6. Chapter 6
Chapter 6
Sloane
L unch time is crucial for your social life when you're in high school and when you're an introvert without a friend group, walking into that cafeteria is intimidating to say the least. Not to mention, it's sensory overload with the bright fluorescent lights, shiny linoleum floors, and all the chatter and clattering of trays and chairs. A nervous ball forms in my stomach as I survey the room, scanning the tables for a familiar face, resisting the urge to turn around and walk outside to sit by myself on this hot, August day. I see Lori Tanner with her friends and our eyes meet. She turns to her friend, says something to her, then they start laughing as Lori looks right at me again. I inhale a deep breath and try to ignore her and her simple mind.
I feel like an anomaly here. Most people are nice to me, don't get me wrong, but I don't have a solid friend group and now I have to find someone to sit with. I had an awesome friend toward the end of elementary school, but she went to a private school. My best friend since I was five, Miranda, is a grade below me and has her circle of friends who are simply way cooler than me and I don’t think she has this lunch period. Unfortunately, we don’t really hang out in school, plus we’ve never had a class together, or even lunch for that matter. Tameka is off to college, so that leaves me with acquaintances in various groups. There are kids that I've known since kindergarten, but don't feel cool enough to hang out with, and casual friends from junior high that I'd had classes with, but no close friends.
Just as I’m about to turn to head outside, I feel a tap on my shoulder and turn around to find Maggie Woods smiling sweetly. "Hey!" I say as relief washes over me. "It's nice seeing a familiar face."
"I'm glad you have this lunch period. I’m going to sit with Beth and Annalise. Wanna join me?" she asks softly. If there could be a quieter person than me, it's Maggie. Her bangs are curled under and her brown hair hangs to her shoulders. Her blue eyes sparkle with friendliness and warmth.
"Yes, thanks!" I say as I follow her to a table where there are more familiar faces. "Hey guys," I say as I take a seat next to Maggie and across from best friends Beth and Annalise.
"Hey!" Beth says. "I'm glad you have lunch with us."
I exhale a breath I didn't know I was holding and relax. "Me, too. How are your classes so far?" I ask no one in particular.
"Pretty good," Annalise says. "The three of us have Spanish together, which is awesome."
"Oh, that's cool," I say as I unpack my lunch which consists of a turkey sandwich, banana, Cheetos, a Hostess cupcake, and a Coke.
"How about you? What's your schedule like?" Beth asks before taking a bite of her sandwich.
"Pretty good," I say. "I have French, psychology, and marine bio before lunch. Then it's art, British lit, then trig." I take a sip of my Coke then add, "I'm excited about marine bio and art." I decline to tell them why I am so excited about marine bio for the time-being.
"Do you have Mr. Fisher for trig?" Maggie asks quietly.
"Yeah, do you, too?"
She smiles, "Yeah, we'll be in class together."
"Awesome, we'll have to sit together if we can." I smile back, glad that I'll have a friend in math, my toughest subject. I have to work hard for my grades and math and science are my toughest subjects, but the social aspect of school is even worse. I don’t have the confidence to just approach people and feel so uncomfortable in my own skin sometimes. With a tutor, math makes sense, I don’t think there’s a tutor for high school cliques, but there should be.
"I'm so excited this is our senior year!" Beth says, then sips her Diet Coke.
"One more year in this place and we're free!" Annalise says as she clinks soda cans with her bestie, Beth.
"I'm so ready," I agree and clink my can with theirs and Maggie follows suit. I think about Tyler, though and that maybe this year will be different. I’ve always daydreamed of dating a cute athlete. Maybe this year that dream will finally come true.