Even though I don't get to hang around Nix that often, I don't think I should have accepted their invitation to sit with them at lunch. When I look back at Arian and the others, they give me looks that clearly spell out 'traitor'. When Rylee or Wade looks where I glanced at, they laugh mockingly. I suddenly realize that I've switch sides in a war.
Not only that have I become a POW, but I have also enter a world of weird looks and instant judgement. Everyone around us seems to be watching, listening in to what we're saying, and then spinning it into something bad that only drop-outs would do. I understand Nix's madness now; he's probably used to this.
Out of everything I notice I find out that they're extremely loud. Everything they say is supposedly funny, though I don't get most of what their saying, and requires them to say it loudly and for the others to make insulting comments. For the most part, I keep quiet and pick at my food, hoping they won't notice me. However, Rylee doesn't let me slide by.
"So, Kace," he says in a mock-friendly tone, "why do you hang out with Nix so much?"
"That's because we're-" I start to say, but with one warning look from Nix, I know it's not allowed. "-we're friends."
There was a small silence as Rylee thought over my choice of words. "You don't sound very confident about that."
Because I'm not, I wanted to scream, but I couldn't. Nix didn't want anyone to know. Luckily for me, I didn't have to answer because of the person approaching us. The person wasn't like the rest of them; he was more refined and dignified, more normal, but he sat down at our table anyways, right in between me and Wade. Then, as if he was always there, he ignored ours stares and started to eat.
"Uhh," Nix started to question, but Wade waved him off.
"I told him to sit here," he vaguely explained. But we accepted it anyways.
Liam was the first to speak after that. "What, did you beat him up, Wade?" he said, and the rest of them laughed, easing the tension.
"Haha, very funny," Wade answered, annoyed, but a smile played on his lips. His stranger, however, said nothing and didn't smile. "We have class together."
I stared at the stranger, then. It wasn't like Wade to just make friends randomly. As if sensing my stare, he looked up at me. "Owen," he said to me, and when I looked confused he added, "My name is Owen."
"Kace," I answered a little too quickly and Nix laughed beside me.
"Don't be so happy, it's gross," he teased and I glared at him.
Soon, the lunch bell rang and we all got to our feet, starting in different directions. Wade left with Owen, and Nix went off with his friends after saying goodbye to me. I went off a different way myself to go find Arian, but before I left I looked back at Wade and Owen and I caught them kissing. The sick feeling that usually came when I see people kiss didn't come. Maybe it was because of Nix that all I felt was happiness for them. Or maybe it's because I wanted the same for myself.
Class was easy and fun for a change. We got put into groups and like always, Arian was my partner. Part of me felt like maybe things were going back to before, when I was normal and so was everything else. The other part of me knew I was different, but didn't care. I was happy for once, after the longest period of sadness. Even if I had changed, things were better.
And I was still changing. Every day I was getting more and more used to being around others. With Nix by my side and Arian at the other, I was shaking off my fear. In the beginning, I didn't think it was possible, but maybe…
Slowly, I reached out and touched Arian's shoulder. Again there was no sickness. It felt weird but that only. On contact, Arian turned and I moved my hand. "What?" he asked, assuming I needed something. I just smiled back and we went back to work.
When class ended, I hurried out of the room to find Nix. My happiness was overwhelming, and I wanted nothing more than to be with him. I went up to the roof first, but when I got up there Rylee told me he had already left. Maybe he's looking for me.
Going back downstairs I checked his usual hiding spots: the bathrooms, the library, the art room, but he wasn't there. The only place left was the parking lot so I quickly walked down stairs. Maybe he's leaving early? But why would he do that without saying goodbye? I hope nothing bad is h-
Suddenly I bumped against something solid and when I stepped back to get away I saw that I ran into Owen. Owen didn't look angry or irritated so I quickly apologized and then asked, "Have you seen Nix?"
Instantly, Owen's eyes shifted away from mine and I watched as his jaw flexed with swallowed anger. "Yes," he said, simply and quietly, and I was suddenly afraid.
He turned and started to walk so I followed close behind. Confusion washed over me as I tried to think of all the possible things this could mean. Was Nix in a fight? I wouldn't put it passed him, but if that were true, I would have probably already heard about it. As we walked, I looked at all of the people's expressions as they were walking in the other direction. None of them looked like that they had just seen a fight. What was going on?
In front of me, Owen stopped and looked down the corner of the hallway. When he looked back, he still couldn't meet my eyes. "Over there," he instructed.
Still confused, I cautiously walked passed him and turned down the hallway. At first, I didn't see Nix because of a girl leaning up against the wall. But, when I looked closer, I could see him on the other side of her, pressing his lips against hers. It was the same girl as before.
I stared for a moment, not wanting to believe what I was seeing, but when I felt something wet fall down my face, I turned back to Owen. His eyes meet mine then, and this time they looked sad. For the first time I realized that he knew. "Thank you," I said, my voice only coming out in a whisper, and I meant it. Thank you for looking out for a stranger.
Owen slightly nodded, and I turned and ran.