Thanks guys for reviewing. It's always nice to hear what the people reading had to say. I'll try to make Ray's attitude stand out a bit more and I realize the end of the last chapter was a bit droning. I didn't add much of Ray's input there because it was already long so I thought I would save your eyeballs and leave it out even though it would make it a bit funnier to read. Also, no, Ray doesn't smoke. I don't know where on earth he would get the money to pay for it. Anyhow, the main idea of the last chapter was that he was offered a friendship and he was happy about that. I am happy to say I know how to make breaks now and I'll be inserting them into the past chapters. But anyhow, chapter time!

Chapter 4: Making Ends Meet

The wait for the next recess was horrible. Not knowing what to expect, not knowing if they'd like me or not. What happens if they are just like everyone else and judge me on how I look? If how I look is such a big deal, why don't I just change? I thought about it for a minute or so until I came up with the answer. Because if I give in, the world will win. (Hey, that kinda' rhymes!) Why should I look the same as everyone else? What is so damn wrong with being different? I had come to a conclusion. I wouldn't change to match the set stereotype. If everyone wanted to look the same, then they would have to change to look like me. So who cares if they didn't like me? So what else is new? I would just keep living the way I did before them.

Now you see just how thick headed I am. My way, or no way. That is how my life operated. That is how the world operated.

(FLASHBACK)

I woke up in a hospital bed which explained why my head hurt. How did my head get like this? I thought back to the last thing I remembered and came up with a blank. I looked around the room. Where was my mom, my dad?

"Mom?" I called out weakly. "Mom, where are you? Where am I? Ouch." I closed my eyes and stopped calling. I pulled my hand to my head because it hurt so much. My throat hurt too. How long was I out?

"Honey, its okay," said a gentle woman's voice. It wasn't my mom so when she held my hand in hers, I ripped it out and asked again,

"Mom, where are you? Where is she? Is she okay? What about dad? Where's my family?"

"I'll explain everything when you've gotten some sleep."

"I don't want to sleep; I want to know where my family is!"

"You've had a head injury and you need some sleep."

"Screw the head injury; I want to see my family!"

"You can't right now!" the nurse said in the closest thing to a yell she had used. "You just can't." then she started to tear up.

I removed my hand from my face and looked at her. Worry was written all across my face and I knew it. "Is everything alright?" I asked.

"Not for you sweetie," she said as she wiped a tear from her eye. "Not for you."

(END OF FLASHBACK)

I shook my head. I didn't want to remember what happened next. It was the single most horrible moment I ever experienced and doubt that I ever will again. Why do I have to ruin everything good that ever happens to me? And that stupid flashback. It was so random and didn't even make sense with what is happening. I guess that's what randomness is. Something that doesn't make any sense with what is going on.

I shook my head again. My life is so random. I can go from one place to another, one thought to the next without looking back. Like right now, I totally forgot what I was complaining about. After the random flashback I forgot all about what I was worried about. I think it's from moving around so much. Like from home to home. I never get too comfortable so I don't bother remembering where anything is. Like this morning, I can't remember any of the places Andy had shown me. Okay, I remembered some but only important ones. Landmarks so I don't get lost if I have to get out of town quickly. Not that I'll need to or anything. Hopefully… he, he. Uh, ya.

So by this time, I'm totally done trying to figure out my life and why it is the way it is, so I look around the class. I can recognize a lot of people from math like the nerds and such. The spit-balling guys are there but this time the outsider, the kid with the baseball hat isn't there. Him and the little guy with the big nose. The 2 big guys and the red head are laughing at something. What, I have no clue. I look them over and come to a conclusion. I would be able to take on the red head and possibly win. There isn't that big of a gap in the size difference. On the other hand, if I was stupid enough to get stuck in a fight with any of the other 2 bigger guys, I can safely say I would lose and/or get killed. But that doesn't mean they wouldn't have to deal with some damage of their own.

Then all of a sudden, one of the bigger ones, the one who wasn't the blonde and didn't have the retarded hat, the one with almost white hair tinged maybe a little purple looked at me. I just smirked and looked away. I could almost feel his death-glare boring into the back of my skull. Good job Ray, you just made your first, maybe second enemy. I say second because I know that Mr. Hinckley couldn't stand that someone like me was contaminating his precious school with all my mighty gothicness. Oh the horror! Ch-yeah, whatever.

