Marcus

This day could not go any slower. The seconds felt like hours as the teacher droned about equations. My eyes started to droop and my patience began to dwindle. The bell rings, pulling me from my daze. The sound of scuffling chairs and chatter filled the room as I stuffed my folders in my bag and made my way to the door.

A chorus of voices bounced off the walls as the hallway was flooded with students.  It is very hard for me to not be seen in this school. I stood at 6'2 and have a particularly built frame. I got that from my father. He was a military man like his father and my grandfather before him. 

I have curly brown hair that sat on top of my head. My bushy eyebrows seemed to be the only thing that defined me. I carried this trait from my father, but my brown eyes from my mother. My father's eyes were ocean blue but of course, I got stuck with boring brown to match my boring life.

I hurried around the corner. My body freezing as something slender yet solid connected with my chest. Glancing down, my eyes widened to the sight of the being in front of me.

A girl, to be exact.

"God, I don't want to be cussed out in the middle of the hallway," I said to myself. Her body hit the ground with a small thud, stopping the hallway traffic.

I stood in a more steady stance before looking down once again at the girl below me. Her midnight curls cascaded down her back. The glossy sheen of her hair glistened in the golden sun coming from the windows. Her chocolate skin showed no imperfections as it sparkled in the morning rays, my eyes traced the-

"Are you going to help me up or . . . ?" startled by her voice, I hesitated before pulling her up from the ground.

"Thanks, for a second there I didn't think you would help me out," she spoke while dusting herself off. "I'm Saya, you?" Her face broke out into a soft smile, my knees buckled from underneath me.

"Marcus." I voiced.

I cannot believe a girl is talking to me right now

"Nice to meet you, Marcus I-"

"There you are, nerd. I've been looking for you everywhere!" A voice sneered out from behind me.

I froze in place. Why now? Of all times he could appear. There stood Kaleb Santos, the star quarterback and man-whore himself. He stood in all his glory, he was about my height or the same. I tried to keep my distance as much as possible. Short brown curls that looked to be no longer than a centimeter shaped his face. He had light caramel skin. His frame was a bit slender than mine but still very muscular. Never once have I seen the douchy grin leave his face, it was like a mask that he always had on.

"What do you. . . what do you want?" I stammered. A sick grin rose to his face at my nervousness, but he failed to meet my gaze. I spun and looked towards Saya; she was staring at Kaleb.

"Hey, sexy," he exclaimed, eyeing her like she was a piece of meat. "Wanna leave, and have some fun?" his eyes flashed suggestively as he licked his lips.

I pushed away from the urge to vomit. Why am I still standing here?

Saya reveals an attractive smile and saunters to him. I could have sworn her teeth did the little twinkle thing like in the movies.

Kaleb's smirk grew as his eyes never left me, though his attention zeroed in on Saya. I turn to retreat, only pausing when I heard a loud grunt.

I snapped back around to see Kaleb gripping his abdomen in discomfort.

"That was weak, bro." Saya laughed, "It's sad you thought that was going to work." She lets out a giggle before turning her attention back to me.

The entire hallway gawked at her, some in disgust and others looked seemed to be praising her. She paid no mind to them as she walked over to me as if nothing happened.

"Marcus, can you please walk me to class?" she asked, a smile curling the edges of her lips. I nodded my head as we walked off.

***
I strolled to the cafeteria, grabbed my lunch, and made my way to a table in the back. I always sat apart from everyone, every day. I didn't like anyone here so why try to fit in? I like to do me all the time. There are so many people here trying to be what they aren't and it's embarrassing to watch it blow up in their face.

I chewed my lunch as my music played in my ears, drowning out the sounds of the "latest tea". A lunch tray dropped onto the table in front of me, invading my solitude. Taking one of my earbuds out, I glanced up, expecting the worse.

Saya sat across from me in all her glory, munching on some fries to herself as she scrolled through her phone.

"Saya?"

"What?" she popped a fry into her mouth, a small smile blooming on her face at the pleasant taste.

"Why are you here?"

"Because it's lunch and I'm hungry." She shrugged her shoulders and her entire body language

said "duh".

"No, I mean, why are you sitting with me?"

She raised her eyebrows in question or genuine shock. "We're friends and I like to eat lunch with my friends," she responded after a few seconds.

"Now stop with all the questions and eat." She put another fry in her mouth and scrolled through her phone.

We sat in silence, eating the rest of our food. Every once in a while I sent an awkward glance her way, being caught. A smirk grew on her face every time she caught me. I thought of us being friends swirled around my head.

Why would she ever want to be friends with me? So, Marcus, tell me why you're sitting alone," she asks, breaking the silence.

"I don't have any friends or anything." I looked down at my tray, letting my thoughts trail off, feeling embarrassed.

She nods her head, I could hear the gears turning in her head. We spoke for most of the lunch period; or should I say she talked, I listened.

"How could you hate tomatoes, but like them in other foods?" I asked.

"Tomatoes are a sin to salads and sandwiches, but, I love a bowl of tomato soup with grilled cheese." She choked with laughter.

A soft grin spread across my face as my head shook in amusement.

"Who was that guy from earlier?" She asks as the laughter died down.

My face drains of color thinking about him. "That was Kaleb Santos," I avoided looking in her direction, but could still feel her intense gaze.

"Can you fight?" she questions almost immediately.

"I mean, I wouldn't know," I stared with a perplexed expression as she looked around.

"Interesting," she pauses. "Is he the only one that messes with you?"

"I guess sometimes some of his friends join in if they're around," I replied, confusion evident in my voice.

She nods her head, "Just wondering."

I stared at her as she looked for the rest of the cafeteria.

"I feel like this is gonna be an interesting year," she says with a wink in my direction.

The bell sounds not even a second later, Saya stood clearing her trash but disappeared in the crowd.

What have I gotten myself into?