That One Kid

Chris was never one to hang around in the middle of a crowd. He didn't like them, he considered himself a loner. To tell the truth, he was used to it, but he didn't tell anyone that. All throughout 4th, 5th, and 6th grade he was ridiculed for the things he liked, how he dressed, and the way he acted. Never did people want to get to know him, because they were afraid of what people would think if they were seen with him. So he kept to himself mostly. Sometimes he was seen with the few friends he had, off by themselves on the field at school, or he'd be by himself at the lunch table at school. Now he was in 8th grade, and he still hadn't changed much. Sure, he had more friends and fewer enemies, but the memories of previous years of torture and ridicule always came back to haunt him. Especially those of his former best friend Mike. They used to be inseparable, but he had turned on him and became friends with the same people who had made his life miserable.

Chris had felt betrayed, and he had put a blanket of shadow around himself to shield him from the effects of being treated that way. He had become silent and serious. He had changed from the once happy, outgoing person he once was, to the cautious, saddened person he had transformed into. He was afraid to get to close to one person or a group of people for fear that he'd lose them and become that sad, depressing person all over again and have to suffer the remorse of losing another friend. He never, ever, wanted to feel that way again. But one person, whom he had met one year ago in 7th grade, had changed him once more. She had entered his life. Sara was her name. From the moment he met her, he had cautiously withdrawn from the shadows he had so long surrounded himself with. Now he was like a whole new person. He was happy, funny, and always smiling. It was all because of her. Even though he had shielded himself from the outside world, she had broken through that shield and dragged him out through the hole and out into the real world. He liked the way he was now, and was glad that he had met her. He was also frightened at how close it had come to not happening at all.

This thought had come to him one day when he was thinking about why he had chosen French as his choice of language to study, when he thought of it. If he had not changed his mind, if he had chosen Spanish as he originally thought he would, he would never have met Sara. He would still be wrapped up in his shadow blanket, blocked off from the world around him. He would not be the happy, funny, bright-faced person he was now. He would still be the silent, cautious boy he was back in elementary school. He had thought for days on end, how his life would be different if he had indeed chosen Spanish instead of French. But now all he could think about, was how to pass this math test.

"Ax2+Bx+C, how the heck do I apply this to what I'm doing now? How will I use this in the real world? Why do I need to know this? If I can't remember this quadrilateral formula or whatever it's called, I won't pass this stupid test…I'm not gonna pass this stupid test am I?" Chris quietly said to himself. At the moment, his attention was focused on his math teacher, Mr. Chaffee.

"Mr. Meyers, how do you expect to pass this test if you don't pay attention in class?" Mr. Chaffee asked Chris, snapping him out of his thoughts of passing tomorrow's algebra test. Mr. Chaffee was a middleweight man with short black hair and glasses. He was one of Chris's favorite teachers.

"Sorry Mr. Chaffee. I was thinking about math, but not in the way you were talking about it." Chris replied.

"Just try to listen next time, this information is important and you need to use it on the test tomorrow so if you don't know it you will fail." Mr. Chaffee said. He then turned his attention back toward the white board.

Instantly, Chris's mind was elsewhere. He knew he should listen but at the same time, he didn't want to. His mind was once again focused completely on her. He was wondering what to say to her after class in the hallway. He always came up with these brilliant things to say, but whenever he came face to face with her all ha managed to say was "Hi."

RRRIIINNNGGG!

The bell signaling the end of class sounded off, and everyone got up and headed for the door.

"See you tomorrow! And remember to study hard for that test tomorrow!" Mr. Chaffee yelled at their retreating backs. He glared at Chris as if to say 'Don't daydream in my class again, or you'll regret it.' Chris just shook it off and kept walking. He had more important things on his mind.

Chris was screwing up the courage to say to Sara what he had planned to say to her. He saw her in the hallway and opened his mouth to say it:

"Hi." was all that came out.

This is my first attempt at writing a serious story so if you have any opinions at all, flames and good reviews alike, I need to know so I can make this better!