Chapter 6
Jeb sat in the bustling cafeteria of the middle school, surrounded by his classmates. Some he would call friends, yet as a loner at heart, he knew not many were good friends. He played baseball and felt a closer bond with a few of his teammates, but he was acutely aware of his preference for being alone once he stepped off the field.
As the laughter and chattering cacophony rose around him, his eyes were magnetically drawn to the corner of the noisy room where Skylar sat. She unwrapped her sandwich with meticulous care and then ate each bite slowly. When finished, she would do the same with her apple and cookie. Every bite was savored, and nothing was wasted. She rarely filled her plate at dinnertime but always made sure to eat every morsel.
Other students were nearby, but she existed in her own bubble, occasionally offering a polite smile or appropriate nod in response to the laughter or a question from the other girls at the table. Surrounded yet alone. Much like him.
Occasionally, her gaze would move toward him, and the instant her pale eyes locked on his, a smile curved his lips, as it always did. She would send a tiny smile his way. His chest swelled, knowing they shared that secret moment.
He hadn’t admitted to anyone, not even her, that last year had felt odd when he’d gone to middle school, and she still had a year left in elementary school. He’d worried about her, hoping she wasn’t being teased or shunned. When he’d ask her about school during their time sitting on the attic window ledge, she would simply shrug and say she was fine. He could never ascertain if she told the truth.
Now in middle school together, their paths seldom crossed during the day. That was what made their time together in the attic so important. When the weather had become too cold to sit on the ledge during his first winter at the Bakers’ house, he and Skylar had started meeting in the attic, just sitting on the floor underneath the window.
It dawned on him that when she talked about school, it was always the subjects she liked learning but never about other classmates, friends, or even if she had a boy she liked. Suddenly, as he held her gaze, he wanted to know what she was thinking and wondered if she would tell him if he asked.
That afternoon, when he got home after practice, he noticed Mrs. Baker and Skylar in the kitchen. Mrs. Baker wore a wide smile, but whatever they had been talking about, Skylar simply shrugged as though it wasn’t very important.
After he finished his homework, he hurried up to the attic, knowing she would be there. The chill of late fall nipped at the air, but he wasn’t surprised that she had slipped outside anyway. A thick sweater was wrapped around her, and she sat with her knees tucked up, the sweater providing cover for most of her.
Climbing out the window, he sat beside her, accepting the smile she sent his way. Not willing to wait for her to decide whether she would mention it, he blurted, “What were you and Mrs. Baker talking about?”
Skylar’s shoulders lifted slightly in the familiar shrug she often gave before speaking. “The principal had called her in for a meeting. They want to move me up to a higher-level math class.”
Jeb wasn’t surprised, considering he knew how smart Skylar was. But he couldn’t tell from her mannerisms what she thought about the change. “I take it Mrs. Baker was happy. What about you?”
“It’s okay, I guess. It just means I won’t be with the same kids I’m used to during math. And I don’t think some older kids will be glad to see me in their class.” Her voice was soft, and he could hear her nervousness.
“Maybe you’ll be in my math class.”
Her gaze darted over to him, hope flickering in her eyes. “Would you mind?”
“Why would I mind if you were in my math class?”
“Because I would be the odd one. Always different.” She sighed and shrugged again. “I never seem to fit in anywhere. Girls my age don’t like me because I’m not into the same things that they are. And because they don’t like me, the boys don’t either. I’m just weird to them. And if I’m the little one who shows up in the older math class, I’ll still be the weird one.”
“You’re not weird to me,” he said with emphasis. “You’re just… um… you’re special.”
She laughed, and her hand flew up to cover her mouth. But her beautiful eyes twinkled, and he loved that he was the one privileged to see that side of her.
“Maybe that just makes you weird, too,” she said, still grinning.
Now, he was the one who chuckled. “That’s cool. We can be weird together.”
Her hand slipped out from the long sleeves of the sweater, and she placed it on the ledge between them. And just like each time she made the offer, he reached over and placed his palm on hers. They didn’t make that connection every time they chatted in the attic or on the attic window ledge. But whenever she did, he found he was more than glad to reach out and hold her hand.
That evening before bed, he found a quiet moment to approach Mrs. Baker.
“What’s on your mind, Jeb?” she asked.
“Skylar told me about going into a higher-level math class. I thought that if you talked to the principal, they might let her be in my class.”
Mrs. Baker held his gaze for a long moment. “Do you think that would be a good idea?”
“I just thought that it would be easier for her to go into a new class with older kids if she had someone she already knew in there.” Feeling the need to keep giving reasons, he added, “And if we had questions about our homework, then we could help each other.”
Mrs. Baker nodded slowly as she continued to peer deeply at him. “I think your idea has merit, Jeb. It’s also a generous suggestion, considering that many people your age wouldn’t want to have anything to do with someone younger.”
He jammed his hands into the pockets of his jeans. “She’s only a year younger. But since she’s kind of small for her age, I’d hate that she might get picked on or made fun of. If she’s in my class, I can watch over her.”
Mrs. Baker continued to nod as her face eased into a gentle smile. “You’re a good friend, Jeb. And you’re growing into a good man.”
Embarrassed by the praise, he simply shrugged and mumbled, “I just thought it might be a good idea.”
“I happen to agree, and I’ll talk to the principal first thing in the morning.”
He started to turn away when Mrs. Baker called him back. “Jeb, your parents would be proud of you.”
He sucked in a hasty breath, his chest both warm at her words and aching at the thought. Nodding, he hurried back upstairs.
The next day, as he sat down in math class, he saw Skylar standing near the teacher”s desk.
“Who is she?”
“What’s that shrimp doing in here?”
“Is she skipping up?”
Ignoring the comments from the others in the class, he stood and caught her attention. He could discern terror in her eyes, but she hid it well. As much as he hated bringing attention to himself, he jerked his chin and said, “Hey, Skylar. There’s an empty seat over here.”
The teacher nodded his acquiescence, and Skylar slipped past the other students in the room, who stared until she sat in the seat next to him. His classmates now had little to say, but he knew he’d take some teasing later. For now, the curiosity of the other students seemed to wane.
He didn’t understand his reasons, but the familiar urge to protect her had roared to life. Sitting back in his seat, he swallowed his smile and opened his math book. Glancing to the side, he spied her doing the same with much less tension. And he smiled to himself.