I glance around nervously, dodging out of the way of starved teenagers.
“Get out of my way mute!” someone yells, shoving me backwards. I blink several times, holding out my arms to steady myself. A hand immediately circles around the top of my arm, steadying me.
“Watch it idiot!”
I turn my head, my eyes wide in surprise as they meet Tia’s blue ones. She’s shooting a deathly glare at someone in the crowd and it takes me a moment or two to snap out of my shock. Did she just come to my rescue?
“T-thanks” I mutter, standing firm on both feet. I dust myself off, unsure of what I’m actually dusting off.
“Urgh, I hate this school. Are you okay?” She asks me, taking a step back. I nod weakly, the taunts and teasing now becoming normal to me. Since Beatrice has decided I’m her latest victim, I’m bullied daily.
“You don’t have to talk to me you know. I don’t need pity.” I say quietly, weaving in and out of the crowd as I head for the school doors. I’m going to eat my lunch outside, alone. Like I do every day. Behind me, Tia begins jogging to keep up.
“Please don’t befriend me only to play some cruel prank on me later. Do me a favour and leave me alone.” I say bluntly, trying really hard not to come across rude. I can’t help but be over protective. Beatrice has caused my paranoia levels to shoot sky high. Tia pauses, a scowl on her face.
“I’m not going to prank you Bella. I think you’re cool. Why shouldn’t you have a friend too? Everyone else does.” Tia argued back, her words strong and fierce.
“No-one likes me.” I respond immediately, trying hard to not let my guard down.
“I do.” Tia shrugs, stepping around me and pulling open a door. She steps outside before turning to look back at me. I’m stood rooted to the spot, debating whether I can trust her. I really want to have a friend but what if she’s out to hurt me, like everyone else?
“Well are you coming?” Tia asks me, waiting patiently. I don’t respond and instead nibble on my bottom lip before letting out a loud sigh.
“Yeah, I suppose so.” I mutter, following her. She silently walks over to the benches where I eat my lunch everyday and takes a seat, dropping her backpack to the floor. I climb up onto the bench next to her, sitting with my legs crossed.
“What did you bring?” She asks me, pulling out a box of pasta. I unzip my backpack and reach for my sandwich bag before responded.
“Tuna mayonnaise sandwich with lettuce.” Tia grinned, holding up her pasta.
“Snap. I have tuna pasta.”
I let out a small chuckle, taking a bite of my sandwich. Beside me, Tia begins to dig into her pasta as a comfortable silence falls upon us.
“So why do you eat alone?” Tia asks me, taking a sip from her water bottle. I shrug —
“I don’t like the cafeteria. It’s always crowded and the thought of finding somewhere to sit makes me go crazy.”
Tia nods at my response, her dark hair bobbing around her face. “Anxiety.”
“Excuse me?” I ask, placing my sandwich down. Tia looks back at me, her head slightly tilted to the side.
“You have anxiety. I do too.” She explains quietly, completely catching me off guard. She feels the same way I do?
“Oh.” I respond, frowning. I look up at her, noticing how she’s staring intently at the ground, a glazed over look in her eyes.
“So you get the same feeling?” I ask and Tia’s head shoots up. She doesn’t respond but instead nods, her head bobbing up and down.
“It’s like every time I walk into a room, I feel like I can’t breathe. Even if no-one is looking at me, it feels
like everyone is looking at me. The inability to breathe becomes worse until it feels like someone has a tight hold of my lungs, stopping me from breathing.” I say quietly, swallowing the lump from the throat.
“And because you find it hard to breathe, you begin to panic more. Everyone looks at you as if you’re a freak
or weird. No-one understands how you can find it difficult to approach someone or simply make friends. Talking to a stranger is an absolute no-go because that scares the living crap out of you.” Tia adds, staring intensely into my eyes. I can’t help but hold her stare, feeling as though she was reading my entire life.
“You seriously feel that?” I ask, my features full of shock. Tia nods, grimacing slightly. “Hell yeah. Every single day.”
“Wow,” I reply, feeling my appetite completely disappear. I didn’t realise someone else felt the exact same way I do. I didn’t even realise that was possible. A warm feeling spreads through my body as I realise I’m not alone.
I blink back tears, finding it difficult to control my emotions. I met Tia a few hours ago yet I feel like I relate to her entirely.
“I’m happy I met you.” I say quietly, my gaze dropping to the floor. Beside me, Tia let out a small chuckle, her laughter floating in the air.
“I’m happy I met you too.”
*****
“What’s your favourite movie?” I ask Tia, walking along side her. We’re both on our way home and I text Jedd to let him know I didn’t need picking up today. It feels good to walk home with someone beside me, keeping me company. Usually I would pop my headphones on so I could drown out the noises of humanity around me.
Yeah, I hate people.
“I don’t have a favourite movie. I prefer a series instead. It lasts longer and I feel like I get to know the characters so they become family.” Tia responds, giving me a small smile. I nod in agreement.
“Huh. That’s actually a really good answer.”
Tia let out a laugh, her blue eyes sparkling in the sun.
“So is Netflix your best friend?” I grin, already knowing the answer. Tia frowns, holding her hand to her heart, mocking pain.
“How dare you ask me that. I – am – truly -hurt.”
It’s my turn to giggle at her response, loving she feels the same way I do about Netflix.
“What’s your favourite food?” Tia asks me, biting down on an apple. She would occasionally throw it high into the air before catching it and taking a bite.
“Burgers and ice cream.” “That’s an unusual combo.”
I shrug, my answer reminding me of Brody. The time he took me on a first date, to eat burgers. How could I ever forget? I feel a flutter in my stomach and immediately smile, looking like a love-sick puppy.
“Favourite ice cream flavour?” Tia asks, not noticing the blush in my cheeks or the twinkle in my eyes. I bite down on my lip, knowing my answer would probably make or break our friendship.
“Toffee popcorn flavour.” I reply, my words sounding brave. I stop and glanced at Tia, waiting for her disgusted response. She lets out a loud gasp, spinning around to look at me.
“That – is – my – favourite!” She yells, alarming several people around us. I immediately let out a loud laugh — “No way! I’m literally the only person who loves that flavour ice cream!”
I hold out my palm high in the air and Tia hops on her feet before slapping her palm against mine. We both erupt into a fit of laughter and I grin widely, unable to stop the smile on my face. Warmth spreads through my body and Tia grin back at me, linking her arm in mine.
“I think this calls for a celebration.” She says, turning up into a side road. I immediately notice where she’s going.
“The ice cream shop?” I ask her, my grin widening further which I didn’t think was humanely possible. Tia nods crazily, her hair flying around her face.
“You can’t celebrate without toffee popcorn ice cream.”