It's hard not to stare at nonconformity.
Maybe that's why Miguel found himself staring across the lunch room at the girl who was not of this world. She made the cafeteria feel like there was a dress code and she broke every rule.
The girl was colorful, to say the least. She sported a mint green mohawk, sides shaved and meticulously fanned out. A leather jacket sat comfortably around her shoulders and her jeans had patches all over them. Her shoes were plaid, dirtied, and tall.
"Hey, man. Who's that?"
Demetri took a glance at who Miguel was asking about and rolled his eyes.
"That's Jade Lester. We don't really talk about her anymore."
"Anymore?"
"Yeah, well there's not much to it. One day, Jade is a normal eighth grader. T-shirts and skinny jeans, pretty average and nothing you'd go crazy over... She was average until she was gone for a month. When she came back... she was different." Demetri shrugged his shoulders. "No one really knows what happens."
Miguel looked at Jade.
"Does she talk to anyone?"
Demetri once again shrugged his shoulders.
"Not from what I see. She stays over there, we stay here. If anyone picks on her... well, Jade's not afraid of school suspension."
Miguel nodded his head slowly, processing the information. It must be rather lonely to sit by yourself everyday, listening to music, and not having anyone to talk to
"I wouldn't try it, buddy. Especially after your little 'strike first' bit with the rich girls from yesterday..."
"But it must get lonely for her?"
Demetri shook his head and scoffed.
"It's better for everyone to remain in the circle predetermined for us. For example." Demetri made a circle and gestured to everyone at the table. "This is the Virgins-till-college group. We actually go to college, get a good job, and then get a girlfriend based on salary."
He pointed at the rich girls with his thumb, "those are the hot-girls everyone wants, but the douches get. They've got more confidence than Eli and I have combined."
"Those are the fine-arts kids. They'll get a useless degree in something and then complain about not making enough to live after spend $50,000 on a Theatre degree."
"Over there you have the anime weirdos. Half will out grow their obsession after senior year and the other half will continue to live with their parents until they're 40."
"Oh, and how can we forget the overachievers? The debate team, swim team, academic team, the everything team group who will become burnt out doctors, lawyers, etcetera. One of them will kill their spouse, the rest of them will cheat on their spouse."
"Then you have Jade. The social outcast that everyone stares at and remembers, but no one will talk about. After we graduate, there won't be a single word from her. Despite her bright hair and crazy outfits, she'll slip under the radar and be forgotten."
Demetri took a sip of his drink and finished it.
"That's the cycle of society."
...
A/N:
So, here's the introduction for Jade Lester, my new baby who came to me in the car while listening to the London Calling album by The Clash. I was thinking...
Who taught Eli how to do his hair?
Who does his hair?
How did he find Rico?
Where did he get an ID?
Because idk if any of you have done a mohawk but it's NOT that easy and neither is dying your hair. I mean, the season 1 blue did look pretty bad but still...
Wish me luck!