Erin

Erin sat down next to a girl who until previously, was alone. Her fiery red hair sprawled on top of her head, in a messy bun. She wore a pair of torn jeans, and a grey shirt that looked like it had been used for painting. The redhead looked at her friend and welcomed her with a smile.

"What are you staring at?" Anna asked, through bites of a sandwich. "You checking out boys?"

"What? No," Erin snapped.

Anna continued entirely unphased by her friend's defensiveness. "Is the one you're staring at the new neighbor, that you have a crush on?"

Erin felt her cheeks grow warm. Whether from anger or embarrassment, she herself didn't know. "I don't have a crush on him."

"Then why are you staring at him with smoldering bedroom eyes?" Anna teased with a sweet voice, batting her eyelashes.

Erin picked up a grape from her tray and tossed it at her harasser's face. Anna opened her mouth in a ridiculous fashion and acted like she was trying to catch it, and flailed her tongue. The purple fruit rolled to the floor.

"You are so weird Anna."

"That's why you love me though. Admit it."

Erin cracked a weak smile, and Anna gave her a one-armed hug.

"So, tell me why are you trying to combust this Daniel guy, with your eyes? What'd he do this time?"

"He keeps asking if he can tutor me."

"Ooo!" Anna exclaimed. "Creepy. Or is it... kinky?"

"It's not creepy. And it's definitely not kinky. Mom brought it up at dinner, and now I think he's just trying to be helpful. But it's annoying, is what it is."

Anna stole a grape from Erin's plate and plopped it in her mouth. "The scoundrel. Don't you hate when cute guys get all sincere like that? Isn't there any douchebags left in society, what is this world coming to?" she laid her face on Erin's shoulder and pretended to cry.

Erin pushed her off. "Oh stop." She started to think about Anna's words. Maybe she had been a little meaner than necessary to Daniel. "Maybe I should go apologize to him," she finally said.

"Probably."

Daniel was sitting with three other guys, it would be awkward if she had to apologize in front of them. Then they would wonder what she was sorry for and they would all just think she was a big bitch. The word almost echoed in her head. "I'm not a bitch..."

Anna looked up at her from her celery sticks. "No. You're not." She said in a concerned tone. "Don't let anyone else say otherwise. Even yourself."

Erin stared at her blankly.

"Hey, why don't you go and apologize to him. I'll go with," Anna put a hand under Erin's armpit and lifted her up. "I'd like to meet this guy who gave you a ten," she giggled.

Daniel got up on the other side of the room and made his way out of the cafeteria by himself.

"He's getting away. What do you say, boss? What's our plan of action."

Erin said nothing, staring somewhere into the distance, her mind elsewhere.

"Hey Erin, you in there? Don't make me lick your face again."

Erin's gaze remained fixed, but the monotone of her voice made Anna wonder if she was actually listening. "I'm fine."

This was why May called her things like Asteroid or Space cadet.

"I got something that'll cheer you up. Wait here." With those last words, Anna swiftly disappeared. She dipped through students gracefully avoiding collision as she sped out of the cafeteria, and after Daniel.