When we reached my school, Craig still had his arm around me. I really don't remember feeling his arm around me at all. It was there though. I looked up at him and he smiled down at me. Where did that come from, I thought.
We walked right up to the entrance to my school. We were still outside because only classes are inside and the lockers are outside. I think you get the basic idea so I won't explain anymore. Anyways, we just kept walking down the hall together. I couldn't help notice that people were staring at us. I bet it was because of Craig's arm around me. Dang! Now everyone has the wrong idea about us!
Just then, I saw Paige and I quickly ran up to her letting Craig's arm fall behind me. Paige was wearing her hot pink tank top, jean Bermuda shorts (I can't believe she wore something like that!) and hoop earrings. Of course she was wearing make-up as well. That is Paige's most prized accessory. What else?
"Hey hun," she chorused at me, "Hi Craig."
"Hi," I replied back to her opening my locker next to hers.
"What's up?" Craig responded opening his locker, which was across the hall from mine.
"Nothing is up. Just that Manny has been acting up again. You know, the usual let-a-guy-see-me-and-I-cheat-on-him routine." Paige said annoyed.
"Oh, no," I cried, "Who did she cheat on this time?"
"Some guy. He goes to this one school out of town. She says she met him at the mall."
I rolled my eyes. Typical Manny. She always had a different guy then got another to cheat on. Her "process" of this was really quite simple. Manny would always find a guy and date him. Then she would find someone new and then forget all about her old one. Usually when her old "boyfriend" found out he would dump her and Manny-for some reason I don't know why-would lock herself in the bathroom and make herself throw up.
I looked at Craig who was still across the hall at his locker. He was leaning against it with one leg angled and propped up against it. You know, in a cowboy way. Like, when cowboys lean against something they prop their leg up. Yeah. Well, he looked like that. I quickly glanced at him one more time and a slight smile appeared across his face. I looked back at Paige.
"Shall we get to class," she asked me as the bell rang.
I nodded and started to walk with Paige down the hall toward our first period. Craig got up from leaning against his locked and started following us from behind. Well, he wasn't really behind Paige. He was behind me. Me! I thought about this for a moment when Paige was talking to me. Why would he be behind me? I am just overreacting, I told myself.
Just then, I saw the "mean girls" of our school. Right when Paige, Craig, and I were about to pass them they purposely got in front of us causing Paige to bump into them. They quickly fixed their hair and stared at us.
"Watch where you are going!" growled Sam. She was one of the main mean people in the group.
Paige just sighed. You could tell she wanted to scream at her but didn't bother.
"So," said Jade, another main girl, "I heard about your dad, Emma. I am so sorry."
I nodded my head. I was mostly shocked! These girls were never nice to me! Why the sudden change? Is there something up? Or could they really just be acting nice?
"My dad," Jade continued, "is sick too. But you know, he doesn't have cancer or anything like that. He just has the common cold."
So, that was it. Jade didn't want to be nice. None of them did. She just wanted to rub in my face that her dad was well, alive, and definitely was going to be seen again by people. All those words she said to me hit me like stone. How could she? I knew the answer to that. I really did. But that was just so...so...well, mean.
I felt warm tears returning to me eyes. I glanced around quickly trying to plan my escape. Without thinking I told them that I better get to class and charged right through their group. I walked fast towards class. There was no way I was going there though. I couldn't go there! I would break down and cry!
I heard Craig behind me walking fast to try and catch up. I also heard Paige yelling at Jade and Sam. As soon as I turned the corner however, I started to beak into a run toward the track and field. Craig's footsteps behind me became long ones as he started to run after me. I just ran fast until my legs hurt and I could run no more. That just got me to the bleachers by the field. That was on the other side of the school.
My friends are great. We are just like a team. Craig always makes sure that I am feeling all right and if I am ok. You know, that sort of thing. Paige always protects me. She can always come up with good comebacks and all. I always...I always...what did I do? What was I to my friends? Was I even anything?
By the time Craig caught up to me, I was already sitting on the middle bleacher crying my heart out. He walked up slowly and carefully sat beside me. I just looked at him and glanced away with tears streaming down my cheeks. Craig wrapped his arms around me.
"Are you ok?" He asked calmly.
"No," I yelled pulling away from him, "I am not ok! Does it look like I am ok? Why did it have to be my dad who died? Why?"
Craig looked taken aback as I spat those words out like venom. He didn't look hurt. Not at all. It was probably because he went through the same thing when his dad died. There is just a slight difference though between that. What was it? Oh yeah. His dad beat him and mine didn't. Now he lives with his step-dad. Well I think it is his step-dad.
Craig just wrapped his arms around me again and I didn't pull away. Instead I turned to him and buried my head into his shoulder and cried harder. I was mostly sad but there was some anger in it too.
"I am so sorry," I cried to him, "I didn't mean to yell at you Craig. Please forgive me."
"I always forgive you," he whispered into my ear.
Paige finally found us a couple minutes later and walked up the bleachers. I buried my head into Craig's shoulder more. I couldn't help it! It was comforting! It isn't like I am going out with the guy. Hey, if comfort were offered to you, you would take it! Right?
Anyways, as Paige got closer to us, a little smile appeared on her face. She finally sat down on the opposite side of me and offered me a couple tissues. I pulled away from Craig but his arms still were wrapped around me. I took the tissues from Paige and dabbed my eyes with them. My friends were great. Awesome. What was I to them? I thought.