Page 18 of Collided

“I bumped into him, and he saved me, so in exchange, I suggested taking care of his knuckles. He agreed, and I wrapped them up. That’s it.”

Her eyes widen. “Heathneverlets anyone touch him, let alone take care of him.”

I can see that happening. However, he was pretty compliant with me. He said not a single word. Also, he wasn’t cold and angry like he was with everyone else at school.

I purse my lips as those thoughts roam my head. “He did that because I agreed to stay away from him.” That was the whole point.

“Wait what?!” Marie exclaims in surprise. Others turn to glare at her.

Standing up, she rounds the table and sits next to me. In a hushed voice she asks, “He said that?”

“Yes.”

She curses. “Don’t mind him. He’s a good guy.”

I know nothing about the guy to form an opinion, but if someone like Marie is his friend, and says he’s a good guy, then it must be true.

“Do you have friends?”

“No.” My hands fidget with each other. God, I’m nervous.

“Would you be my friend? I hang out with two guys. Although, it’s fun to be around them. I want female company. And no girl at school likes me enough to be my friend.”

My eyes widen.

She can’t be serious.

I find it so hard to believe. Marie is nice and sweet, even funny at times. It baffles me that she doesn’t have an army of friends already.

Would you be my friend?It’s the first time someone has asked me this question. From kindergarten to this day, no one bothered to like me enough to be my friend. I always thoughtsomething was wrong with me. That there was a fault I couldn’t see, but others did that repelled them from me. The only reason they approached me was because they were compelled to—they needed the grade, and I could help them get it. But they didn’t want anything more from me.

My chest packs with air. I’m overwhelmed with a ton of feelings. A history of flashbacks rolls in front of me. All those times I was alone and everyone had someone.

It’s such a simple question, but it holds so much meaning to it.

My voice cracks. “I’d love to, if it’s okay with you.”

I’m sixteen, and this is the first time I’m making a friend.

Life is full of surprises. One moment you’re alone, the next you aren’t.

Marie tears up, and giddiness brightens her face. Like me, she’s been alone too. I can see it on her, and she can see it on me. It’s not difficult to read someone who’s like you.

We’ve both been alone all this time.

Until now.

Marie nods, without a doubt in her eyes. “I’m more than sure about it.”

Giving me her phone, I save my number, and she sends a text. “I’ll send you my schedule and we can be together in classes.”

Just like that a friendship forms.

I take the bus because of cramps. I just know my period is due, and this time it’ll be painful.

For me, some months are easy, but some are so excruciatingly painful that I can barely step down from bed.

Mom gave me birth control pills to help with the pain, but my skin started breaking out and I felt nauseous. I couldn’t deal with throwing up and seeing my face covered in pimples—I got rid of them by applying a ton of products and it’s only now that I have clear skin. I’ll take pain over bad skin every day.

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