The Throw-Aways

It was Thursday and school had ended early. Today was a half day with the final two periods left done by noon and our little group going to meet for lunch. It was finally time to face my fears and meet my little group of cast-outs.

My heavy feet treaded through the rapidly emptying halls. All the seniors were so happy to be out of the prison and paid no attention to the figure in her blue galaxy Vans, skinny jeans, and OM&M shirt.

Using my concentrated will, I forced my feet to move faster through the halls. We would all be going out to my dad’s restaurant for celebratory lunch for ending out career in high school.

As soon as I rounded the corner to the band hall, I saw the four figures leaning against the rough wall. It seemed like they were….waiting for me. I managed to look up to meet their faces as I came and stood next to Kylar.

Skars smiled to me weakly. I managed a small grin back. Kye seemed to snap out of her daydreaming and wrapped an arm around my shoulders. I laughed a little. Dante joined her and we formed a little line to parade proudly out of school.

We wouldn’t be seeing Jay everyday anymore! We wouldn’t live every morning waiting for the torments! We were finally FREE!

“We’re glad to see you back.” Nico finally broke the silence. I smiled to him. He was always very optimistic.

“Jay was just making a big deal out of nothing, so don’t fret what we think!” Skars added in hopefully. They really didn’t think I was that bad?

“You still have to play for us sometime!” Dante cheered. Kylar nudged me as we walked out, arms slung around each other’s shoulders. The parking lot was slowly emptying. I could see Jay up ahead and froze a beat.

“Three words.” Nico pulled on his aviators. Our little group looked at him expectantly.

“Haters. Gonna. Hate.” He grinned and stared straight ahead, like he was a celebrity walking the red carpet. We all laughed at his confidence and held our chins up just a little higher.

Nothing could ruin this moment.

Even as we passed Jay, who just sneered at us, she was stunned by our strength. It was true that we were tougher to attack when grouped together.

Together we piled in Nico’s car and drove the minute down the street to The Three Meatballs. Parking outside, our crowd walked in. Noon was “rush hour” at the diner. Inside the small room was three customers and my dad behind the bar. A woman and her child passing through the town sat in the far corner. They munched on spaghetti and meatballs while a familiar man sat at the bar.

“Hey! It’s the local thug gang.” Arestino Berard chuckled. He was the owner of the Bernards and Berards, the local bar just seated on the outskirts of town. It hugged the main Highway right before it turned off onto Forsaken road. My dad, Ashton, and Arestino had been the best of friends longer than I could care to remember. The burly man owned two large Saint Bernards named Vern and Briggs. Everyone in town loved the dogs.

“Hey, Mr. Berard.” The rest greeted. My dad appeared from behind the counter as we took our usual seats. The wood stools squeaked as we fidgeted on the chairs.

“Well if it isn’t the usual suspects! I trust it’s the usual?” My dad asked. We all happily agreed. Fishing the cash out of our pockets, we had the exact amount ready to give him. As the cash was handed over, our drinks and food were distributed. The woman and her child left, thanking my father before scooting out of the building.

The brown hair figure ducked under the counter. Instantly, some slower song started to fade and his voice wafted up to us.

“What song do you guys want?” He asked. Every time we came together at The Three Meatballs, my father would let us choose the song he blasted through the speakers if no other customers were here.

“CROWN THE EMPIRE!” We all screamed through mouths full of delicious food.. Their new album, The Resistance: Rise of the Runaways, was one of our favorites. My dad held up his hands in surrender before throwing the album on. Bloodline was the very first song and the five of us went crazy.

As soon as we had finished slurping down the sodas loaded into mason jars (The classic soda special of the restaurant), we leaped onto the floor and started dancing around. It was like a less violent version of a mosh pit that broke out in the middle of the floor.

My dad never cared when we blasted the music or danced on the floor. Who was going to see us, anyways? It’s not like anyone was going to complain!

As soon as the song was over, we went back and finished our baskets before the next song turned on. We listened the rest of the album, happily basking the tunes that blared out of the speakers.

Eventually as the afternoon wore on, the albums were running out but the songs kept flowing. My dad and Arestino went to the back rooms to go talk. Not many customers came in on Thursdays. It was pretty slow.

City Light by Motionless in White faded into existence. Nico immediately pulled Skars into an open spot on the polished dark wood floors. She blushed as red as her hair and took his open hand. As Dante eyed my fiery friend Kk, I slipped behind the bar to dim the lights and turn up the song.

As I ducked behind the counter to quietly watch my friends, I found a pang of longing pierce my chest. Skars and Nico seemed to be made for each other. They fit together like a beautiful mosaic. Kk dated a boy once-it didn’t turn out well. She said she was out of the relationship complications business, but I think she had something for Dante. Dante sure had his eyes on her!

All of my friends were together, or somewhat together. I was left on my own. Never had I been dating someone, for obvious reasons. Middle school was too young to date, and all through high school, I had been taunted. The pickings were slim, as in, no boys that peaked my interest and none that were interested in me.

I lived a lonely life with my friends, Dad, and Blest.

Dante grasped Kk’s wrist and dragged her a few feet away from Skars and Nico. They two pairs swayed to the beat. Skars had her head on Nico’s chest, quietly smiling as the boy put his chin on top of her blonde and red hair. Kk blushed under the dim light and smiled up to Dante, who was turning red.

I closed my eyes, leaning against the counter and imagine me being out there with some boy. It seemed hard to conjure up the image-who would honestly want to dance with some freak?

As the song ended, I peeked through half shut eyelids to see Skars reaching up and kissing Nico quickly. The boy with dark hair whispered something in her ear that made her smile even brighter. Nico’s hands wrapped around her lower back, pulling the girl tighter to his chest.

Dante, on the other hand, was the hopeless romantic of the bunch. He quickly leaned down and gave Kylar a quick peck on the cheek and she looked away, trying to hide her fire truck red cheeks. Dante looked like he had just scored tickets to the biggest concert of the year.

It was getting pretty late, so the four thanked me for the music and started to walk out. With them gone, I could pull out my notebook and review the lyrics I had copied down to I See Fire by Ed Sheeran.

Tomorrow. Yes, tomorrow the Singing Specter would come out with this new song.

Notes