But anyway, the bell rang so I didn't have to withstand Mr. Oh-U-looked-at-me-and-now-U-will-feel-the-wrath-of-my-mighty-death-glares glares. Lucky for me I was close to the door so I could get out quickly.

I'm outside now, sitting by the tree where that girl revealed her whole life story to me. I watch the other kids pour out the door and group together to find their friends. The knot in my stomach is back so I try to ignore it. Happy thoughts: pink ponies, pretty rainbows, fluffy clouds, -oh who was I kidding? Those things didn't make me happy. I was trying to figure out what did when I spotted her. The girl who talked to me. I just remembered that I didn't know her name. Odd. I bet she didn't know mine either. Oh well.

She waved when she saw me and ran over. I didn't see anyone following her and I was actually relieved. Why? Ask the knot in my stomach.

"Hi!" she said as she stopped in front of me. "Glad to see you came. They are coming out in a second."

She plopped down beside me and smiled. "They're a little weird. Our whole group is weird. It's also the reason why we're together too, I guess."

"Can't get much weirder then me." I said.

She giggled, "You'd be surprised…"

Just then two boys came running up. I recognized them from the guys I saw this morning. There was one with blonde hair and freckles, the other with bluey gray hair with blue stripes on his face. The blonde was pulling the other along by the hand at a pace he didn't seem to like.

"Hurry up," he complained. "I want to meet Kristen's new friend!" Kristen must be "the girl". Good. I was improving. I now knew her name.

The blue haired one stumbled behind him, "If you didn't go so fast I wouldn't fall every five seconds."

The blonde rolled his eyes and brought his hand forward, along with the other boy. Mr. Stripy then went flying to the ground.

"We're here," Blondie said patting the other guy on the head. The other growled as he sat crossed-legged in front of me keeping his eyes on the ground.

"This is Max," she said pointing to the blonde. "And Kai." She indicated the other one.

"Hi," I said quietly. They looked nice enough. How they were social rejects lower than myself I still didn't know.

The boy with the blonde hair, Max, I think it was studied my face for awhile before he sat down. As soon as he was settled, he continued to look at me. It was so awkward, you'd have no idea. I ducked my head so my bangs fell over my face like a curtain so I could shield myself from his stare.

"How many do you have?" he asked in wonder. Figuring the question was for me, I looked up.

"Of what?"

"Piercings." He said looking hard at my face again to my utmost dislike. I really felt like hitting him.

"Oh, uh," I had to think about it for a few seconds. "10."

"Wow!"

They took it better then I thought they would. Instead of freaking out Max just asked another question.

"Can you squirt water through the hole in your lip?"

I was taken aback. I sat there just blinking for awhile until I was able to shake it off. "Uh, I've never tried…"

"Oh, too bad. I really wanted to know." This brings me back to the reason I was so surprised to hear the question. He didn't ask in a mocking kind of way other people would. He really wanted to know.

So the questions kept coming for awhile. It was basically only Max but Kristen piped up every so often. Then when finally they ran out of things to ask me, they moved to some of the strangest subjects in history a conversation can be about. An example was 'Do you think chickens should run for presidents?' or 'Do you think it's pointless to wish for a pink pony for Christmas?' The weirdest part of it all was they actually asked my opinion. Why did they want to know my input? I decided not to analyze this whole situation and just answer the questions.

Eventually the bell rang ending the by far best recess I have ever encountered. I had fun at school. I didn't ever think I would use the words 'fun' and 'school' in the same sentence. That is at least unless you use it along side the words 'illegally vandalizing.' There might be some more but right now I don't feel like thinking. I don't want to ruin the moment.

"Well, see you tomorrow, uh, Ray, right?" Kirsten said getting up.

"It was great to meet you." Max said as he shook my hand.

"Uh, see ya." I walked away. I must have sounded so stupid. I pretty much started everything I said with "Uh…' I really hoped they didn't notice. But other then that, it felt like everything was perfect. Nothing could bring me down now. I was so happy; it seriously felt like I was floating. I know how stupid it sounds but I did and I was liking it. I was ready for anything. So come on life! Hit me with your best shot!

Wha-Hooie! What is this? Chapter 4? Well, it's finally done! Sorry it took so long. Lately I haven't been able to sit myself down at the computer and type. I hoped you enjoyed the chapter though. Sorry if Ray's attitude isn't up to your standards yet. He will eventually though! Please review and stay with me. Everyone knows that after chapter 4 comes chapter 5 and I have some big plans. Bye for now! And PLEASE! Review! You would make me very, very happy if you did.