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A guy I’ve not seen before bumps into me. “Oh, sorry. I didn’t mean to.”
I keep my head down, trying to ignore him. It is my senior year, and I have two more months left before I’m out of here. May can’t come fast enough.
“Um, okay. Look, my name’s Ryan. I just started here. I know it’s kind of weird to get transferred at the end of a year, but my dad’s in the military.” He pauses and looks at me. “So anyway, I’m a junior. What about you? Do you have a name?”
“Um … I … I’m Kat.” I still don’t look at him. I keep my head down. “I’m a senior, and you probably shouldn’t be talking to someone like me.”
He raises a brow. “Someone like you? Are you diseased? Do you have the plague?” Ryan tilts his head to the side, throwing me a questioning glance. The corner of his mouth tilts up into a half smile.
“Very few people want to be around me. In fact, no one does. I don’t have any friends. So please, just find someone else to talk to.” I turn away and walk down the hall, hoping he doesn’t follow.
Later that week, at lunch, I sit in the corner of the room like I always do. I’m staring at my food when another tray slams down at the table.
“Hey there, Kat. Mind if I sit here? Thanks!”
Before I can respond, Ryan sits down next to me and begins eating.
“What are you doing?” I hiss. “Do you have any idea what sitting with me will do to your reputation here?”
Ryan looks me right in the eye, “I don’t care.” He looks back down at his lunch and pops a fry into his mouth. “So, why are you all alone, Kat?”
I shrug. “Because I am.” My hands go to my lap and I squeeze them together, trying to get rid of my panic.
“I don’t understand. Did something happen?” he says as he bites into his burger.
“Yes. It’s … it’s a long story. Not worth rehashing,” I look out the nearby window. “I’m not really worth knowing. You should just go.”
“See, now that’s where I think you’re wrong. I get to decide that, not a school full of bullies.”
I snap my head back to him, not believing what I just heard. No one has ever “wanted” to know me. Everyone makes fun of me and stays away from me because that’s what the kings and queens of this high school have said to do. No one has ever gone against it.
“So, I want to get to know you. I could use a friend, and so could you. I don’t see a problem with it.” Ryan shrugs his shoulders and goes back to shoveling food in his mouth.
It was after that lunch that Ryan and I became close. I finally had someone to confide in. I had told him all that happened to me, and he gave me a shoulder to cry on. It was nice finally having someone as a friend. It was nice to feel like I was a person, a human being that had feelings someone cared about.
The end of April rolled around, and I had just a few weeks left in this hellhole. I only had to get past all the prom crap that was everywhere. I wasn’t going to prom; in fact I hadn’t been to a dance since sophomore year’s homecoming dance. Once prom was over, we had finals and then graduation. I only needed to get to graduation.
“Hey, Kat,” Ryan strolls up on me at my locker. “You mind if I talk to you for am minute?” My eyes go wide with fear. He chuckles, “It’s nothing bad, so don’t freak out.”
We walk outside and sit on one of the many benches that flank the sidewalk. Ryan turns to me with a serious look on his face.
“Look, I, um, I really like you. Like, like you more than a friend. You’re a wonderful person and I hate that this school has tormented you before anyone even got to know you. Though, I’m glad you gave me a chance to be your friend because I got the chance of knowing a beautiful soul. You’re a special person, Kat. I’m kind of glad I don’t have to share you with anyone. So, I have two questions. First, would you go on a date with me this weekend? I’d like to take you on a proper date. Second, will you be my date to prom?” Ryan runs his hands through his hair, giving me a nervous smile.
Ryan’s leg bounces up and down. I know he does that when he’s nervous, which is often. He’s apparently liked me for a while and has finally worked up the courage to ask me.
“I don’t know how to answer that. No one has ever asked me out before, Ryan.” My heart is racing in my chest.
“Then say yes. Let me take you out and show you a great time. Show you how I feel and treat you how you should be treated.” Ryan pleaded.
“Okay,” I’m hesitant, but I trust Ryan. Or at least I did at that moment. When reality eventually comes crashing down, I’ll realize that I should have never trusted him or allowed him to get that close to me at all.
The day of homecoming is finally here. Ryan knows I still have fears about getting picked up by a guy. I need my own ride home in case something happens. He ended up being okay with that when I told him, and he seemed to understand my apprehension.
I have on a beautiful emerald dress. The dress has a sweetheart neckline, clinches at the waist, and flairs out from there. I feel like a princess in it. My mom helped me pick out and she cried when I tried it on. She was so worried I wouldn’t get to experience prom, since I had been adamant that I wouldn’t go.
That night, I meet Ryan outside the hotel where the dance is. He immediately spots me and smiles. He saunters towards me and holds out his hand to me, pulling me closer.
“You look beautiful,” He leans in and kisses my cheek. Stepping back, I reach into my purse and pull out his corsage.