Anywhere But Here

Chapter 4

Chapter 4

It had been a whole week since Vic last talked to me, he's been completely ignoring me ever since I turned down his offer to hook-up with him. In all honesty it made me mad, it probably mostly made me mad though because I had actually begun to grow a crush on him and then he just shuts me down after that. He's the only person at this entire school that hasn't treated me like a beast. Every time I walk down the hallway someone makes a dumb comment about how I look. I have clothing at home that I would prefer to wear to school but I know how my mom still wants me to dress. The one time I tried to wear ripped black jeans to school my mom grounded me. She's a hard ass like that.

Like this morning she complained about how I've been wearing my hair down now, instead of gelled back, she says I look too mean now that I have hair falling into my face. I keep making up new excuses to tell her though, I've never cared about my appearance until now but in all honesty, I think I prefer my hair this way. Last week when Mike walked me home it felt oddly normal, as the only way I can think of putting it. The way he talked to me was so casual and simple, it didn't even seem like he was involved in a drug dealing business at all. But I guess people aren't always what you think they are. Like how I thought Mike would be this tough rude guy that would hit you if you just looked at him wrong, but instead he's this tall goofy dude that likes Harry Potter.

Currently I was sitting in my math class working on a quiz, which I forgot to study for. Not that that mattered though considering math has always been a pretty easy class for me for as long as I can remember. So, before I knew it I was just sitting in my chair waiting for the rest of the kids to catch up. I could tell all the other kids in my classes hated me. They gave me dirty looks basically anytime I'd open my mouth. But of course, I don't care what they think or say, they're not important to me. I stared at the clock for the rest of the class, watching the minutes tick by until lunch started. Once it went, some people groaned because they still hadn't finished the quiz, I on the other hand grabbed my backpack and strolled out of the class room.

It was now lunch so I did a loop around the school, deciding where to sit and eat lunch. Instead of staying inside though I decided to go outside for a change and sit in the outer seating area. As I walked out I could already see Vic and his gang. I sat at an empty table and pulled out my lunch from my bag. I felt like I was staring at Vic, which I probably was. I felt obsessed, but like it was a natural reaction, almost as if there was some sort of a gravitational pull drawing me into him. I was practically prying my eyes away from him.

I forced my head down and stared at my sandwich my mom made me. I sighed to myself before reluctantly taking a bite, I propped my elbow on the table and rested my head in my hand. As if on cue, my eyes wandered back to the table where Vic was. But instead of continuing my awkward stalking I made eye contact with Mike. He gave me a smile with a nod, gesturing to come over there. I quickly snapped my gaze away, trying to act like I hadn't noticed him. I was forcing my head down and kept eating my sandwich, which by the way didn't really taste like anything. Even though my head was down my ears were tuned into their conversation, once again it felt like I didn't have control over my body, I've never been a snoopy person before but these guys were so alluring I had to know more.

"We should invite Kellin over" I heard Mike say, I knew it was Mike.

"Nah" someone responded, the voice was a bit muffled so I couldn't make out who it was.

"Why not Vic?" Ah, so it was Vic that didn't want me. Shocker. They went silent after that so my gaze went up to look at them to see what happened, but I was greeted by all of them staring at me. My face was heating up in embarrassment so I stood up quickly to get out of there. I stepped out of the seat and turned on my heels, running right into someone behind me. They had the cafeteria food on a trey and now it was all over me. I was wearing a white shirt today so now I knew it was stained of whatever weird concoction was in that food.

I could hear people laughing and I stood there for a moment, thinking about what just happened. The person in front of me had an apologetic expression on her face, but the corner of her lips were curling into a smile and I could tell she was trying not to laugh. I picked up my backpack and pushed past the small crowd that was forming around me. As I was leaving though the laughing stopped, as if someone had hit an off switch. I didn't care much about what they thought, sure it was probably a bit funny. If someone else had got hit then hey I'd probably laugh a little bit too. But when they stopped laughing that was a bit confusing, I kept walking but I wasn't walking alone anymore. By my side was Mike, he smiled at me as we walked around the outside of the school and into the outdoor bathroom, which I had already learned no one ever went in here cause it was pretty gross.

"Thanks" I said to him, even though he didn't help me do anything I felt the need

"Don't mention it" He said with a shrug "you okay?"

"Yeah, I'm fine. It's no big deal." After I managed to scrub my shirt I took out a hoodie from my bag and put it on to cover the big stain on my shirt.

"Hey are you busy this weekend?" Mike asked me.

I thought for a moment, I didn't usually work weekends because it was easier for me to have them for studying opposed to after school. Most weekends I did homework and then my mom and I would do something together, but since she's been working longer shifts she probably wouldn't mind having a day to just rest.

I shrugged "Not that I know of"

"Well were having a party at our place on Saturday. Feel free to stop by" He ended with a smile "I'm gonna go so I'll see you around."

Wow a party. A party with Vic. I don't know if it'll even be worth going to though, I mean, Vic can hardly even stand being in the same room as me. Literally, all week he's barely been into our one class together, Biology, and when he is there he's sitting as far away from me as possible. If I didn't know any better he's treating me like I'm some contagious animal. Also, I probably won't even be allowed to go, my mom may be tired but she isn't dumb. She'll want to meet my 'friend' and their parent's before I go anywhere near their home, so if I'm going to a party I'll be sneaking out my window in the mere hours of the morning.

I think the thing I'm most scared of about going is how Vic will react. I mean, I heard him say he didn't want me at lunch time. Not that I can blame him, were not friends, and all he wants is sex. Ugh! he makes me so angry but he makes me want to try to make him like me, even if it's just to like me as a friend. I was fuming in the bathroom now, I had decided that staying in here until the bell went would be a better idea, but now all it's done is made me over think and get angry. I went up to the sink and looked at myself in the reflection, this feels like a common thing for me to do now. I keep trying to get myself to calm down in the school bathroom before continuing on with the day acting like nothing is wrong. Reluctantly, I finally walked out of the bathroom, ready for the rest of the day.

When I got home after school my mom was already there, which surprised me a little bit. Usually she stays at work late on Wednesdays. But what surprised me more was that there was another car in the drive way, a shiny silver one, I already knew whom it belonged to. What was my dad doing here? I walked inside quietly, trying not to be heard. I'd rather not be dragged into another argument with them. I guess the only reason my dad would be here is something to do with their divorce.

"He's at work! You don't get to see him anymore. You already signed over custody to me anyways." my mom shrieked at him, the voice came from the kitchen so I turned the other way, heading down the hallway to my room. I almost made it too before I heard my dad.

"Kellin? What did you do with your hair?" His voice made me want to puke "You've only been here half a month and already you're letting him do this kind of stuff?" he raised the question to my mom. She was silent, she gave me a small glare, mostly because she didn't like my hair like this either but she didn't want my dad to know that.

"It's his hair, like it or hate he can do what he wants!"

I opened my bedroom door and slipped in so I couldn't be brought into the argument again. I dropped myself onto my bed, still hearing every word they screamed at each other, so I popped in my head phones and turned my music on, drowning out the world around me.