I shrank into the lunchroom, walking upright but feeling like
Neanderthal-esq when the room quieted. Guess news travels quicker than I
thought was possible. I sat at the free spot on the lunch table,
conveniently at the end of the table.
A boy walked by as the lunchroom breathed again-talk that drifted to a low murmur began anew as the room adjusted itself in a bubble that included everything but me. Even the gum underneath the tables. He stopped and turned, addressed the table by talked to me. "So now the Cliffhangers aren't only freaks, they're fags?" He smiled and no one said a word. My tongue swelled because what could I say? The only thoughts going through my mind where self mutilation. And I'm supposed to recover to answer back. I stood the kid recoiled. It's not catching, I wanted to say. I said nothing.
"Piss off," came Daisy's voice.
"Yeah," said Ezra. I began to walk back out and the noise rose with every step I got to the door. The Cliffhangers probably felt stiffed. Well sorry; your great comradeship came just a second too soon for Mr. Hitchhiker. Alone again. I just can't wait to be alone again. I passed Rowan as he pushed the swinging doors. For a second we locked eyes. Then the second was over. I headed off to the dorms.
A boy walked by as the lunchroom breathed again-talk that drifted to a low murmur began anew as the room adjusted itself in a bubble that included everything but me. Even the gum underneath the tables. He stopped and turned, addressed the table by talked to me. "So now the Cliffhangers aren't only freaks, they're fags?" He smiled and no one said a word. My tongue swelled because what could I say? The only thoughts going through my mind where self mutilation. And I'm supposed to recover to answer back. I stood the kid recoiled. It's not catching, I wanted to say. I said nothing.
"Piss off," came Daisy's voice.
"Yeah," said Ezra. I began to walk back out and the noise rose with every step I got to the door. The Cliffhangers probably felt stiffed. Well sorry; your great comradeship came just a second too soon for Mr. Hitchhiker. Alone again. I just can't wait to be alone again. I passed Rowan as he pushed the swinging doors. For a second we locked eyes. Then the second was over. I headed off to the dorms.