Sometimes

In Between

Linus

I'm already lost in the crowd.

It's expected, I'm a new kid, and what's my one distinguishing feature? I'm a band kid.

It's going to be a great year.

I keep glancing around the hallway, hoping that someone will take the time to notice me, maybe say something along the lines of, "Hey you're that new kid, the one who went to national band, right?"

But they don't, so I put away my stuff and keep on walking. I recheck my schedule, to make entirely sure that I'm supposed to be going to my Astronomy class before stepping into the room. There are already three people there, so I slip into one of the desks away from them and pull out my phone. My mom has already texted me, wishing me a great first day, and, as usual, my dad is pretending I don't exist. 

I can't blame the guy, not after what happened to Lena, but it still stings every time I ask him how his day was and he responds with a simple and plaintive "Fine." 

I guess I'd be no better though. I've already promised myself that I am not getting myself into any relationships here at this new school after the absolute dumpster fire that was my last one. I'm not about to let some asshole drag me away from what I love again, even if he's a really sweet guy and promises to give me the world. I've just given up on believing lies like that. After all, I don't think anyone is really that great of a person under the surface. I mean,  look at me. I look like a decent enough guy, but I've got enough deep-seated issues to last anyone a couple of lifetimes, let alone help someone else with theirs. 

It's that moment when someone slides their body into the desk next to me. I watch her long blond hair ripple and move over the chair before settling down behind it in an endless golden waterfall. Her eyes turn over to me. She looks me up and down for a moment as if she's trying to evaluate me, and finally, she says, "Oh my god, you're the new kid, right? The one from National Band? My name's Bianca."

"My name's Linus. Nice to meet you," I reply, looking over at her. Her eyes gleam from behind her pink-framed glasses, and I can't help but smile at how thrilled she looks.

"You wouldn't believe how excited I am to have you in my first period. I mean, I obviously knew that we were gonna be in the band together, but Astronomy, too? This is like a dream come true, I swear."

"You're the excitable type, aren't you?"  

"I guess so," she giggles for a moment before she turns her eyes to the door and her expression suddenly changes.

"What's wrong?" I ask as she slumps back into her seat. Her previous demeanor has changed drastically, and I don't realize what she's reacting to until I glance up toward the doorway. 

A guy has walked in. He looks to be a couple of inches shorter than me, and his brown hair falls over his face in untidy brown curls. He takes a seat on the other side of me. "Nice earring, man," he says as he sits down.

"Oh, thanks," I say, laughing shyly and quickly trying to smooth the wrinkles out of my shirt. "Nobody ever really notices it."

I feel Bianca's eyes glaring holes into the back of my head, and I whip around to face her. "What are you doing?" she asks. "That's Brayden Lewis. He's the biggest asshole on this side of the solar system."

"Bianca, would you please stop trying to tell the new kid I'm a horrible person?" He says. "Just because you and I have bad blood-"

"Bad blood!" Bianca says. "It's a little more than that!"

"It doesn't mean you can tell him who not to socialize with," Brayden finishes cooly. It's kind of shocking how collected he is because, judging by his appearances, you'd think he's one of those asshole jocks, which is why I didn't find Bianca's statement too far-fetched. After that response though, it was plain to me that he and Bianca just didn't get along.