I've never seen you around."

She shrugged and didn't try to make eye contact with me. If all, she avoided my gaze.

"I go to Wayward High."

I furrowed my eyebrows at her in utter confusion. "But you live in Havendust don't you?"

She nodded. "Yeah I do. So what?"

"Why don't you go to Warner High?"

"It doesn't matter..."

Obviously she didn't want to talk any more about that matter.

"What's your name?" I decided to ask, trying the awkward atmosphere that threatened to fall between us.

She looked like she didn't want to respond to that question either.

But eventually she answered me. "My name is Aisling."

"I'm Joseph, but you can call me Joey, I guess."

She nodded and smiled at me. "Okay."

Due to the early November weather, it already looked to be getting dark.

Part of me for some reason--unknown to me--wanted to stay. But I wanted to go home and take a nap.

"Well, bye. See ya later....I guess." I waved bye to her awkwardly.

She didn't wave back.

—

Don't forget to check out our other stories: