Would You Still Be There?

They were laughing and joking, just like they did everyday. It wasn't a different routine, but it sure felt different.

I fiddled with my jacket sleeves, not saying a word, just listening. They were talking about video games; it was an everyday topic that came up sooner or later. There was never a day where the topic of video games was never brought up.

I let out a long, withheld sigh. I was, without a doubt, bored out of my mind. Lunch couldn't be over faster, but I didn't want it to end because I was sitting next to-

"You alright?" Austin whispered, his arm wrapping around my waist. I nodded and started to get fidgety. I was always nervous around him; no understatements there.

"Are you sure? You seem upset," he said. I shook my head. He just didn't get it.

"I'm fine, Austin," I mumbled, and I stood up. I didn't look at anyone, just grabbed my backpack and left the lunchroom in pursuit of a bathroom. I stepped out into the rain, not bothering to pull my hood up over my head. I turned left into the B wing hallway, went straight through, and I turned right. I walked a short distance and entered the girls bathroom, and I set my backpack down on the floor.

I approached the mirror and I rubbed around my eyes, feeling all of a sudden tired. It wasn't even a lie; Cassidy Barnett was a walking disaster.

"Cassidy? You okay?" My best friend, Kylee asked as she entered the bathroom. I met her eyes in the mirror and I sighed again. She always knew what was wrong, and sometimes I felt like that was a bad thing.

"No I'm not okay. I'm bored of our friends, and Austin doesn't know how to take hints. They talk about the same things every day and I'm tired of it!" I said, my voice raising gradually with each word I spoke. Kylee smiled sadly at me, and she brought me into a hug.

"It'll be fine, Cassie," she murmured. I stepped out of the hug and looked down at my sleeves.

"How do you know that?" I asked. The bell rang, and I walked over to my backpack, picking it up and singing it over one shoulder, then the other.

"I don't... but make some new friends then. We've been hanging out with the same group of friends since seventh grade... maybe it's time for a change," she told me, and she left me standing there in the bathroom.

I walked to my next class, hoping she was right. Maybe a change of friends wouldn't hurt, but trying to make some new friends wouldn't be easy.

~

I entered my Woodshop class, and I plopped down into my seat by the door. Everyone slowly filed into the room at different times, and when the bell rang, there were a few stragglers who rushed into the room and into their seats.

"Before we get started today... I'd like to move a couple people around," our teacher, Mr. Lee, said.

"Kyle... can you switch seats with Robin back there at table five? And Ben... switch seats with Nick over there at table seven." They all moved, and the kid named Kyle approached our table, sitting down in the seat next to me on my right.

"Hi. I'm Cassidy," I said, and he smiled at me.

"Kyle," he said, and he turned to listen to Mr. Lee.

Halfway through the period, Kyle and I were laughing and having a good time as we painted our projects.

"Yeah! And he fucking fell flat on his face in the driveway," Kyle laughed, and I laughed as I poured myself a little more paint.

"Your brother sounds like an idiot," I giggled, and someone bumped into me from behind.

"Excuse you," I said, furrowing my eyebrows together as I looked to see who it was.

"I'm sorry. I got pushed," the guy said, and I noticed his contacts. They were completely white with black irises in the middle.

"Dude, it's okay. I love the contacts," I said, and he grinned.

"Thanks. My name's Alex," he said.

"Hi Alex. I'm Cassidy," I said, and he walked off to work on his project.

After class, I headed to my last period of the day. Austin was in that class with me, and I was kind of dreading it because I had a feeling he'd ask me about why I left during lunch.

I entered my English class and headed to my desk that was next to Austin's, and I sat down in it, not wanting to see him. He walked in the door seconds later, and I averted my gaze.

"Cassie.. can you talk to me please?" He begged, and I looked over at him. I took a deep breath, letting it go before answering him.

"I don't want to talk about anything. It's personal," I told him, and he slumped back in his seat. I felt like a bitch for saying it, mostly because I told him everything. I tell him things I don't even tell Kylee, and that was saying something.

Notes

Well... How is it?