Page 3 of Make It Without You

“But don’t you play sports?” He looks like the kind of boy who plays sports.

“Yep!”

“Oh.” My observation of him is correct. Because he’ll have his jock friends and I’ll have no one. Despite my loner status, the thought of having one friend made me happy.

I’m such a contradiction it’s annoying.

James walks me to where my class is supposed to be. I finally get a better look at him. He’s cute for a boy, tall, if not a little too leggy, his pants are a teensy bit too big and short on him, and he’s still got his baby fat on his face. His blond hair is overdue for a trim and his brown eyes are bright and alive. It’s as if he glows sunshine even on the cloudiest of days.

“Well, hopefully, we can have lunch together,” James tells me with a hopeful lilt to his voice as we stop in front of my classroom. “We can sit together and I’ll introduce you to my friends.”

“Yeah. That sounds good,” I say even though I’m absolutely terrified to meet more new people.

The bell rings signaling for students to get to class.

“Gotta get going. I’ll see you later, Emily.” He parts with a wave.

“Yeah. See ya.” I say with a small wave as I watch him become absorbed by the other students in the hallway until I can no longer see him.

Emily

I’m still blown away by how different middle and high school are. In middle school, we had six classes a day for forty-five minutes each. In high school, we have four classes that are an hour and fifteen minutes each. So staying awake and focusing on one subject for an extended time is draining.

I wished I could say I cliqued with the kids in my classes. Their childhood bond was easy to spot when they took their seats. A few kind girls tried to include me in their conversation but I stared at them blankly as I still have no idea how to talk to kids my age.

Am I destined to not make friends the instant I walk into a classroom? Possibly. I shouldn't have anything to worry about. It’s the first day.

Until lunch rolls around and the panic sets in. Who do I sit with at lunch? Do I go to the library? Do I hide and eat in the bathroom?

But the panic recedes when I spot James pacing outside of the cafeteria. The relief I feel at seeing him is evident. Although I love being a loner I’d rather be a loner with him by my side.

“Hey,” he greets me when I’m a few steps away.

“Hi.”

“How’s your first day going?”

We walk toward one of the eight lunch lines that are already filled with students ready to get some fuel to finish the rest of the day. “It’s okay. Kind of scary, I guess.”

“That’s high school. Some days I’m still scared to walk into the school. I hope you don’t mind, but I told my two friends, Liam and Kamryn, that they could join us for lunch.”

I swallow down my nerves and nod. “Yeah. That’s okay.”

Once we get our food and settle in at a table, a boy with a tan earned from spending time outside and a girl with a caramel complexion and curly hair, plop down in seats at our table.

“First day blows,” the boy says with defeat in his tone.

“Emily, this is Liam and Kamryn,” James introduces the newcomers to me.

“Hi,” I shyly wave to them in greeting.

“He’s only saying that because he has to retake a class,” the girl, Kamryn, says. Her brown eyes are a shade lighter than her hair and I instantly take comfort in the calm vibe she exudes.

“What?” James says shocked. “Coach will flip if he finds out.”

Kamryn turns her attention to me when she sees my confusion. “They both play football...and baseball. Junior varsity. But sports nonetheless.”

I nod my head as if I understand. “Gotcha.”

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