I 'm slowly scanning the canteen area when I notice an empty table in the middle of the room.
Most of the tables are filled with the rich kids chatting and gossiping. The place is divided into three categories, high class kids, middle class and of course the ones no one wants sitting around them.
A tiger is painted on the walls of the room and below it the word tiger. The rest of the room is white with paws.
A girl in a white polka dotted dress and a pair of sunglasses bumps into me and my food is all into a waste. She ignores the mess she has created and continues to a nearby table. Giving me a mean look she starts chatting with her friends.
Now everyone's looking at me oddly.
I hate school. Seriously.
"Ignore her," a voice says all of a sudden.
Kneeling next to me with her food in her hands is my dear unknown friend. Today she's in black denims and a crop top. Just like always, her spectacles are glued to her face. She gives me a tiny smile from the corner of her lip.
"Ohh hi!" I'm startled by her sudden arrival and her sweet voice.
"Sorry, didn't mean to startle you."
"Isn't it already a bit too late to say that?" I smile as she hands me the cup that was in my tray, "Thanks."
"Leave that," she suggests and walks away.
What.
The.
Heck??
What's wrong with her?
First she comes, then goes. Returns, then goes again.
I walk to the table I had seen earlier and the moment I sit, everyone turns and looks at me. Now what? Is this some kind of sacred table.
A slight tap on my shoulder and I turn to see my unexpected guest.
"Follow me."
"What why?"
"Don't sit here."
"Why?"
"Are you some kinda police officer? I'm here to help you and you're interrogating me instead. Please, there's no time to explain. Just come with me," she mumbles something else under her breath and pulls me behind her.
Odd.
****
It feels like we are being roasted when we get off the car. The beach mud shining with a lot of souls run around and swim in the inviting water
"By the way, my name's Kathrine, but you can call me Kate. It's preferable. Well, a lot of people say so," she finally introduces herself.
"I'm Alana, nice to finally know you Kate," I smile.
We make our way to the restaurant nearby and order some food.
"So do you, have any friends?" I ask her.
My curiosity is a problem, honestly.
"Well yeah, actually no," oh no, tell me she's not schizophrenic now, "I had one but we had a little fight and broke up. Since then, I've been alone."
"Fight? What happened?"
"She- " She suddenly breaks down.
Wholly macaroni.
What have I done now? At least I told you.
"I'm sorry, I'm just curious about everything. Don't say anything if you don't want to."
"It's ok. Do you have friends?"
"Actually- "
"If it isn't the dumb and lame nerd with the new shy queen in school," I'm interrupted by the same girl who had pushed my tray.
If I wasn't hungry, I would have definitely shown her what I'm made
"Ok. So Miss new-girl-with-the-name-I-don't-know, it's time to make a decision, Either you join the CHIQS or be with our silly missus over here." She points at Kate while blowing a strand of hair from her eyes.
"What do you think Kate?" I ask her.
"Actually Alana, this is your choice. Either you join them and be popular or stay with me and be a nobody."
"Nobody?"
"Yes. I suggest you join them. I live a risky life."
"Thanks for the invite."
"What?" She nearly yells in confusion.
"You heard me, I love risky."
Do I?
"And as for you CHIQS, thanks for the invite but fame and popularity ain't my thing."
"Well, looks like we got a new dummy in school," the five of them laugh.
"Umm, do you have an invitation to be standing at our table?"
"I'm the student President, don't-"
"I don't see no tiger logo in this restaurant so please," I jump into the convo that's slowly heating up.
"You'll pay for this," she barks while banging the table then marching out of the room is her pink bikini, and of course, her minions behind her.
"You can actually answer back?" Kate asks me with an astonished look.
"What? Why asking?"
"Well, the way you reacted with the canteen incident was... weird. I thought you were shy."
"Ohh that, I'm not the kinda person to create silly scenes."
Our drinks and food finally get to our table.
"Where there some traffic problems on your way?" Kate murmurs and we both giggle.
The waiter looks at us with an annoyed face and trots back to the counter. How hard is it to be a waiter? Probably not cool when the place is usually filled with a bunch of teenagers. We are sitting at our table and all of a sudden a fight arises in one of the tables at the top left corner. Why do people spoil such moments?
The music was soft and soothing I had already forgotten about my worries.
Well, most of them I guess.
"I got something to show you. Follow me."
"What is it?"
"Patience please."