School bell rings! Time for lunch. I stayed in seat looking outside the window. Curious eyes wander at the scene with gentle spring time wind blowing up on his face. I smiled then my attention breaks with a noise. Everyone enjoying and laughing with their friends. Such a wonderful day. A tap on my shoulder made me to turn around. All of my friends were standing behind me and waving to join. I get up and join them. Getting along with everyone having a laugh. My attention shifted, a student who rarely comes at school is present. There were no one around her, even in this crowd she was sitting alone eating her lunch. My mind started to fly all over, exploring all possibilities of why such thing is happening. Is it her appearance? She looked a bit shabby and long hair covering her face. Is it because she rarely comes to school she has no friends?
My buddy put up a plan to go out and eat in the ground. Everyone but me agreed, I told them I was not feeling well. A lie of course. Slowly the whole class emptied, it was just the two of us remaining. I took up my lunch box and moved to next bench to her.
"Hi, i am Siddhartha".
She looked at me then looked around and with questions in her eyes she replied.
"Serene davis, and I know your name".
"Well that's wierd i am not popular or anything".
A gentle laugh escaped her mouth.
"One who always been center of attention talks about being not popular".
I am puzzled, how have I been center of attention? She seemed to get my question without saying it.
"Be it in the quiz or in study you are dilligent in it. So much so even the teachers don't mind you being absent minded in their classes. Who will not know such a student in their own class."
Well I got a bit flustered. I thought she won't talk much being loner but she is a chirpy one.
"Now that I think of it you lost only .5 marks in maths test because you forgot to put arrow marks on number line. That's funny". She started to chuckle. Yeah I got embarrassed.
"You have observed me so much, wow".
"Well recently you have been sportsman too, martial arts fancies you".
"It seems like you have a crush on me or something?"
"Don't flatter yourself"
"Ouch, that hurts"
We laughed at each other.
"Well I like your style, why don't you join us?"
"Do you want to be socially isolated?"
"What no, why?"
"Like I thought, you are more of a social being than you think you are. If you keep talking to me you will get isolated"
"Is there...." . Bell rang at mid sentence.
"Go back to seat, I don't want to cause you any trouble". And immediately she became defensive. I moved back to my seat and class started filling up. What happened at the last moment? Why she became so defensive just after we laughed.
"Well, talk to you tomorrow at lunch then" I spoke in high voice so it can reach her.
"Let's see". Even if her long hair falling over her face covered it, i sensed that she smiled. What a wierd girl.
The school time flew by daydreaming. Next day, as expected she is absent. Then the next day, this time she came. Her appearance didn't changed, as she had her dress a bit oversize and hair messed up. I began to wonder why would she do that. Even if you are not too good looking you will still try to be a bit smart on dress. Teacher was absent for second period and got games period alloted. Whole class jumped up. We all went to field, between us friends there began a competition of who can run fastest. We all went crazy but soon got exhausted. Sat down on the grass and looked around. Found her at a corner beneath the tree, it's easy to get unnoticed there. I walked upto her.
"Hey, wow that's beautiful"
She was drawing a scenery and that was really beautiful drawing.
"Thanks, but weren't you guys playing?"
"Not now anymore"
I sat beside her, she shifted a bit away from me.
"Do I smell that sweaty?"
"No I don't want your sweat over me yuk"
I bursted out laughing, it was really funny how it was said.
"I like to draw too, but I mainly do sketches"
"Trying to impress me?"
"Are you?"
"You have some good qualities, but not impressed"
"Well to bad, i guess I don't have charm"
She laughed a bit. Then back on her drawing, I got up brushing off the dust.
"See you at the library"
She stopped her pencil and without looking at me "You want to speed run on how to be outcast?"
"Well atleast I can have my peace time"
I went back with my friends, they noticed me talking to her but decided not to say anything.
On the way to library i accidentally bumped into her and she fell down. I helped her to get up, that when I noticed she has a surgery scar on her spine. I apologised, but she didn't listened and stormed away. At library she avoided me moved further away. I am shocked, what have I done?
At lunch when all left I sat at the bench in front of her.
"What happened? Why are you avoiding me?"
It felt like she was tearing up.
"What did you want to achive? Showing your kindness to me, i am loner why don't you leave me alone? Who are you trying to impress? Talking to a girl no one talks, showing you are kind and the next moment you push me down to ground. I am used to it, so no need to feel sorry for me. Leave me alone please, go away and please don't play your games on me go away".


© L00S3R