Her whole world stopped when she saw her. She didn't know who she was but this girl was definitely an eye catcher. Mikayla couldn't help but stare at the new girl at her school but she would never get the courage to talk to the girl. It wasn't like she was going to get a chance either, people were swarming around her. She could only admire her from afar.
She walked to her chemistry class and since it was a new semester, the class was going to be assigned new lab partners. The class usually did get to pick who their partner was but that ended as soon as no one was going to pick Mikayla. Nobody wanted to hang with the gay skater chick.
"Sonny Munroe, you are paired with Mikayla." said the teacher. Mikayla really didn't care who her lab partner was as long as they got their work done with a passing grade.
Mikayla did not look up from staring at her desk pretending that no one was talking about her. She heard the barstool slide not so smoothly against the tiled floor. It was now or never, she had to see what her partner looked like in case they needed to work on a project.
"Hi." her new lab partner said.
"H-Hi." Mikayla stuttered. It's the new girl. The new girl is her lab partner. Mikayla wondered how she became so lucky to have her as a lab partner.
"New girl got unlucky." Some girl in the class said. It immediately wiped the smile off Mikayla's face and she went back to staring at the desk.
Sonny had heard the girl and saw how Mikayla reacted. "What does she mean by 'unlucky'?" Sonny asked Mikayla.
"I-I'm not really liked at this school." Mikayla said.
"Why?" Sonny was curious on why nobody liked Mikayla.
"Don't want to talk about it, okay?" Mikayla said in a whisper and Sonny nodded in return. She did want to talk to Sonny about it but she couldn't risk severing whatever little connection they just developed.
They went through class learning about electrons and elements. But whatever it was, it was jotted down in Mikayla's notebook.
As soon as the bell rang Mikayla bolted out of the room and to the cafeteria. The classroom wasn't that far from it so she was one of first few to get in line. After she got her food she went to sit herself at her table in the corner. Mikayla gave up trying to fit in after the first week of school. She accepted the fact that nobody liked her.
She ate in silence while observing the people around her and how they interacted with their friends. Then her eyes landed on Sonny walking her way. She didn't know how to react. She just sat there watching her get closer to the table. Everyone around her was her was staring at Sonny, probably wondering why someone like her would want to sit with someone like Mikayla.
Sonny set her tray on the table and took a seat across from Mikayla. "You seemed to be in a hurry to get out of the classroom."
"I'm not a people person and you're killing your social status by sitting here with me." Mikayla looked down at her tray.
"You sitting alone, I thought I could keep you company."
"There's a reason why I'm sitting alone." Mikayla's eyes looked around and landed on Sonny's. "You should leave the table while you still have a chance."
"I don't care what people think of me and you seemed to be in a dire need of a friend."
Mikayla laughed bitterly, "That's where you're wrong. I don't need a friend. I survived the school year without one."
"Okay, fine. Before I leave this table, answer this question."
"Sure, what's the question?" Mikayla asked annoyed.
"Why do people treat you like this?" The question had come up again. There was no way to avoid it this time.
"The whole school is narrow-minded and it doesn't help you're the only gay girl in school." Mikayla said without making eye contact and took a bite of her burger.
"You're not the only one." Mikayla's head shot up. "I mean, there could be closet cases here. They just don't want risk their rank of their status."
"How would you know? This is your first day and you're already ruining it by sitting here with me." Mikayla looked up and noticed a group of girls walking towards her table. "You might want to leave now or I'm never going to hear the end of it."
Sonny got up from the table and the girls caught her before she could sit somewhere else. They took her to sit with them. It's how it should be. Mikayla thought.
Mikayla was skateboarding her way home because she didn't like taking the bus. Just another year and a half. As soon as high school was over she was free, free to be who she wanted to be and not be judged.
She was about two blocks away from home when she heard a car honk. She knew the routine, it happens about every day. She would be drenched because the jocks always think it is funny to throw water balloons at her.
She stopped in her tracks, bracing herself for the oncoming water balloons but none came. She looked over to her side. Sonny in her car, parked on the curb in front of her. "Do you need a ride?"
"Nope." Mikayla took off on her skateboard again but only to have Sonny slowly following Mikayla in her car. "Why do you want to help somebody like me? No one does, you should follow their example."
"I don't follow the crowd. I have my own way of doing things."
"Do you now?" Mikayla asked without looking at Sonny.
"Yes, now get in the car." Sonny said as she pulled over again.
"Fine." Mikayla said sounding defeated. She got into the car, placed her backpack at her feet and the skateboard propped up against the seat between her legs. "You know, for a new girl, you can be bossy."
"I know." Sonny said and Mikayla scoffed. "Why are you like this towards me?"
Mikayla sighed, "Sorry, I'm not used to people helping me out."
"Well, get use to it because I'll be helping you out and I won't care what people say." Sonny took a quick look at Mikayla, who had a small smile on her face.
"Wow, I must be lucky."
"What makes you say that?"
"Because in one day I got the new girl as my lab partner and as my friend." Mikayla said and for once she actually looked forward to school.
