Why Bother?

"Mom, how can I make new friends?" the curious teenager asked. "Honey, all you have to do is say hi, start a conversation." she replied with a smile and a light chuckle. "But...I have a hard time saying hi...and I can't start a conversation..." he replied blushing shyly. "I understand, buddy, but, that's how you make friends in high school." she responded with a smile. "Well...if you say so..." the timid teenager replied.

Okay, so truth is that I have a huge crush on this guy, I have for a while for now, I was just to frightned to tell her that I have feelings for a guy. It's typical of any teenager. The fear of being rejected by your own loved ones, and blending in to the cliques of high school. Being gay doesn't make this an easy task. I don't have any friends as of right now, mostly because I'm socially challanged. I have a hard time communicating with the other teens of this school. I can't start a conversation, much less keep one going. I've only had a few friend throughout my school carrer, one moved in eigth grade, another just stopped talking to me... I sat outside on a bench in the courtyard of the school. The autumn leaves now descending to the ground as winter takes a grip on the northern hemisphere. I felt as if I were leaf. Nobody gives a second thought as I fall from the tree that supported me and gave me life. I looked around and I saw the one person I dreaded, but the one that I also loved to look at. It was Bruce Crevsy, your stereotypical buff jock who steals the hearts of the girls and is easily the most popular guy in the school. He was walking by me and I only managed to mumble a hi. Surprisngly enough, he actually heard me. "Hey." he replied with a smile and continued walking. I smiled and blushed. I never thought I would say hi to him...I might make a friend this year. I took my phone out of my pocket. It read 8:13 am. Classes are about to start. I picked up my backback and slipped the straps onto both shoulders and walked to the door. I opened it and saw a hallway of crowded people. The conversations of people became indistinguishable, people walked throughout the halls in groups, many were talking about their summers. I went a few places, but other than that, my summer was boring. I walked to my first block class, English. I walked in the class room and sat down in the seat that I was assigned. A few moments later, a kid that was new here walked in. He sat in his assigned seat. Soon enough, everyone walked into the classroom as the teacher closed the door. "I hope you all enjoyed your break, now, I will call roll." she said picking up a clipboard off of her desk. "Joshua House?" she said. "Here." a brown haired guy replied. "James Wellard?" she said. 'Here." a blonde headed boy replied. "Llyod Carlisle?" she said. I raised my hand and said here. Soon, she finished calling roll, and now, we were going to start a project. "Here is a simple project for all of you, you will be partnered and no, you will not be choosing your partners." She said as some huffs were heard from students. "Now, for this, you will take a childhood story that you have read and you can rewrite it, or you may draw it. I love drawing! I carried two sketchbooks everywhere I went, I always have something to work on so I never get bored. "I will call out your partners." she said. "Joshua, you will work with Kristiana." she said. "Keith, you will work with Devon." she said as they high-fived each other. "Llyod, you will work with Bruce." Wait what? "Revrand, you'll work with Grayson." she said as they both smiled. She finished calling out the groups a short time later. Bruce walked over and sat next to me. "Do you want to rewrite the story or do you want to draw it?" he asked. "D...draw it...if you don't mind." I blushed shyly. "Not a problem." he said smiling. I loved when he smiled. I took out my sketchbook and began drawing a scene from my favorite childhood book, Robin Hood. "If you would like, you can work with your partner outside of school." the teacher said. I wanted to do that...I just didn't want to ask him. I met him over the summer, but we don't know each other too well. "Would you like to work outside of school?" he asked me. "Y...yeah...if that's okay..." I blushed as my heart raced. "Sounds good, after school then?" he said. "Yeah..." I replied. I finished the scene, all I needed to do was add text bubble and some words. The bell rang for second block. I closed my sketchbook and walked out when I was stopped at the doorway. "Hey, you draw, don't you?" Bruce asked me. "Yeah...why?" I asked. "Could I see some of your drawings?" he asked. Of course, I didn't delay. "Sure!" I said and handed him my other sketchbook. "Thanks, I'll hand this back to you at lunch!" he said walking off.