Chapter 4 - Life Outside

It's Monday. so that means it's a school day. I opted to walk to school instead of taking the bus. Fun fact about me, I hate other people. So I avoid them. 

It's not a long walk, it's about a mile or so. 

When I get to the school gate I take a deep breath and let the air fill out my entire chest. I use the breath as a reminder that I can get through this day. I let it it slowly as I start to enter the schoolyard. 

The students are loud, and the bus is releasing so many fumes making it hard to breathe in any fresh air. The parking lot is filled with all types of cars. The chaos is so much that I almost turn around to go back home. 

"Good morning." Tamrin, my oldest friend sings as she walks towards me from her parked car. I turn to look at her in surprise. I didn't even see her waiting for me. I was so wrapped up in all the noise that I would have walked right past her.  

I know I said I hate people but Tamrin and Sadie are the two of the three people I like in this world. I don't know why they keep me around because I'm mostly a wet blanket but you know what they love me and care about me no matter what mood I'm in. 

"You're in a very cheery mood," I say as she wraps one arm around me making me slow down a little.

"And you're not." She says her smile going away. 

"I was until this morning," I say pointing to all of the things around me that make me sad. 

"Well, I can't blame you. School sucks." She says and I nod in agreement. But I know our mutual agreement won't last long. She has a but coming. "But..." And there it is. "We can't let the things we can't control dictate how we feel." She says grabbing me by the shoulders and making me stop. "You have to try to find some happiness." She says looking deeply into my eyes. I stare back at her wishing I had the same outlook as her. I wish I could move on from hurt the same way she can. 

"What nugget of wisdom is Tamrin giving out today?" Sadie says coming to stand next to me.  Tamrin let me go so I can hug Sadie. 

"She is teaching me how to find happiness in the gloom," I say and Sadie rolls her eyes at my statement.

"Okay, it's going to be one of those weeks," Sadie says giving Tamrin a hug as well. "I can't promise that I'll be the most joyful person in your circle but I'll try to be at least tolerable." She says and Tamrin smiles somewhat satisfied with that. 

"Well, well, well. If it isn't The Golden Girls"  Presley says walking towards us. I step back letting her greet the other girls. She ignores me and links arms the the two of them. They start walking in front of me and I follow knowing my place. Presley is Tamrin's cousin, so she comes with the package. If it were up to her I would be kicked out of the group and they would be The Golden girls. 

But Tamrin refuses to do that because she actually likes and she has to like Presley because they're family. 

We walk into the school hallway and my day officially begins. 

"Celeste." Mr. Hayman says when we walk past his office. I stop and look back at him. "Can I talk to you for a second?" He says and I almost say no but I don't think students are allowed to say no to the principal. I turn back and head to his office. I wonder what this is about.