Chapter 9

A Chapter by Chris

It is lunch time and instead of sitting with the usual people, Alex goes over to sit with Sean.

Sunday wasn't really too bad of a day for Sean. He had to work for a good part of the day, which gave him plenty of time to get away from the house. After work he took his time to get home, but only to find that his dad had went somewhere and his brother was somewhere around town. For once in a couple days, Sean was able to relax peacefully.

It was now a Monday. The first few classes went by at a steady pace for Sean. They weren't too boring, but they weren't fun either. The boys that pestered him at his locker before didn't bother him at all, which was also a plus for the boy.

When it came time for lunch, Sean made his way to the cafeteria where he sat at the usual table in the back. As he started to eat his lunch, his eyes wandered around the cafeteria until they came to Alex, who was currently at a table by himself. Sean stayed still as he thought a little, thinking that maybe he could go sit with Alex. He did want to try to become the boy's friend, thinking that he might actually have a chance at doing so.

However, when the other boys sat down at Alex's table, Sean decided against it. He wasn't willing to sit with other people too. If he did he would probably only get picked on by them for one reason or another and not only that, but he was too shy of a person. A sigh escaped his mouth as he just went back to eating his lunch.

Alex listened a little to what the other's were talking about. He wasn't eating his lunch right now, mainly because he wasn't really too hungry at the moment. As he sat there, he looked around the cafeteria a little before seeing Sean. The thought of going over to sit with him came to mind, but as soon as it did, the memory of what happened Saturday night popped into his head. Thinking that Sean might be in a better mood this time and that it probably wouldn't hurt to at least try sitting with him, Alex stood up and walked over to Sean's table, taking his brown lunch bag with him.

“Mind if I sit here?” Alex asked as he stood there at the table.

Sean looked up at Alex. He didn't respond right away, but after a few seconds he gave a nod of his head. Alex smiled a little as he sat down in a chair next to Sean. He didn't say anything right away as he pulled out the contents that were in his lunch bag.

“So what's up?” Alex asked a couple seconds later, trying to get some kind of conversation going.

“Nothing,” Sean replied.

Alex gave a nod of his head. There was a few seconds of silence between the two.

“What class did you just have?” asked Alex.

“Chemistry.”

“Ah, I hated that class when I had to take it. All of that math stuff made it too hard for me. I'm lucky to have gotten a C in that class.”

“Doesn't really seem to be that hard.”

Alex chuckled before saying, “That's because you're good at math. Since you have to use a lot of that in that class, it probably isn't hard for you at all.”

Sean just gave a nod, but didn't say anything else. He made very little eye contact with Alex while they talked due to his shyness. Whenever he did make eye contact, it was just for about a second.

“So what kind of music do you like?” Alex asked after another brief moment of silence.

“Rock.”

Alex smiled. “Same. It's really the only good music to listen to. They can keep all the rest of that garbage—or at least that's all it is to me.”

Sean shrugged before saying, “Guess so.”

“What kind of bands do you like?”

Sean listed a few bands that he liked to listen to a lot. “There's a lot more though,” he said, “but I guess those would be my most favorite ones.”

A smile came onto Alex's face. “Cool. I like those bands too.”

The two started to get into a small conversation about the bands and what their favorite songs were. Alex usually talked the most though while Sean just sat and listened. After a little while their conversation about music came to an end and there was another moment of silence as the two ate their sandwiches.

“Hey, how's come you sit here by yourself anyway?” Alex questioned curiously.

Sean shrugged before saying, “Just do.”

“No friends in this lunch?”

A sigh left the dark-haired boy's mouth. “Or in this school,” he muttered.

Alex frowned a little when he heard the response before a smile quickly replaced it. “I could be your friend.”

Sean looked at Alex now, but he didn't say anything.

“I don't really have any friends in this lunch anyway,” Alex continued. “The people I sit with are more or less just acquaintances. The only friend I have at this school has the lunch after this one. I could always use someone else to talk to, and another friend. What do you say?”

A weak smile came to Sean's mouth, the first one in a long while. “Okay.”

Alex smiled back. The two started to talk a little more. When lunch ended, both of them headed to Algebra II where they sat in their assigned seats. A little more was said between the two until class started.

Class rolled by pretty quickly for the two. The lesson wasn't too long and as soon as they finished it they were able to start on their homework. Like the previous day, Alex asked Sean for some help. Alex understood it quickly as the younger boy explained it and didn't really need much help after doing the fifth problem with Sean.

The bell soon rang and everyone started to leave the classroom. Alex and Sean shoved their things into their backpacks before rising to their feet. They both walked out of the classroom and down the hall.

“Hey, we should hang out later after school,” Alex said. “I could maybe come to your house and we could do something together?”

Sean was a bit startled when he heard the last bit. “Sorry, but I have to work tonight.”

He couldn't really help but to be a little glad that he had that excuse too. It wasn't because he didn't like Alex, but because he knew his dad would be furious if he brought a friend home. Not only that, but he didn't really want Alex to see his family either.

“Oh,” Alex responded in a slightly disappointed way. “You drive here?”

“No, I don't have my driver's license yet.”

“I could take you home then. You won't have to ride the bus then and you'll get home sooner.”

The Sophomore boy thought it over a little. He didn't really want to get back to his house so soon. That place was really nothing but misery for him. At the same time though, he did want to spend a little more time with Alex.

“Alright,” Sean answered a couple seconds later.

Alex smiled. “Great. I'll be waiting at my car. It's towards the front of the parking lot, so it shouldn't be hard to miss.”

Sean nodded. The two parted ways after that to head to their next class.

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