Don't let fear or insecurity stop you from trying new things. Believe in yourself. Do what you love. And most importantly, be kind to others, even if you don't like them.
Walking to school over the plain concrete, Kenton had no sinister premonition about the day. It seemed like just another Tuesday, innocent but for its esstential Tuesdayness, not to mention Augustness--and the way it unbalanced him, making him think it should be Monday. It was hot, and it was bright--although in the dead of Fall the sun blazed like it was summer--relief washed over him in chilling air conditioning when he entered the school. It was plain like the outside. And covered in things Kenton's never seen before. As he walked to his locker in the lower left wing, he noted the differences between this school and his old one. The floors shined and the halls, well, the building in general was small. Examining it now he wasn't sure how he had gotten lost here looking for his classes at orientation.
Secondly, they HAVE lockers. At his middle school they didn't need them, so the school ripped them out of the walls. It always bothered him since he was so OCD. Kenton's own footsteps and the jingle of ice from his frap was drowned out from all the other kids here surprisingly early. Kids were looking at him weird, casting side-way glances. What was their problem? He sighed as he messed with the combo, thankful he didn't have to peer through a mop of black hair since he had gotten a trim.
A pang of heartache intruded, and there was no path to the roof. That's where he had done all his thinking in middle school, when he wanted to get away from everyone, feel like that Hell would all pass soon. And it did--eventually.
~~~
Guess what? He found out what the kids problems were. He held his iced coffee in one hand and clutched the shoulder strap of his black backpack in the other as he stepped into his first class--Biology--a flurry of giggles sounded like a roaring itch to him, then soon after the teacher asked in a sharp tongue,
"What's your name?"
He raised an eyebrow,
"Kenton."
"Kenton," she went to her desk and scribbled down something on a green piece of paper before handing it over to him, "Go the bathroom and wipe that make-up off your face." wow. WOW. The way she said it, it was as if she was disgusted.
"Why?" He simply stared at the paper.
"Boy's can't wear make-up here."
"That wasn't in the handbook. And what's wrong with it? It doesn't make me any less of a guy." some guy whispered gay in the back and suddenly Kenton decided he hated the school. Very...very much.
~~~
School had gone horribly after that. No one really talked to him, it was as if he was a ghost. For six months, he had been alone. He missed his friends from middle school. And how simple his schedule used to be.
Then his days changed, from ordinary days to interesting days. He noticed a girl with hair out of control in volume and waves, a tiny girl, doodling one morning. And then he found out she was in his Spanish but had never paid attention enough--too busy grumbling about how his life sucked here. He had a gut feeling she was different and talked to her. In defense if her, a bigger, more masculine girl with dirty blonde hair stepped in. She looked like she was about to fight, but stopped, pointing at him. He gaped, pointing back at her.
"AH!" they yelled in unison.
"You're that girl I--"
"met at shadow day." she finished. The artist looked back and forth between the two. "Dude, I've been looking for you!" she punched him in the shoulder and he laughed.
"Well, you suck at it then because I was here the entire time, Riley." this was the girl he'd met while touring the school. They had been touring in the science room when they met. He'd hardly said a word to her, but what he said must have strick a connection because she wouldn't shut up about science. He didn't mind though, it was intetesting.
"I didn't recognize you without your eyeliner," she said.
"I wouldn't either." Kenton grumbled.
"Didn't you have peircings?" she asked.
"Yes...but like the eyeliner, guys can't have either." he rolled his eyes.
"Lame."
"Agreed." he said.
~~~
When lunch came around, Riley threw an arm over his shoulder and guided him to their seating area outside. It was by a pole in front of the building to the right. There were three girls there. One was the artist from before, glaring at me for no reason. The second, a dark skinned girl with a cold face. And the other..........
Well, she was.......
really...really... adorable
"Hey guys! This is Kenton!" She sat down, dragging him down with her. He let the bossing around slide for now.
Taking off his backpack and pulling out some chips for lunch he said, "Hey." to everyone, but his eyes rested on the asian girl who was sitting on the opposite side of ColdTurkey--the dark skinned girl. Damn it.