“
During homeroom, before first period, I start a bucket list in one of my notebooks.
First on the list?
1) Eat in the cafeteria. Sit with people. TALK TO THEM.
2)
And…that’s all I can come up with for now. But this is good. One task to work on.
No distractions. I can do this.
When my lunch period rolls around, I forgo the safety of my bag lunch and the computer
lab and slip into the pizza line, wielding my very own tray of semi-edible fare for
the first time in years.
“A truly remarkable sight.” Jensen cuts into line beside me, sliding his tray next
to mine on the ledge in front of us. He lifts his hands and frames me with his fingers,
like he’s shooting a movie. “In search of food, the elusive creature emerges from
her den and tries her luck at the watering hole."
I shake my head, smiling, moving down the line. “Wow, Peters. I never knew you were
such a huge Animal Planet fan.”
“I’m a fan of all things nature. Birds. Bees. The like.” He grabs two pudding cups
and drops one on my tray.
“Pandas?” I say.
“How did you know? The panda is my spirit animal.”
“Oh, good, because Gran has this great pattern for an embroidered panda cardigan.
It would look amazing on you.”
“Um, yeah, I know. It was on my Christmas list, but Santa totally stiffed me."
I laugh as I grab a carton of milk. So does he.
He leans in closer. “Come sit with me.”
“At the jock table? Are you kidding?” I hand the cashier my lunch card.
Jensen squints his eyes in the direction of his friends. “We’re skinny-ass basketball
players, Wayfare. We don’t really scream jock.”
“Meatheads, then?”
“I believe the correct term is Athletic Types.” We step out from the line and scan
the room. “So where were you planning on sitting?"
“I was thinking Grady and Marco were my safest bet.”
“The nerd table?”
I gesture to myself, especially my glasses. “I figure my natural camouflage will help
me blend, yo.”
He laughs, his honey-blond hair falling in front of his eyes.
“And hey,” I say, nudging him with my elbow, “last I heard, Peters was cool with nerdy.”
He claps me gently on the back. “Good luck, Wayfare. I’m pulling for ya.
”
”
M.G. Buehrlen (The Untimely Deaths of Alex Wayfare (Alex Wayfare #2))