Almost all at once, everyone began to talk and find a partner once again. Except for me. I stayed right where I was. Arms wrapped loosely around my legs, my butt going a bit numb from how I sat on the hard floor.
I should have sat closer to the door, I thought. I could sneak out and help with the younger kids. Even though I didn’t like kids all that well, they were at least predictable. And Zee would steal me so no one else could touch me there.
“Hi?”
I sighed as I looked up, finding a skinny boy standing right in front of me. His shoes almost touched the tips of my own shoes.
“I’m Noah. Mr. Smith said you needed a partner.”
“I have one already.” I lied.
Noah’s blue eyes widened for a second before he looked beside me. “Well, groups are okay. What’s your partner's name?”
I huffed a breath through my nose. Geeze, did I have to get someone so dumb?
“Oh. You were pretending.” His face fell as he shoved his hands into the pockets of his jeans. “I...sorry? I’ll...”
“Asher,” Mr. Smith walked up beside Noah, his eyes bouncing from him to me. The man’s eyes were filled with uncertainty, yet hope. Why he’d hope for anything of me would forever be lost on me. “Noah’s new today. So please play nice.”
“I am nice,” I muttered. Louder, “I’ll-“
“You’ll stay. Scarlett told me to make sure you didn’t run off again.”
I clamped my mouth shut.
“We can just sit. I’m used to...not...uh...yeah.” Noah took a seat a good three feet from me, pulling his legs up like I was. Mr. Smith stood there for a few extra seconds, probably to make sure I wasn’t going to get up and run off. It was likely I still would. I knew the places no one would drag me away from.
A sniff. Then another. And a third, caused me to turn a light glare at Noah. He didn’t pretend to hide the fact that he was crying. Heck, I didn't cry. Ever. Not anymore.
“What’s wrong with you?” I was surprised that my tone of voice was calm. I shifted so my side was against a wall and I faced the boy more than the room. Although, I didn’t exactly look at him.
“Nothin’.” Another sniff followed by wiping his nose on a knee.
Since I knew Mr. Smith was watching, and I was here and didn’t want to come back, because this was a stupid idea, I took a deep breath before diving in. “I’m Asher. I don’t want to be here but made a deal with my...uh...brother. And now I regret doing so, and I’m stuck since my Mom works here, and I can’t just walk home.”
“You can walk out,” Noah helpfully pointed out. “He won’t stop you.”
“He’ll tell Scarlett.”
“Oh.” He swallowed.
“I don’t do friends.”
“No wonder why you’re here.” He muttered, turning his face away from me.
“You know what,” I huffed, standing. “I’m not doing this.”
I didn’t need some boy to point out how much of a loser I was. I was starting to accept the fact that I wasn’t meant to be happy.
Why did I make this deal? Why was I so stupid?
I didn’t make it past the doorway before the steps followed me. I ignored it, leaving the room and the people in it behind.
Taking a turn down an empty hallway, I walked quietly, but fast, towards a hiding spot. A small storage room was off to the side, one that was never used except by me as far as I knew.
“Go away, Noah.” I turned, rounding on the boy who thought I needed to be followed. I just wanted to be left alone.
The boy stood inches away, just a tiny bit taller than I was. His eyes were red, but filled with determination.
