Eight

Weeks passed and just like that summer ended and the school year began. I never really liked school here much. I can't remember any other places to compare it to, but I always felt like this was the worst place to be. My only friends are Alice, Jane, and Mary, and if they're not around, I tend to feel lonely.

Harbourtown is not a big town. It's the type of place where everyone knows everyone, yet not that many people know me. I always feel like an outsider.

The first day of school is no different. As we take turns introducing ourselves in class, I can feel my stomach churning my breakfast along with fear and anxiety. I am not comfortable around other people. When it is my turn to stand and say my name, I almost blank out.

"D-d-daz," is all I can stutter.

The teacher probably would've asked me for my last name as well if she didn't see how nervous I looked. Instead she gave me a sympathetic look before calling out "Next, then."

I sink into my seat again and keep my eyes on my desktop. I can't see anyone else this way, which is better. I can hear two guys snickering in the back far end of the room. I can feel Alice's eyes on me. She's concerned, I know that. She feels bad for me, I suppose. But when it is her turn, she stands up with enough flawlessness and poise for me to look up again and introduces herself gracefully. Alice is the type of person everyone admires for some reason.

Jane announces her presence in her usual haughty way. Some other girls roll their eyes and I'm thankful no one is focusing on my embarrasing incident. Mary is her usual shy self, but doesn't stutter like me.

After lectures, class overviews and a number of awkward encounters, school is over for the day. I'm so tired from the ordeal, I refused Alice's invitation to icecream. I told her that I just really wanted to sleep.

She dragged me along anyway.

At the ice cream shop, the young cashier looked nervous as Jane explicitly reviewed every flavor on the menu. Mary shrugged with a sheepish glance as if to try to apologize. I wanted to ask about Jane's diet, but I honestly did not feel like talking.

Alice orders my favorite dish for me: vanilla with caramel and chocolate cookie crumbs. Smiling in gratitude I hold my hand out and accept her gift.

We all walk to our regular stoop on an old abandoned building on the western side of the town, away from the beach and ocean so no one disturbs us. As usual, Jane turns the conversation into a one-sided account of her day. Mary smiles and jokes that aren't too funny and Alice tries to interject with her usual politeness. I eat my ice cream slowly, allowing it to melt a little.

Looking up at the sky, I notice that the sun is starting to set earlier than before. The breezes are cooler and before I know it, winter will overtake this town again. It's never too bad, not that much snow compared to slush and sleet, but it's cold enough to make me hate living here.

I want to move far away sometimes, maybe live in the sky. I wonder what kind of weather lies above the clouds.