Natalia sat in a dark corner in the cafeteria with her back against the wall. To her it was a survival technique to others just someone who was antisocial. For her it was probably the next best thing, let them ignore her, not so much attention would be drawn to her then.
She sighed as she popped a raisin into her mouth. How she wished she could be normal. Normal friends, normal parents, normal everything. She envied everyone in the cafeteria. They had friends, siblings, and nice parents. They didn't have to be afraid to make them because their stepfather decided to use them as a punching bag.
A hand on her shoulder had her gasping in shock and stiffening. Lionel couldn't be there. He couldn't do anything in front of everyone.
"Easy Natalia," Conner said softly sitting down beside her. Kira, Ethan, and Trent sat down a crossed from them.
"Why are you sitting by me?" Nat found herself asking.
"Because we want to. Is that a crime?" Kira asked staring intently at Natalia. She was the one that Conner had always refused to talk about.
"No, its just I'm not used to people sitting by me and its really not the best idea in the world."
"And why would that be Nat?" Conner asked, he refused to let up on the subject, she'd try and get away from it but he wouldn't be deterred.
Because you might get hurt, McKnight, she thought but said, "People might get the wrong idea about you and your friends."
"As of six months ago. I really don't care what other people think about me," Conner retorted, "Now try and give me another excuse. They are kind of funny to hear."
"Conner," Kira scolded, "be nice to her. It might seem he's changed since the last time you saw him. I don't know what he was like when you met him but when I first met in detention he was a self-absorbed jerk who liked nothing more than soccer and pretty girls."
"Which would be why he hangs around with you?" Nat asked smirking at Conner, "She's nice Conner. You should keep her around."
"We aren't dating Nat," Conner said shaking his head at her, "We are just friends that met in detention."
"No offense, Kira? But why are you hanging out with him?"
"I'm truthfully not sure. Why'd you hang out with him when you were younger?"
"Because he was the one that made sure I didn't get lost here and there," Natalia said shrugging her shoulders, "I need to get going. I still have some homework to do and I need to use the library to finish it."
"On of these days Nat. I'm going to get tired of waiting for you to tell me whose hitting you and I'm going to push even harder," Conner said gently.
"And one of these days I'll probably tell you. But I don't want you hurt."