Samuel dragged his feet as he trudged down the seemingly endless hallway. He had messed up with the Mayor again. At least this time it was just words, so maybe it wouldn’t matter in the long run. Sure, the whole school probably hated him at this point, but he didn’t need friends to get A’s. His stomach growled. What he did need though was a place to eat.
“Oof,” Samuel was knocked back, his eyes quickly darting up to see an older man in a tan jumpsuit, “Oh my god, I am so sorry, I wasn’t paying attention. I am so so sorry.” Samuel bowed respectfully to his elder.
“Haha, don’t worry about it, kiddo.” The man smiled at Samuel with a gentle light in his eyes. “It’s my fault too, I was paying just as much attention. Say, I don’t recognize your face, are you new here?”
“Um, yes sir. I’m a freshman.”
“A freshman?! Wow, I did not see that coming, you’re a giant. Ever think of playing basketball”
“No sir.”
“Cut it with the sir stuff, you can call me Carl. I’m the school janitor. It's nice to make your acquaintance-” Carl raised an eyebrow.
“Samuel. Samuel Wilson.”
“Wait, wait, wait. Samuel Wilson. The same Samuel Wilson who almost broke the Mayor kid’s finger this morning?” Samuel’s eyes met the ground. “Hey, wait kid, don’t get the wrong impression. I’m impressed. Someone finally taught a Mayor to respect personal space. They can get all up in your business so easily, thinking it’s their right.” Carl let out a low chuckle, as Samuel raised his head, a smile slowly forming on his face.
“I know right. I’ve known him for like 3 hours and he’s already trying to get me to tell him about some intimate information.”
“I like you kid,” Carl’s eyes looked at Samuel's unopened lunch bag, “I have a feeling not everyone shares our viewpoint. Do you need somewhere to eat in peace?”
“Yeah,- um- I would appreciate that.”
And so, as Samuel followed Carl down the hallway, it became clear that he had made his first friend in school. Sure, this was the school’s 50-year-old janitor, but hey beggars can’t be choosers.
“This is the boiler room also known as my office. I’m the only one who ever comes here so feel free to use it anytime you need to. I’ve worked in this high school for a long time, and teenagers are terrifying when they gang up on someone. I wish I had had a place to go back in my high school days. I think it would have been a lot nicer of an experience if I had. Sit, sit tell me about yourself.”
Samuel obeyed Carl’s request and sat at a small table in the corner. He and Carl joked around for the whole lunch hour. Samuel also made sure to tell him that the finger incident was an accident, which was met with “Well accident or not, hopefully, he’s learned his lesson” from Carl.
As Samuel stood to return to class, Carl stopped him. “Kiddo. High school can be hell, especially for those cast out by the rest, but I’m here if you ever feel like talking. And here take this.” Carl placed a key in Samuel’s hand. “The spare key to the boiler room. I know I just said I’m always around to talk, but I’m usually out and about in school. Teenagers are messy creatures. I usually keep this locked up, so now you can get in if you just need a quiet moment away from the chaos. Also, feel free to search me out if anyone is giving you too hard of a time. I can be scary when I want to. Good luck.”
Samuel clipped his new key to his lanyard (which every student was required to always be wearing) and waved to his new Santa look-a-like friend. His talk with Carl earned his face a smile, which stayed for the rest of the day, and allowed him to be able to focus on his classes and ignore the daggers. His day improved even more, when, in Chemistry Austin didn’t even attempt to make conversation. Turns out having a friend wasn’t such a bad thing after all. He just had to find the right one, and he had.
The next day Ms. Gionna moved Samuel away from Austin, which he did not mind at all. Sure, she was doing it because she didn’t want to risk the Mayor being injured on her watch again, but it meant he could now completely ignore Austin. Samuel ended up being moved next to the blonde book girl, who was still reading her book.
“I don’t believe in violence.” The girl's voice was soft but sharp, her eyes didn’t move from her page.
“Huh? Are you talking to me?” Samuel knew she was, but he still couldn’t believe it, no one other than Austin and Carl had made direct conversation with him. Most just choose to talk loudly enough so he could hear their harsh words.
“No. I’m talking to the other person who almost broke the Mayor’s finger.”
“Oh. Yeah. Of course. You know I don’t believe in violence either. The incident yesterday was an accident. I’m not used to being touched by surprise.”
“So, you’re saying it was the Mayor’s fault?” The girl was quick with her words. He started to be annoyed, before wondering if this is how Callie felt when she talked to him.
“No. I didn’t say that.”
“But you believe it.”
“I think there is dual blame.”
“Hmm. Interesting. What’s your name Mr. Accidental Violence.” The girl still hadn’t removed her eyes from her book, but she seemed more engaged in the conversation now. She saw Samuel’s surprise out of the corner of her eye. “What? Just because everyone’s talking about you doesn’t mean they’re using your name. They are calling you names, that’s for sure, but I doubt that any of those words are your name, unless your parents hate you.”
“I don’t think my parents hate me,” Samuel snorted, “My name is Samuel.”
“Well shit,” the girl’s eyes widened as she placed her book down and finally turned to meet his eyes. Her eyes looked like a bright forest, and Samuel couldn’t help but feel the need to listen to every word she said, “Now we have to be friends. Sorry, you have no choice. It’s fate.”
“Um, sorry? Why?”
“Let’s start over. Hello Samuel. I’m your new friend Samantha.” She smiled her teeth all perfectly aligned. “You can call me Sam; I’m going to call you Sam too.”
“Do I have a choice?”
“Nope.” Samantha picked her book up and went back to reading. Unlike Austin she was quiet and although their appearances were opposites Samantha and Samuel were symmetrical. Samantha pulled out a second book, identical to the one she was reading now, “Here this is my favorite book. I always carry a second one just in case a teacher dares to take this one. You’re gonna read it.”
Samuel took the book, he liked reading so he didn’t complain. Guess he had two friends now, although one was involuntary.
Across the room, Austin watched the Sams. He was pissed that Ms. Gionna had moved Samuel away. He was pissed that Samuel was conversing with the pretty blonde girl. He was pissed that she made him smile. He wanted that smile. His new deskmate was talking to him, but he didn’t care. He just watched as the girl pulled out a book and gave it to Samuel, who happily obliged. Why didn’t he think of giving him a present? Samuel had told him to leave him alone, so he would watch from afar until he had cooled down a little. But in the end, Samuel would be his friend. He would make sure of it.
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